Surprise! Blake Lively made her grand return to the 2026 Met Gala tonight. (The star last attended the event in 2022, but before that had been a regular fixture on the Met steps over the years.)
For the 2026 ball, the star chose an archival Atelier Versace number from spring/summer 2006. (Twenty years later, the gown clearly still feels relevant.) “Blake looks stunning in archive Atelier Versace,” Donatella Versace told Vogue exclusively. “She has had so many iconic Versace moments at the Met, and tonight is no exception.”
Drawing inspiration from the “Fashion is Art” dress code, Lively chose a pastel Atelier Versace gown featuring three-dimensional architectural elements, all inspired by 18th-century Venetian Rococo paintings. The draped bodice – which clung to the body with an almost liquid-like construction – was embroidered with gemstones in shades of powdery pink, yellows, corals, peaches and lilacs.
At the hips, four three-dimensional structures – acting as “bays” – evoked the architecture of a Baroque church. The sweeping four-metre skirt (that’s over 13 feet), meanwhile, featured fabric that dissolved into a painted sunset-like sky. “As in grand ceiling decorations, this is not simply a dress to be worn, but a space to inhabit,” the brand said.
Lively accessorised the look, meanwhile, with a personal and meaningful accessory: a custom Judith Leiber Couture bag that incorporated colourful artworks made by her four children (she has three daughters and a son with husband Ryan Reynolds).
“The team and I always enjoy it when Blake reaches out with special projects. Her love of sparkle and touch of whimsy make her a dream client,” says Jana Matheson, the EVP and chief creative officer of Judith Leiber Couture. “This season’s clutch, featuring her children’s artwork, is an especially meaningful touch. We used a new minaudière shape with four sides, so each of her children’s drawings could be included. What better way to bring your four little ones to a black-tie event than by carrying them with you on your clutch?”
Lively has always been a star to count on to deliver drama at the Met. In years past, the actor has worn many winning Versace creations, including her 2022 gown inspired by the Statue of Liberty that developed a “patina” in real time on the carpet – her long train unravelling to showcase a copper-like finish. In 2018, she donned an ornate red and gold Versace design for the “Heavenly Bodies” theme.