Couture or Code?

Carlota S.

Sep 3

4 min read

Updated: Sep 10

The Met Gala has always been one of the most prestigious events where not only raise funds for the Metropolitans Museum of arts costume institute, but it is a place where designers and artists can display and display their talent and creativity to the world. In the hours following the 2026 Met Gala, social media users' feeds were flooded with lavish celebrity looks including glowing gowns, dramatic wings, and silhouette structures so incredibly surreal that they almost seemed impossible. Quickly, these photos spread, reaching millions of views in hours. This created a community where users reposted, commented on, and analyzed these outfits as if they were real red carpet looks.

However, in many cases, these images were AI generated. Although this first gained traction a couple years back, the incident has intensified in 2026 especially since the algorithm rewards this kind of behavior. What used to be a harmless expression of creativity has grown and snowballed into larger concerns about fashion media, artistic craftsmanship, and fear that comes with the inability to distinguish reality and a fake image. AI generated Met Gala images are reshaping the way audiences consume fashion by prioritizing what would go viral over authenticity, undermining the craftsmanship behind couture design, and weakening trust in visual media itself.

AI generated photos at the Met Gala first exploded in 2024 with pictures of Katy Perry and Rihanna began to circulate online, even though neither of them even attended the event. Many users believed that these images were real with even some fake looks getting more attention and engagement than the real ones.

According to TIME, the images became so convincing that “it was difficult to discern what was real”. With the development and growth of AI, it has made it increasingly difficult to tell whether pictures could be fake or not. “I honestly had no idea those pictures were fake. I didn't even realize until you told me right now. As someone very interested in the fashion industry, I'm shocked” said Jordan Posner ‘28. At the time, many people just dismissed the trend as a harmless and unserious way of entertainment. But, by 2026 this issue had evolved into something much larger, something impactful and significant. This year, articles from Cosmopolitan and The News International discussed how once again, AI generated Met Gala images took over platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X, spreading with incredible speed as users quickly reposted without verifying their authenticity. The News International described how “the photos were entirely AI- generated, yet platforms like X and Instagram spread them with the velocity of genuine celebrity journalism”. Social media algorithms seem to reward the most dramatic and attention-grabbing content, regardless of whether it's real or not. AI generated Met Gala images are created to be more extravagant and captivating than reality itself.

More than just being a major source of misinformation, AI generated fashion imagery also undermines the craftsmanship behind couture and its design. Met Gala outfits are not random costumes or pieces of fabric thrown together overnight. Designers and artisans prepare for months. They sketch, tailor, embroider, and construct garments that are meant to work as wearable art. Every detail, from the fabric to silhouette is carefully chosen to communicate a creative vision. AI generated fashion ignores physical realities and restrictions completely. Artificial intelligence can instantly generate impossible dresses made of ice, crystals, or gravity defying structures that would be almost impossible to construct in real life. As audiences become exposed and used to these digitally exaggerated looks, real couture begins to feel disappointing in comparison. “People forget that real Met Gala outfits take months to make. AI can create something crazier in. two seconds, so then people expect real designers to compete with something impossible”, said Tova Katz ‘28. In a media environment so heavily saturated with artificial, over the top imagery, reality starts to feel underwhelming. Instead of appreciating the labor and creativity behind a garment, audiences are encouraged to consume fashion as content designed purely for engagement.

This growing phenomenon has also begun weakening trust in real fashion media itself. After multiple years of Met Gala AI generated images circulating online, many users now instinctively question whether dramatic red-carpet looks are real or not. During the 2026 Met Gala, users heavily debated whether Kendall Jenners winged gown was AI generated because the design appeared too surreal to be real. Ironically, the dress was completely authentic. The issue has gotten to the point where audiences judge even real couture and look at it with skepticism. Fashion journalism depends heavily on photography and audience trust. If viewers can no longer determine real from fake, especially in such a delicate industry based on the facts, credibility begins to weaken.

Fashion journalism has always been built around documenting the truth, analyzing artistry, and capturing creative moments. However, in this era of AI generated imagery, users are no longer only debating whether an outfit is beautiful or controversial, they are beginning to question whether the image itself is even real. What started as a simple experiment has evolved into a larger cultural issue surrounding authenticity, craftsmanship, and trust in visual media.

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