The Tamesis
When you think of the annual Met Gala, you think of an ultra-stylish red carpet. As with this year’s event, stars showed up in one-of-a-kind couture (not to mention millions of dollars worth of jewelry), showcasing the most exquisite designs the luxury fashion house has to offer. It should be said that it’s not about wearability or practicality: rather, it’s centered on showcasing the creativity, artistry and outright exaggeration of fashion.
So, to the surprise of many viewers watching at home, many attendees showed up to the 2026 Met Gala. . jeans. Sure, it’s a staple in our everyday wardrobes, but it’s hardly a formal or groundbreaking outfit worthy of fashion’s biggest night.
Troye Sivan, for example, was dressed head-to-toe in Prada: his black coat and white poplin shirt were paired with burnt-effect jeans (and cool cowboy boots), referencing the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe’s own look (and, should we say, feathered haircut). Meanwhile, model Bhavitha Mandava wore a Chanel beige muslin half-zip sweater by Mathieu Blazy and muslin printed trousers with blue jeans. Influence (Contrary to many reports, however, it’s not actually denim.)
Still: Fashion viewers online had a lot to say about the humble pair of jeans that showed up at the Met. One commenter wrote: “Met Gala jeans? Really?” Another wrote: “I don’t care what the inspiration was: jeans at the Met Gala should be automatically blacklisted.” But what if we told you? . . Jeans are very effective and even very cool on the Met. Hear us out.
For starters, Mandava’s outfit was almost identical to the one she wore to open Chanel’s Pre-Fall 2026 show in New York — a fitting tribute to her own achievement, as she became the first Indian model to open a Chanel show that day. Her look at the Met was personal and intentional, paying homage to her own historic career. The denim “effect” of her pants is spot on, too: This year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art dress code is “Fashion is Art,” and if the trompe l’oeil design makes you do a double take, we’d say these pants accomplished their mission.
