Cosmopolitan ranks 19 best Met Gala beauty looks of all time

7 articles · Updated · Cosmopolitan · May 1

The retrospective, published before the 2026 Met Gala on 4 May, revisits standout hair and makeup moments dating back to 1985.
It frames the annual New York fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute as a major stage for celebrity beauty trends and red-carpet experimentation.
The piece taps growing anticipation over this year's guest list, absences and likely looks expected to shape social media and beauty inspiration in the months ahead.

Does the Met Gala's celebrity focus elevate fashion as art, or does it commercialize it into mere spectacle?

Will The Met's new galleries permanently change how major museums value and display fashion beyond this one night?

How will celebrities interpret 'Fashion Is Art': with literal art references or truly avant-garde, conceptual designs?