Olivia Wilde knows how to stand out at an industry event, even if it happens to be the star-studded, fashion-filled 2026 Met Gala. While plenty of other celebrities have caused a buzz among fans thanks to their eye-catching ensembles, Wilde has done the same due to the fact that, as E! News puts it, she showed up with a “cage on her butt.”
Olivia’s Dress Wasn’t as Simple as It Seemed
GettyWhen Wilde stepped out in front of the cameras at this year’s Met Gala, it looked like she had opted for a simple yet sleek black dress. However, that was just the beginning. When she started to walk around and pose in different ways, it was clear that there was much more to this particular gown.
“The Booksmart director arrived at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in a Thom Browne gown complete with a structural cage on the butt, playing into the May 4 event’s ‘Costume Art’ theme and ‘Fashion Is Art’ dress code,” according to E!
GettyPeople also notes that, “Wilde, who was styled by Karla Welch, wore an off-the-shoulder black Thom Browne gown. And while it may look simple from the front, the back of the form-fitting dress features a cage-like structure, out of which a white tulle train emerges.”
GettyInStyle also couldn’t resist reporting about the look, explaining that the star took “the little black dress to an artful new level at the 2026 Met Gala in New York City. On May 4, the actress walked the red carpet in a Thom Browne column gown with a sweeping train — and a sneaky surprise at the back.”
“Wilde’s off-the-shoulder look highlighted her décolletage, while tufts of white tulle were attached to her skirt,” InStyle mentioned. “In lieu of a traditional bustle, she opted for a deconstructed version made of leather, which created a cage that jutted out from her tailbone.”
Granted, when it comes to the practicality of the outfit, Wilde did previously address what she was planning to wear in her Instagram Stories (via People), saying, “Mentally preparing for the Met by practicing not ever sitting down or having to pee.”
This Isn’t Olivia’s First Met Gala
GettyAlthough fans will surely be talking about Wilde’s 2026 Met Gala appearance for years to come, this isn’t her first time attending the event.
Indeed, she “is no stranger to fashion’s biggest night, having made her debut in a black halter dress almost 20 years ago at the ‘Poiret: King of Fashion’ celebration in 2007,” E! notes. “Since then, the 42-year-old’s style has only gotten bolder.”
GettyE! points to Wilde’s 2015 Met Gala appearance, “when she rocked a plunging pink Prada gown and adorned with large gems — which she paired with equally bejeweled black gloves and a clutch from the same label — as a nod to the night’s ‘China: Through The Looking Glass’ theme.”
GettyThat was followed the next year by “embrac[ing] the futuristic aesthetic in a black Michael Kors gown featuring a large metal collar and silver embellishments for the ‘Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology’ exhibit,” E! recalls.
