Charli XCX Channels Yves Saint Laurent's Van Gogh Homage at 2026 Met Gala

Charli XCX arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, May 4, for the 2026 Met Gala, turning heads in a thoughtful nod to fashion history.

The 33-year-old performer donned a custom gown created by Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent, constructed from tulle, silk, and resin with an iris flower motif at its center. The piece references Yves Saint Laurent's iconic Spring-Summer 1988 collection, in which the legendary designer drew inspiration from Vincent van Gogh's work by recreating his famous "Irises" painting on an embroidered jacket.

Speaking about her fashion choice, Charli described the connection between the pieces: "Yves was paying tribute to Vincent van Gogh by recreating Irises on an embroidered jacket. My dress tonight has an iris flower made out of resin, stitched onto its center. We've tried to kind of mirror that in the makeup by using more sheer and translucent tones to reflect the resin."

She completed the look with makeup from YSL Beauty, keeping the overall aesthetic understated. "I would describe it as lived-in and effortless, with just a wash of color," she explained. "Easy to wear, day or night, which is perfect for how I like to live my life."

The 2026 Met Gala celebrates the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Art exhibition, which examines the "centrality of the dressed body" through various interpretations of the human form in the museum's collection. This year's theme is "Fashion is Art," and the event's co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. The gala drew hundreds of A-list celebrities to New York City for the evening.