Bella Hadid did not need the Met Gala carpet to get people looking.
The 29-year-old supermodel skipped the 2026 Met Gala, but she still served a major fashion moment on Instagram. In a new carousel, Hadid leaned fully into boho glamour while showing off blonde curls, a romantic Chloé dress, and the kind of sunlit setting that looked built for summer.
Her post came shortly after she sat out the annual New York fashion event, which has faced criticism over Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez-Bezos’ involvement.
Bella Hadid Goes Boho After Skipping Met Gala
Hadid wore a flowing bohemian-inspired Chloé dress with dramatic bell sleeves, layered ruffles, and a dreamy 1970s prairie-style feel. The look was soft, airy, and very different from the high-drama Met Gala outfits that dominated the week.
She paired the dress with chunky brown leather clogs, giving the outfit extra height and a more grounded vintage feel. Hadid wore the look while attending an event for her fragrance label, Orebella.
“This dress made me feel things,” Hadid captioned the post, adding three white heart emojis.
The carousel showed her lounging around a cozy cottage, posing outdoors in the backyard, and soaking up the sunlight beside a parked car. Her newly blonde hair was styled in soft ringlet curls and decorated with tiny white flowers. It was a full summer mood.
Her Blonde Curls Get The Spotlight
Hadid’s hair may have been the real headline. The soft blonde curls gave the photos a relaxed, romantic feel, especially paired with the Chloé dress and flower details.
The look felt casual, but not lazy. It had the kind of “I skipped the biggest fashion night of the year and still looked better on my own feed” energy that fans tend to notice.
Hadid has now missed the Met Gala for four straight years. Her last appearance at the event was in 2022.
Why Bella Hadid Skipped The Met Gala
Ahead of this year’s event, Hadid appeared to hint at her stance by liking a post from internet personality Meredith Lynch criticizing the gala’s connection to Bezos.
The video said, “‘You cannot wear the ICE out pin to the Jeff Bezos-backed MET Gala. Jeff Bezos is part of the reason we’re in this mess.’”
The criticism referred to controversy tied to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and reported business connections involving Bezos-linked companies.
Hadid was not the only star missing from the gala. Zendaya also skipped the event, while reports claimed Meryl Streep withdrew from co-chair duties over Bezos-related sponsorship concerns. Bella’s sister Gigi Hadid did attend, along with Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, and Hailey Bieber.
Bella, meanwhile, looked unbothered. She skipped the carpet, posted the dress, and let Instagram do the rest.
