The Tamesis
Selena Gomez isn’t attending the 2026 Met Gala, but that doesn’t mean she won’t be upping her red carpet trend game.
The pop star, actor and founder of Rare Beauty comes out as gay Marty, life is short. premiered yesterday at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, with support from her friends and Only murders in the building Co-starring Martin Short.
Gomez wore a black beaded puff-sleeved midi dress with a square neckline and tiny sparkly appliqués scattered across the large area of it. On her feet she wore a pair of sharp pointed-toe Christian Louboutin pumps with dainty ankle straps. For accessories, she chose Stephen Silver feather diamond earrings and an antique-style diamond ring, also from the jewelry brand.
Her glamor followed the same retro feel, with an elegant sleek bun, a dab of red lipstick and matching scarlet nails.
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
The debut look was very much in keeping with the ladylike style of Selena Gomez, who favors retro, feminine silhouettes and looks on the red carpet. Whether it’s a powder-blue Prada gown with a flowing train or a feathered Chanel moment, Gomez favors a more nostalgic style element.
Glass beads and embroidery were first popular from the 1920s to the 1940s, with final touches reflecting the glamor of the Modern Age and Jazz Age. Beading has quietly become a recurring feature on contemporary red carpets, as attention to craftsmanship and finer details sets precedent for designers. For example, at the 2026 Met Gala red carpet, the “fashion is art” dress code made heavy use of beads, sequins and ornate embroidery, from Laufey’s caped Tory Burch gown to Chase Infiniti’s multi-colored Thom Browne dress, and a gorgeous Venus shape made from 1.5 million stacked sequins to resemble a hand-painted human body. Tiny glass or resin beads can blend into the Art Deco era like Gomez and Laufey, or enhance an avant-garde style like an Infiniti.
“Fashion is art” can be seen on and off the steps of the Met.
