Olympic champion and freestyle skier Eileen Gu wore a custom Iris van Herpen bubble dress to the Met Gala on Monday evening.
The appearance highlights the intersection of high fashion and athletic celebrity, showcasing a garment designed specifically for the gala's "Costume Art" theme to help raise funds for the Costume Institute.
Gu's ensemble featured a striking design composed of 15,000 glass bubbles [1]. The intricate piece was created by designer Iris van Herpen, who is known for blending technology with couture. The dress served as a focal point of the event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
The production of the gown required a significant investment of time. Reports on the total labor vary, with some sources stating the process took over 2,000 hours [3], while others specify it took more than 2,500 hours [2]. The most precise estimate puts the total labor at 2,550 hours [1].
This level of craftsmanship aligns with the event's objective to treat clothing as a form of fine art. The glass elements created a translucent, sculptural effect that adhered to the strict thematic requirements of the 2026 gala. Gu's presence on the red carpet continues her trend of blending global sports stardom with luxury fashion influence.
“The custom Iris van Herpen gown featured 15,000 glass bubbles”
The scale of production for Gu's gown, requiring thousands of hours of labor, underscores the Met Gala's role as a venue for 'wearable art' rather than traditional fashion. By selecting a piece that blends industrial materials like glass with couture, Gu and van Herpen emphasize the event's 2026 theme of Costume Art, signaling a shift toward more architectural and labor-intensive designs in celebrity red-carpet appearances.
