Show summary Hide summary
Daisy Edgar-Jones stunned at the 2026 Met Gala in a custom Alexander McQueen dress that perfectly captured the night’s “Fashion is Art” theme. The ivory silk georgette gown featured intricate three-dimensional Lyon lace appliqué and shredded tulle Banshee embroidery for a raw, artistic look that balanced structure with fragility.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Dress Designer: Custom Alexander McQueen fall/winter 2026 created by Seán McGirr
- Jewelry: Boucheron Laurel Earrings, Silhouette bracelet, and Silhouette brooch
- Beauty Team: Hair by Bryce Scarlett, makeup by Jo Baker, nails by Naomi Yasuda
- Beauty Approach: “London cool girl next door” aesthetic with undone, raw texture vibe
A Custom McQueen Masterpiece on the Red Carpet
Edgar-Jones and her stylist Dani Michelle spent months planning the perfect dress, exchanging references about corsets and bodices to create something both artistic and elevated. McQueen emerged as the natural choice, known for exploring the tension between beauty and destruction. The custom ivory silk georgette and floral heritage lace gown featured intricate three-dimensional embroidery that honored the theme of costume and fine art.
“They’re so iconic,” Edgar-Jones explained about the storied fashion house. “They’re really good with that tension between beauty and destruction. This design explores how structure and that fragility can coexist.” The dress’s shredded tulle details and carefully placed lace appliqué created an undone, artful aesthetic that felt both ethereal and edgy.
Daisy Edgar-Jones stuns at Met Gala 2026 in custom McQueen dress
David Attenborough’s career documentary premieres Wednesday, turning 100 Friday
Hair, Makeup, and Jewelry Magic
The Met Gala 2026 co-chairs included Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams, setting an exceptionally high bar for red carpet moments. Edgar-Jones matched their energy with a beauty look designed to complement her architectural dress. Makeup artist Jo Baker created a “cool girl next door” aesthetic using Estée Lauder products, including the new Essential Eyeshadow Stick in Sugar Plum for hollowed-out, moody eyes.
Hair stylist Bryce Scarlett kept the look undone and raw, wearing the hair down and casual to balance the dress’s sculptural drama. Celebrity nail artist Naomi Yasuda created a bespoke “Cloud Ombré” shade with milky white gel, reasoning that bold colors would distract from the dress’s ethereal energy. The white tones captured the angelic feeling while staying seamless with the gown’s aesthetic.
The Night’s Beauty Essentials and Preparation
| Beauty Element | Product or Approach |
| Foundation Base | Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum for hydration prep |
| Foundation | Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation with natural finish |
| Cheeks | Bronze Goddess Bronzing Powder and Futurist BlushMaker Dewy Cheek Tints |
| Skin Prep | Extensive hydration with water and moisturizing masks |
Edgar-Jones began her beauty prep days before the gala, focusing on staying hyper-hydrated with water and nourishing skincare masks. Jo Baker emphasized using just five dots of foundation for buildable coverage that would last through dancing and celebrations. The Double Wear formula provided a natural finish with incredible longevity, crucial for a night of red carpet photos and after-parties.
Third Time’s the Charm at Fashion’s Biggest Night
For Edgar-Jones, the 2026 Met Gala marked her third appearance at the prestigious event. She reflected on her first Met moment in 2022, remembering arriving early and standing at the entrance like she was welcoming guests. Her excitement for this year remained palpable and genuine. She expressed particular enthusiasm about seeing what Beyoncé, the night’s co-chair, would wear and hoped to reconnect with her close friend Gracie Abrams to “go out dancing.”
According to Vogue, Edgar-Jones isn’t too stressed about navigating Met after-parties. “I might do a little bit of the rounds and go everywhere. I’m just chasing the vibes tomorrow night,” she said. Her game plan involved simple pleasures: “I’m really excited to get in, and have a big cocktail and lots of fries.” The Normal People and Twisters star has clearly mastered the art of balancing high fashion moments with genuine fun.
“They’re so iconic. They’re really good with that tension between beauty and destruction. This design explores how structure and that fragility can coexist.”
— Daisy Edgar-Jones, on Alexander McQueen’s design vision
What Inspired the McQueen Design Choice?
The collaboration between Edgar-Jones and Alexander McQueen represented months of creative planning. Her stylist Dani Michelle worked tirelessly to identify a designer capable of translating the actress’s vision into reality. McQueen‘s reputation for exploring artistic tension and structural drama made it the obvious choice. The house’s fall/winter 2026 collection, designed under Seán McGirr’s creative direction, offered the perfect canvas for a dress that felt like wearable art.
The ivory silk georgette base provided a canvas for detailed hand-applied lace work that took incredible skill to execute. The shredded tulle Banshee embroidery gave an intentionally “rough” and “undone” quality, perfectly aligned with the “Fashion is Art” theme. Every element was deliberately chosen to honor the dress code’s artistic spirit while maintaining editorial polish suitable for the red carpet.
