Valentino Took the Met Gala to Another Realm—And These Stars Were Its Mythic Icons

Alessandro Michele’s spell at Maison Valentino wasn’t just felt—it cast a full-blown enchantment over the Met Gala. With custom and couture creations that danced between the theatrical and the divine, the designer’s vision for Valentino turned the red carpet into a mythological dreamscape. From velvet-cloaked chanteuses to caped crusaders and flower-laced rebels, here’s who wore what—each look a chapter in Michele’s ever-expanding fairytale.

Lana Del Rey

Gothic glamour got the celestial treatment with Lana Del Rey’s appearance in the Valentino Vertigineux Haute Couture collection. Wrapped in black velvet and brown satin, her long gown whispered with lace and billowed with feathered drama. The black bow anchoring the back was pure melancholic magic—equal parts haunted and heavenly. Valentino Garavani accessories sealed the spectral charm.

Freen Sarocha

Leave it to Freen to deliver a look that felt like stepping into a surrealist painting. Her custom Valentino ensemble fused natural lace, multicolored sequins, and delicate floral embroidery with jet-black georgette and airy degradé pleats. The punchy pink satin bow at the back added a playful wink to the otherwise moody romance. Feather trims, embroidered gloves, and Valentino Garavani accessories elevated the fantasy.

Barry Keoghan

Barry’s look was drama distilled: a black wool jacket shimmering with rhinestones, anchored by silver cane embroidery. Gold jewel buttons and a signature “V” detail dialed up the regality. His baby blue silk shirt—unexpected yet sharp—played against a red suede sash with fringes. Every inch of this bespoke Valentino moment pulsed with quiet rebellion.

Clairo

Clairo gave Victoriana a post-punk spin with her velvet-trimmed bustier jacket and pleated ivory ruffles peeking from the sleeves. The black lace high-neck bodysuit added a touch of spectral sensuality, while the long skirt—with its velvet basque and tiered flounces—channeled gothic elegance in motion. Finished with Valentino Garavani accessories, the look was a lesson in soft power.

Justice Smith

Effortlessly romantic, Justice wore a butter-toned cropped jacket with sharp shoulders and noir soutache buttons, blending classic tailoring with high-drama nuance. A posy lace turtleneck and silk polka-dot sleeves created textural tension, while flared trousers gave it a flow. This was a look for the modern poet—styled, naturally, with Valentino Garavani accessories.

Devonté Hynes

Devonté blurred the lines between formalwear and street-soul ease with a cropped jacket punctuated by tiny velvet bows and structured shoulders. A scuba hoodie underneath added an unexpected athletic twist, grounded by wool flared trousers and cool nonchalance. The look was finished with Valentino Garavani finesse—proof that elegance can bend genres.

Guillaume Diop

Looking like he stepped out of a Renaissance oil painting and onto the red carpet, Guillaume stunned in an embroidered jacquard caftan dripping with gold lurex, pearls, and intricate floral motifs. A mustard wool double-breasted jacket layered over ivory cropped flares and a ruffled poplin shirt made it rich in detail and texture. A black taffeta bow tie and Chantilly lace gloves? The final flourish. Valentino Garavani accessories brought the entire vision into focus.

Sha’Carri Richardson

Sha’Carri didn’t walk—she floated. In a chiffon dream of a strapless dress with a wisteria lace bodice, her custom Valentino creation was soft, sweeping, and deeply romantic. Three twisted chiffon bands formed the sculptural structure of the bodice, while a massive bow in the back transformed into a trail of fabric poetry. Valentino Garavani accessories kept the mood ethereal.

Colman Domingo

Caped, feathered, and utterly magnetic, Colman served the kind of look that stops time. The pleated blue cape flowed over a sequined bolero embroidered with antique silver canes and ivory feathers. Underneath, a tailored check jacket embellished with pearls and crystals gave old-school opulence. Wide-leg wool trousers, a lamé-thread shirt, a silk flower brooch—every layer unfolded like a narrative, anchored by Valentino Garavani accessories.

Amelia Gray

Amelia’s custom look was part lingerie daydream, part fashion rebellion. A red cropped jacket with satin lapels set the tone, worn over a mauve-trimmed lace bodysuit and culottes with daring cutouts. Red lace stockings, black lace gloves, and a matching headpiece with a long, theatrical veil brought high drama. Topped, of course, with Valentino Garavani accessories, the look was unfiltered confidence.

This year, Valentino didn’t just dress celebrities—they dressed archetypes. Lovers, muses, rebels, poets, and warriors took to the Met steps like they belonged to another era—or perhaps another dimension. Under Alessandro Michele’s eye, the house proved yet again that couture isn’t just about clothes. It’s about storytelling with stitches, mythology in motion.