Eileen Gu floats at the Met Gala in the wildest dress of the nightEileen Gu not only attended the 2026 Met Gala, she practically floated on the red carpet.
The Olympic freestyle skiing sensation arrived Monday night in what could be considered the most hypnotic look of the night: a futuristic Iris Van Herpen bubble dress covered in a staggering 15,000 glass bubbles.
Yes. Fifteen. Thousand.
“I have 15,000 glass bubbles on me,” Gu told ESPNW while somehow seeming completely indifferent to the fact that she was dressed like couture champagne foam. “It took 2,550 hours to make. There is technology under the dress that allows reality to meet art. It’s a play with surrealism, it’s a play with movement, it’s a play with nature, fun and fantasy.”
And honestly? It looked like something straight out of a science fiction fairy tale.
The 22-year-old athlete paired the dreamy minidress with clear heels, soft glam and a messy updo, as real floating bubbles floated around her on the carpet. Minimal jewelry, maximum energy of the main character.
When asked why sports belong in the art conversation, Gu kept it simple.
“It’s about self-expression. It’s about breaking boundaries and being the most authentic version of yourself.”
The timing seemed appropriate for someone who dominates both Olympic podiums and fashion campaigns with equal ease. Already the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history, Gu has become equally recognizable in the luxury world thanks to partnerships with Lousi Vuitton, Fendi and Victoria’s Secret.
At this point, Eileen Gu isn’t balancing sport and fashion: she’s turning both into performance art.
