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At the Met Gala and beyond, consumers must reconcile the same choices as the Miranda Priestlys of the world

Published May 6, 2026 12:00PM (EDT)

Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly and Stanley Tucci as Nigel Kipling in "The Devil Wears Prada 2" (Macall Polay/20th Century Studios)

At Monday night’s Met Gala , where the dress code was the highly interpretable yet laughably vague “Fashion Is Art” — spun from the Met Costume Institute’s spring 2026 exhibition, “Costume Art” — stars strolled the green carpet gussied up in looks inspired by the works of great sculptors, painters and photographers. Hunter Schafer wore a lovely Prada gown inspired by Gustav Klimt’s “Mäda Primavesi.” Troye Sivan channeled photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in tousled hair and designer jeans.…