When we admire the dazzling images from the Met Gala, it’s easy to assume the night is a seamless fairytale of luxury and high fashion. But beneath the shimmering gowns and flawless poses lies a world of wardrobe malfunctions, last-minute improvisations, and not-so-glamorous fashion emergencies. From Kylie Jenner to Kim Kardashian, here’s a peek behind the curtain at the mishaps that prove beauty truly comes at a cost.
In 2025, Kylie Jenner stunned in a dramatic ensemble until fans noticed that her glamorous walk was slowed down by a painful detail: her feet got stuck in her ultra-pointy stilettoes. Jenner, known for pushing fashion boundaries, is no stranger to Met Gala mishaps. Back in 2018, her Alexander Wang gown caused a stir when she revealed it ripped right before she left for the event. "This dress wasn’t supposed to have a zipper, she said” “But it ripped as I was squeezing into it, so we added one on the way out the door." Talk about a high-pressure fashion fix.
Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway had her own moment of Met Gala panic in 2014. During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, she revealed that she was just a block away from the Metropolitan Museum when disaster struck. "I sneezed, and my dress split open," she said, recalling the wardrobe fail involving her elegant Calvin Klein gown. While designer Francisco Costa assured her, she looked amazing, Hathaway had to manage the red carpet knowing her outfit had already failed her.
Camila Cabello turned heads at the 2024 Met Gala in a Ludovic de Saint Sernin gown, but it was her unique accessory, a rose frozen in a block of ice—that sparked both fascination and frustration. The ice purse was originally designed with a chain strap, but as it began to melt, the strap broke just five minutes after arriving in line. “I called my stylist and was like, ‘What do I do?’” Cabello told Extra. Her solution? Hold the melting block like a clutch. A creative save, but not the red-carpet ease most people imagine.
Kim Kardashian is no stranger to pushing fashion to its limits. At the 2024 Met Gala, she wore a stunning silver Maison Margiela gown with a form-fitting corset. While the look was praised for its futuristic elegance, Kardashian later confessed on her reality show that the corset made her feel "almost claustrophobic." It was a stark reminder that sometimes, looking incredible comes with serious discomfort.
These behind-the-scenes moments show that the Met Gala isn’t always as effortless as it appears. Beneath the feathers, sequins, and couture creations are real people dealing with real fashion emergencies. Whether it’s being sewn into a dress, dealing with malfunctioning accessories, or enduring physically painful designs, celebrities often endure chaos before they ever step in front of the cameras.
So, next time you admire those flawless red-carpet photos, remember style might shine, but comfort and ease often don’t make the cut.
