At the Met Gala, nothing is left to chance – not the guest list, not the theme, and certainly not the carpet. This year, the signature red carpet has been swapped for a bold, poetic statement: a deep blue carpet accented with vivid white and yellow daffodils. Designed by artist Cy Gavin, this blue runway not only sets the tone for the night’s fashion parade but also nods to the theme of the 2025 exhibit, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
While most red carpets are background decor, the Met Gala’s carpet is practically a character in itself. It reflects the theme of the exhibition and often mirrors the visual language of the year’s couture. In 2025, the carpet goes beyond being a mere surface, it’s an artistic canvas that brings together visual storytelling, culture, and style.
This year’s “blue carpet moment” is a deliberate break from tradition. The deep sky-blue hue is both arresting and elegant, offering a striking contrast to the ensembles of guests like Shah Rukh Khan, Emma Chamberlain and Teyana Taylor. Lined with fresh daffodils, symbols of rebirth and new beginnings, the carpet is also a nod to the dandy aesthetic celebrated in the exhibit. Dandyism, as explored in Slaves to Fashion, the book that inspired this year’s theme, is about expression through exquisite detail.A lush blue carpet covered in florals? That’s detail done right.
Also noteworthy is the fact that Cy Gavin’s painting “Untitled (Sky)” will be projected inside the Met during the event. The choice to carry that vision outside onto the carpet suggests that the experience isn’t just about what’s inside the museum, it begins the moment a celebrity steps out of their car and touches the walkway. It’s fashion as theatre, and the blue carpet is the stage.
So why does the carpet matter so much at the Met Gala?
For one, the Met Gala carpet is the first visual cue the audience gets about the tone of the evening. It’s an immersive mood board that frames the entire event. In past years, the carpet has helped amplify the story, like 2023’s mossy green carpet that echoed the “Garden of Time” theme. Though last year’s carpet received mixed reactions, some said it looked like a mouldy backdrop – this year’s blue creation has so far been met with softer, albeit still divided, opinions.Some find it “pretty,” while others feel it borders on “cheap.” That’s the thing about the Met carpet: it’s meant to spark conversation.
Ultimately, the carpet at the Met Gala is more than an entrance, it’s an experience. It sets the tone for what lies ahead, it reflects the theme in unexpected ways, and it becomes one of the most photographed visuals of the night. This year’s daffodil-lined blue runway is no exception. Whether loved or loathed, one thing is certain: at the Met, even the floor is a fashion statement.