Last night, Sombr was one of many stars in attendance who marked their very first time attending the 2026 Met Gala. But the singer—who is building a reputation for embracing his distinct, flamboyant-cool personal look both on the stage and red carpets—was well prepared to deliver a fashion moment on the Met steps. “Growing up in New York and seeing some of the most exciting people in the world on that red carpet, and then having the anticipation of being among those people this year—it was a dream turning into a reality turning into a dream,” says Sombr.
To mark his Met debut, the star wore a custom Valentino look designed by Alessandro Michele. (The Italian label frequently dresses him.) “I wanted to be a ‘canvas with a point of view’ for the creativity of Alessandro Michele,” says Sombr. “Fashion is Art, and art is about expressing emotion. The idea (and the result) was pure emotion.”
The undeniable showstopper was his hand-embroidered tulle and chiffon cape featuring a variety of materials in a dégradé of silver and gray hues, and which took more than 500 hours of work to complete. “The intricacy of the sequins on the cape was sick,” says Sombr. “Every detail was a revelation.”
Paired with the dramatic cape was a lamé lace top, embellished with an asymmetrical crepe de chine and satin motif—creating the effect of ribbon being wrapped around the torso. Given that the Met exhibition this year centers around the clothed (and unclothed) body and its depiction in art, his decision to expose the form was appropriately on theme (and he is no stranger to sheer dressing, after all). His trousers, meanwhile, were also embellished with a braided trim at the waist and sides.
