Heidi Klum was one of the clearest standouts on the 2026 Met Gala carpet on Monday night, arriving in a look that quite literally transformed her into a living, breathing classical statue. The ‘Project Runway’ host traded traditional fashion glamour for something far more striking, channelling the timeless artistry of ancient sculpture and leaving onlookers doing a double take as she appeared to have been carved entirely from stone.According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mike Marino created the custom look, which drew inspiration from classical works including the Veiled Christ by Giuseppe Sammartino and the Veiled Vestal by Raffaele Monti. Using materials like latex and spandex, Marino achieved a remarkable stone illusion, complete with the fine folds and draped fabric details that make those iconic sculptures so breathtaking in real life.
Heidi Klum’s statue-inspired look at the 2026 Met Gala
The choice felt entirely on theme for this year’s event, which carried the dress code “Fashion Is Art.” This year’s exhibition, ‘Costume Art’, was curated by Andrew Bolton and set out to explore the relationship between clothing and the body beneath. Klum, quite literally, wore that concept from head to toe.The statue-inspired look is the kind of bold, conceptual fashion statement that the Met Gala was made for, and Klum delivered it with the confidence of someone who has never shied away from a transformative moment.
Heidi Klum’s history of show-stopping looks
For Klum, arriving as a classical sculpture was also very much on brand. The model has long been celebrated for her fearless and often jaw-dropping transformations, particularly around Halloween. Past looks have included dressing as Medusa with full prosthetics and makeup, transforming into E.T. alongside her husband Tom Kaulitz in 2024, playing Shrek’s Fiona in 2018, and her now widely memed worm look from 2022.The 2026 Met Gala was held on Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. With a theme like “Fashion Is Art,” it was always going to inspire some of the most creative dressing seen on any red carpet. Klum, as ever, made sure she was at the very top of that conversation.
