This year, the 2026 Met Gala, a true fashion Super Bowl, took on the appearance of a masquerade ball. The celebrities delivered a very personal interpretation of the theme “Fashion is Art,” by covering their faces completely or partially. From opaque protective veils to metallic facades made of kitchen utensils or fencing masks with a troubling mirror effect, the female stars on the red carpet sealed what makes their trade. And it’s not just an aesthetic eccentricity.
The madness of faceless stars
The Met Gala, a social event that brings together all celebrities in a burst of creativity, showcased sculptural silhouettes worthy of a museum showcase. Each outfit presented an artistic vision and found echoes in historical works. Converted into living paintings or human sculptures for the occasion, many stars chose to wrap their faces and conceal their emotions by barricading their features under custom-made pieces.
Some did it in a “more moderate” way than others. Sarah Paulson stepped onto the 2026 Met Gala red carpet with a dollar bill glued to her face, while Rachel Zegler, the actress from “Snow White,” imitated Lady Jane Grey by wearing a bandana over her eyes. The most subversive ones pushed this carnival aesthetic to the extreme, maintaining a semblance of anonymity. Gwendoline Christie caught photographers off guard with her realistic decal mask of herself. Katy Perry, invisible as ever, once again demonstrated her talent for staging, embodying this style under cover armed with a modifiable fencing mask, surprising everyone until the last minute.
In the past, Kim Kardashian has also played this game of concealment. The social media muse, who built her entire reputation around her physique, briefly eclipsed the fruit of her success for one evening. She appeared with her head wrapped in a flesh-colored veil and her neck adorned with a cascading silver necklace. While keeping their faces hidden, it’s not just for the sake of originality. In an era of media overexposure, recognizable female icons aspire to more discretion. Yes, but a discretion that makes noise.
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