Fun fact: The little black dress turns 100 this year. And Julianne Moore’s 2026 Met Gala dress is a perfect example of why, a century after its inception, it remains a genuine wardrobe staple in every woman’s closet.
Moore attended this year’s Met Gala in an asymmetrical Bottega Veneta gown cut to look like one of its straps had fallen down her arm. She finished the floor-length dress with a feathered wrap, diamond-encrusted earrings, and a bold red lip. While there’s virtually no event at which an LBD doesn’t work, this one aced this year’s dress code, “Fashion is Arka,” by referencing one of the most scandalous portraits ever created.
The American artist John Singer Sargent completed Madame X in 1884. In its original state, the portrait depicted the model’s right dress strap slipped over her shoulder. As soon as it was exhibited, it inspired outrage and ridicule, and Sargent repainted it to show the strap in its proper place. These days, the piece is now part of the Met’s permanent collection.
The reference, then, is a cheeky nod to the past—and a smart reference to arka history. (Lauren Sánchez Bezos also referenced the painting in her Met Gala look this year.) The concept of the little black dress, meanwhile, dates back to 1926, when Coco Chanel debuted the original—yet another source of scandal. Clearly, the actor’s dress has quite the fashion pedigree.
Yes, the Met Gala is a place for the fantastic (and the virtually unwearable). But Julianne Moore’s look proves that a black dress really can do it all, from the steps of the Met to the dance floor of your cousin’s wedding. Versatility—you love to see it!
