Indian stars turn the Met Gala into a runway of art, heritage and drama

Johar Debut: Karan Johar attended his first Met Gala in a Manish Malhotra ensemble styled by Eka Lakhani. The look referenced the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, translating classical Indian portraiture into textile form and silhouette, and framing couture as a medium to reinterpret historical visual culture on a global stage.

Natasha Feature: Natasha Poonawalla wore a sculptural white Phalaenopsis orchid by Marc Quinn, styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania. The piece was designed to be completed on the body through movement, symbolising rebirth and universality, and structured like ceremonial armour, turning the wearer into part of a live installation.

Birla Concept: Ananya Birla appeared in a collaboration between Subodh Gupta and Robert Wun, styled by Rhea Kapoor. The look incorporated stainless steel elements inspired by Indian household utensils into an armour-like form, paired with a tailored silhouette, presenting a narrative of identity, transformation, and material reinterpretation within couture.

Royal Craft: Gauravi Kumari and Sawai Padmanabh Singh wore custom Prabal Gurung ensembles rooted in heritage. Kumari referenced Gayatri Devi through chiffon and pearls with a Jaipur-inspired palette, while Singh’s Phulghar coat was constructed over 600 hours using aari and zardozi embroidery by Jaipur-based artisans.

Reddy Statement: Sudha Reddy wore “The Tree of Life,” designed by Manish Malhotra with stylist Mariel Haenn. The look drew from Kalamkari, a 3,000-year-old textile tradition, incorporating narrative motifs into sculptural couture. It was paired with jewellery, including a 550-carat tanzanite pendant, along with diamond and emerald pieces from her collection.

Beyoncé Presence: Beyoncé wore a sculptural dress by Olivier Rousteing featuring a feathered train and diamond crown. She appeared with Jay-Z and Blue Ivy Carter, presenting a coordinated red-carpet moment that combined couture design with performance and family staging.

Osaka Reveal: Naomi Osaka wore a Robert Wun ensemble with exaggerated shoulders and red detailing, referencing a similar design featured in the Costume Institute exhibit. During the appearance, she revealed a second look underneath, a red beaded gown, using transformation to align with the theme of the dressed body.

Chamberlain Paint: Emma Chamberlain appeared in a Mugler design by Miguel Castro Freitas featuring a hand-painted surface extending across the garment. The dress translated painting techniques into couture, positioning the outfit itself as a canvas and directly reflecting the “Fashion Is Art” directive through material execution.

Wintour Choice: Anna Wintour wore a mint-toned Chanel ensemble by Matthieu Blazy, featuring a beaded dress and feathered cape. As co-chair, she maintained her established styling while aligning with the theme through material detail and subtle artistic reference rather than overt transformation.

Rihanna Finale: Rihanna arrived among the final guests in a metallic cocoon-like design alongside A$AP Rocky. The look presented a sculptural form that emphasised enclosure and emergence, concluding the evening with a statement aligned to the exhibition’s focus on the body as structure and artistic medium.