Kristen Stewart and the Met Gala. It’s a whole thing. Honestly, if you’re looking for someone to show up in a predictable ball gown and a tight corset, you’re looking at the wrong person. She doesn't play by those rules. For over a decade, Stewart has used the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art as her personal laboratory for "weird-cool" fashion.
She's the girl who famously changed into sneakers at the after-party—or sometimes right there on the red carpet. That rebellious streak is exactly why she is a permanent fixture on the guest list. Even when she skips a year, like she did in 2024, the fashion world notices the void.
The Chanel Paradox
You’ve probably seen the photos. Since 2013, Kristen has been the face of Chanel. It’s a partnership that, on paper, seems kinda strange. Chanel is the pinnacle of French polished elegance. Kristen is the pinnacle of "I just rolled out of bed and looks amazing." But that’s exactly why it works. Karl Lagerfeld, the late creative genius behind the brand, saw her as a muse precisely because she didn't try to be a perfect doll.
In 2023, for the "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" theme, she didn't wear a dress. Instead, she went full androgynous. She wore a cropped white Chanel jacket, a black tie, and wide-leg trousers. It was a 2016 Cruise collection look that she had wanted to wear for years. It felt like a tribute that was actually personal, not just a stylist's pick.
🔗 Read more: Ethan Slater and Frankie Grande: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
That One 2021 Wardrobe Malfunction
Let’s be real: the 2021 Met Gala was a trip. The theme was "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion." Kristen showed up looking like a high-fashion rockabilly pin-up. We’re talking a pink lace blouse, white trousers, and a very 1950s-inspired ponytail with a dramatic bang.
But it wasn't just the hair that got people talking.
Later, Kristen admitted to a pretty hilarious—and slightly horrifying—wardrobe malfunction inside the dinner. While she was chatting with tennis star Emma Raducanu and actress Whitney Peak, her jacket slipped. Basically, she accidentally flashed them. As she told L’Officiel later, she looked down and realized her "nipple was in their faces." She handled it with her usual "oops, anyway" energy, which is why we love her.
💡 You might also like: Leonardo DiCaprio Met Gala: What Really Happened with His Secret Debut
Why We Keep Looking Back
The Kristen Stewart Met Gala evolution is basically a roadmap of someone finding their own skin. In 2010, she was a 20-year-old in a black taffeta Chanel dress looking slightly uncomfortable. By 2019, she was rocking neon-orange eyebrows and a sequined David Bowie-esque vibe.
It’s not always "pretty" in the traditional sense. Some people hated her 2016 metallic look with the silver eye makeup. Others found her 2014 feathered Chanel gown a bit too much. But she never looks like she’s wearing a costume that someone forced onto her.
What to Watch For Next
Even though she took a breather from the 2024 "Garden of Time" carpet, don't think she’s done. She’s been busy promoting films like Love Me and Love Lies Bleeding, often wearing sheer Chanel suits and edgy lace. Her style is getting more daring, moving away from "tomboy" and into something more sophisticated but still incredibly sharp.
📖 Related: Mia Khalifa New Sex Research: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessed With Her 2014 Career
If you’re trying to channel that Stewart energy, forget the rules.
- Mix the high and low. Pair a blazer with messy hair.
- Don't fear the "ugly." Some of her best looks were called "weird" when they first debuted.
- Prioritize the vibe over the fit. If you feel cool, you look cool.
Whether she shows up in 2026 or stays home with her fiancée Dylan Meyer, her impact on the Met steps is already cemented. She proved you don't need a 10-foot train to be the most interesting person in the room.
If you want to keep track of her upcoming appearances, keep an eye on major film festivals like Cannes or Sundance. She tends to use those smaller carpets to test out the bold looks she eventually brings to the Met. For now, we're just waiting to see which archival Chanel piece she decides to break out next.