1 month ago
14
After Blake Lively made her surprise appearance at the 2026 Met Gala, she revealed that she recruited a family member to help her for the biggest night in fashion May 4.
Blake Lively's Fashion Has Hidden Detail to Her 4 Kids at Met Gala 2026
Spotted: Blake Lively finding some much-needed help on the Upper East Side.
After all, as the Gossip Girl alum made her surprise appearance at the 2026 Met Gala May 4 in a billowing Versace gown, she had a very special family member help her up the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Alongside a snap of William McAlpin holding the dress' dramatic train, Blake wrote on her Instagram Stories May 5, "My sweet angel gorgeous cousin."
It was a look to remember for the "Fashion Is Art" dress code as the 38-year-old—who donned a colorful halter ballgown adorned with lavender crystals and Venetian Rococo-inspired hues on the skirt—needed four people to guide her up the stairs. (See all the celebs at the Met Gala here.)
But William wasn't the only one of Blake's family members on the actress' mind during the biggest night in fashion. In fact, she paid homage to her and husband Ryan Reynolds' kids James, 11, Inez, 9, Betty, 6, and Olin, 3, with a very special purse.
"This is a Judith Leiber bag," she told Vogue, "and we were trying to find a piece of famous iconic art to put on and make it look like it's in a frame."
"I said, 'If you're gonna do it custom, can you do my kids' art?' So my kids each painted a watercolor painting," she continued. "Each of my four kids did this. Isn't that special? So I have them with me."
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Blake—who made her appearance hours after announcing that she and It Ends With Us costar Justin Baldoni had reached a settlement in their yearlong legal battle—admitted that the accessory was a source of strength for her at the event.
"I'm shy too, I just like to have my kids with me," she added. "I probably could've fit them under my dress, to be honest."
After the evening came to an end, Blake also reflected on the Easter egg, emphasizing on her Instagram Story that having "each of their sweet paintings" on her bag was "the dream and my ultimate comfort."
For a closer look at all the celebs on the red carpet at the 2026 Met Gala, keep reading.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Beyoncé
in custom Olivier Rousteing and Chopard jewelry.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Rihanna
in Maison Margiela, Briony Raymond and Dyne jewelry.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kim Kardashian
in custom Allen Jones breastplate, Whitaker Malem skirt and Christian Louboutin shoes.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Bad Bunny
in custom Zara.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Heidi Klum
in custom Mike Marino.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Cardi B
in Marc Jacobs.
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Hailey Bieber
in custom Saint Laurent and Belperron jewelry.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Blake Lively
in Atelier Versace and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Sabrina Carpenter
in Dior, Christian Louboutin shoes and Chopard jewelry.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Anne Hathaway
in Michael Kors.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Kylie Jenner
in custom Schiaparelli.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Katy Perry
in Stella McCartney.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Gigi Hadid
in custom Miu Miu and Jessica McCormack jewelry.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Lisa
in Robert Wun and Bvlgari jewelry.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Teyana Taylor
in Tom Ford.
Matt Crossick/PA Images via Getty Images
Blue Ivy Carter
in Balenciaga and Henry & Henry jewelry.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kendall Jenner
in Gap Studio by Zac Posen and Buccellati jewelry.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Doja Cat
in Saint Laurent.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Margot Robbie
in Chanel.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Sunday Rose Kidman Urban & Nicole Kidman
in Dior (Kidman Urban) and Chanel (Kidman).
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
A$AP Rocky
in Chanel.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Emily Blunt
in Ashi Studio and Mikimoto jewelry.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Cher
in Burberry.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Zoë Kravitz
in Saint Laurent.
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Suki Waterhouse
in Michael Kors.
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Tyla
in Valentino and Jacob & Co. jewelry.
Photo by John Shearer/WireImage
Jeremy Pope
in Vivienne Westwood.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Ayo Edebiri
in Chanel.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock
Irina Shayk
in Alexander Wang.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Colman Domingo
in Valentino and OMEGA watch.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
English (US) ·