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Sam Smith Takes Flight in Dramatic Winged Look at Met Gala 2026
Sam Smith just revealed the unholy size of their 2026 Met Gala look.
While their black showgirl-inspired mermaid dress, designed by their partner Christian Cowan, had sleeves that looked like wings, the ensemble was anything but featherweight.
Sharing that the garment weighed 52 pounds, the “Latch” singer admitted to Vogue correspondent Emma Chamberlain, “This is the heaviest thing I've ever worn in my life. It's a massive workout.”
And though it might look difficult to move in, the 33-year-old actually felt that the heavy material made them “more alert” and acted like “a corset on the shoulders.” Although wearing a weighty gown wasn’t the “Unholy” artist’s idea—they have their partner of nearly four years to thank for that.
“Sam was like, ‘Babe, please make something that's lighter weight.’ And I didn't do that,” Christian said to Vogue while detailing how the look came together. “Sorry. But yeah, it's just kind of hearkening back to the ‘20s and the opulence that came with that.”
In line with the “Fashion is Art” dress code, Sam’s dress, which was finished with a fuzzy collar and feather headdress, paid tribute to the acclaimed illustrator Erté, who was prominent in the art deco movement. (For his part, Christian complemented Sam at the “Costume Art” themed event in a textured all-black suit.)
As for how many beads made up the stunning embroidery on Sam’s dress? The fashion designer revealed the final total was 255,000 beads.
Julian Hamilton/Getty Images
Despite the weight of the gown, the “Dancing With a Stranger” singer—who has been in a relationship with Christian since 2022—confessed there was no one else they would rather work with when it comes to crafting a look.
“There is no one that knows my body more than this man,” they gushed. “And we sit at home together and it's our third Met together. And so we get to just dream up a world together.”
Speaking directly to their partner, Sam said, “I feel very lucky to be here with you and get to wear your incredible talent like this.”
Read on to see some of the best looks from this year’s Met Gala…
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Sabrina Carpenter
The "Manchild" singer adhere to the "Fashion Is Art" dress code by donning a Dior dress covered celluloid film strips of the Aubrey Hapburn movie Sabrina. She complete the look with Christian Louboutin heels.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Rihanna
Shining bright like a diamond was the "Work" singer, who wore a Maison Margiela creation featuring over 115,000 crystal beads, antique jewels and other artistic baubles.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock
Emma Chamberlain
The YouTuber looked like she had just stepped out of an oil painting in this custom Mugler design.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Beyoncé
The Grammy winner paid homage to the human body with this Olivier Rousteing number embellished to resemble the skeletal system.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Anne Hathaway
It wasn't Prada, but the Devil Wears Prada 2 star nonetheless embodied the "Fashion Is Art" dress code with a Michael Kors gown complete with hand-painted designs by artist Peter McGough.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Connor Storrie
The Heated Rivalry star heated up the red carpet in a Saint Laurent ensemble featuring a polka-dot halter top that cascaded into a flowing train.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Venus Williams
As one of the 2026 Met Gala co-chairs, the tennis supersrtar aced the assignment of sticking to the "Costume Art" theme with a Swarovski crystal mesh gown and a statement-making necklace inspired by the Wimbledon plate.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Doja Cat
The rapper told Vogue her Saint Laurent silicone dress was inspired by "the way fabric draped over the body of a Grecian statue."
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kim Kardashian
In keeping with the "Fashion is Art" dress code, the Kardashians star enlisted British pop artist Allen Jones to make her a fiberglass breastplate.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Hunter Schafer
The Euphoria star practically took a page out of Gustav Klimt's 1912 painting
"Mäda Primavesi" with this Prada look.
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Hailey Bieber
Inspired by sculptures, the Rhode Skin founder's Saint Laurent dress included a sculpted bodice made of 24-karat gold.
Theo Wargo/FilmMagic
Tyla
The "Water" singer made it hotter in skin-baring custom Valentino gown as a nod to the Costume Institute's body-centric exhibit.
As for her glam, hairstylist Yusef Williams told E! News he aimed for a "very ethereal, like an art sculpture" vibe.
"To achieve the look, I used the Wavytalk Steam Sesh to smooth out the roots of her hair before going in and defining the curls with the Cool Curl Pencil," he shared in a statement, "and I used the Turblow Pro with the diffuser at the end to lock everything in."
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
A$AP Rocky
Fashion Killa, indeed. The rapper stepped out in a pink wool pink robe with black satin lapels and matching piping custom designed by Chanel.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Laura Harrier
The Michael actress' custom DiPetsa gown took inspiration from Italian sculptors and how they chiseled stone to resemble draped frabrics.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Keke Palmer
Baby, the Nope star looked like a million bucks in this red-hot Prabal Gurung number with matching Prabal Gurung. Oh, did we mention that her Wempe necklace was actually worth a million dollars?
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
EJAE
The KPop Demon Hunters star tapped into her Korean heritage with a Swarovski look inspired by female courtesans of the Joseon dynasty.
“These women were artists," she told Vogue, "the most culturally refined figures of their time, in music, poetry, and conversation."
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