Donatella Versace looks better than ever while stepping out in a sculpted gold gown ahead of the Met Gala. The legendary designer, now 71, turned heads at Anna Wintour's pre-Met Gala party by wearing a bold, glamorous figure-hugging gown, drenched in delicate stone embellishments.
The design had a one-shoulder silhouette and highlighted her trim waist while elongating her frame. The dress also had a sheer overlay at the skirt to add movement and dimension. It also had a subtle train finishing the look with effortless elegance
© GC ImagesVersace paired the gown with nude-toned platform heels, which enhanced her height without distracting from the statement dress.
Her beauty choices were also striking as she let her long, platinum blonde hair straight and sleek, complete with her iconic shaggy bangs.
© GC ImagesThe Met Gala Build-Up Begins
Sunday night’s party, hosted by Anna Wintour, was a key prelude to the main event. Wintour has led the Met Gala since 1995, transforming it into one of the most influential nights in global fashion. The pre-party is a more intimate setting, while the Met Ball on Monday, May 4, will be an extravagant party where popular figures will command attention.
© GC ImagesThis year, the Met Gala dress code is about to reshape how we think about red carpet fashion. Vogue informed that the gala will carry the theme “Fashion Is Art,” reflecting the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s spring 2026 exhibition, “Costume Art.”
The 2026 exhibition marks a historic milestone for the Costume Institute, as the show inaugurates the museum’s first permanent galleries. Nearly 12,000 square feet of Condé M. Nast Galleries will sit adjacent to The Met’s Great Hall, placing fashion at the literal center of the institution. “It will be transformative for our department, but I also think it’s going to be transformative to fashion more generally — the fact that an art museum like The Met is actually giving a central location to fashion,” curator Andrew Bolton shared.
© Roy RochlinThe “Costume Art” exhibit will run from May 10, 2026, to Jan. 10, 2027, opening right after the Met Gala on May 4. As always, the gala and exhibition operate in tandem, as the red carpet becomes a preview.
