Paltrow is staying true to her elegant DNA — she's not interested in gimmicks, just timeless evening wear that lets her personality shine through.
Let's be real: Gwyneth just called out everyone who's ever used the Met Gala as an excuse to wear a literal food costume. Katy Perry, we see you.
Paltrow's exact quote: 'I'm me — so I'm never going to the Met Ball in like, a hot dog costume or whatever, you know?' She also called the 2012 event 'so un-fun. It was boiling. It was too crowded. I did not enjoy it at all.'
Gwyneth Paltrow just drew a line in the sand at the Met Gala, and honestly? We're here for someone who's still committed to evening wear in an era of viral stunts. The costume camp better watch out.
Gwyneth Paltrow has never been one to blend into the crowd — and she's making it crystal clear she never will be, especially on the Met Gala steps.
In a new reflection on her favorite red carpet moments, the Goop founder opened up about her complicated relationship with fashion's biggest night. "I have sort of a love-hate relationship with the Met Ball that's well documented," she wrote. But while she's attended numerous times, there's one thing she'll never do: treat the event like a costume party.
"I'm me — so I'm never going to the Met Ball in like, a hot dog costume or whatever, you know?" Paltrow declared. "I always have to be myself, first and foremost. Like, I'm not going in a costume; I'm going in a dress." She further explained that there are "two camps who go to the Met Ball — the costume or the evening dress. And I'm always going to be an evening dress person."
The actress didn't name names, but her comments come amid a backdrop of memorable Met Gala moments that have leaned heavily into the costume aesthetic. In 2019 alone, Katy Perry made headlines not once but twice — first as a functioning chandelier, then as a massive hamburger. For the 2023 Karl Lagerfeld-themed gala, Doja Cat literally transformed into the late designer's cat, Choupette, using prosthetics. These are exactly the kind of spectacles Paltrow is swiping left on.
Paltrow's own Met Gala history includes some legendary looks, though she's quick to point out they're more "evening dress" than "performance art." Her 2019 turn on the steps saw her channel "Valley of the Dolls" in a yellow Chloé dress she described as "like a lemon chiffon pie." But her absolute favorite? The high-low Prada halter she wore in 2012 — though notably, she's admitted that particular evening wasn't exactly a joyride. "It was so un-fun," she told USA Today in 2013. "It was boiling. It was too crowded. I did not enjoy it at all."
Others have echoed similar sentiments about the event — Amy Schumer, Demi Lovato, and Lena Dunham have all publicly expressed their disdain for the gala over the years. But as Paltrow proves, even with a love-hate relationship, you can't quit the Met Gala. And when she does return in May, you can bet she'll be in a dress — not a hot dog.
We hope to see Paltrow on the first Monday in May.
