Sam Smith turned heads at the 2026 Met Gala with one of the night’s most dramatic looks, but the outfit came with some serious weight behind it.
While speaking with Emma Chamberlain for Vogue on the red carpet Monday, May 4, Smith revealed just how intense it was wearing the elaborate black crystal covered robe and oversized feathered headpiece designed by partner Christian Cowan.
“This is genuinely the heaviest thing I’ve ever worn in my entire life,” Smith joked before entering the museum. “It’s basically a full workout. I feel so awake right now. It’s like wearing a corset on my shoulders.”
Cowan later confirmed the exact weight of the outfit: an astonishing 52 pounds.
Given the intricate details throughout the design, the weight is not entirely surprising. According to Cowan’s Instagram, the shimmering robe featured approximately 255,000 hand applied crystals and beads, requiring more than 2,000 hours of detailed sewing work.
“This look is a love letter to the king of fashion illustration, and also to my love, Sam,” Cowan wrote online. The designer and the “Stay With Me” singer have reportedly been together since around 2023.
Sam Smith joined dozens of celebrities at this year’s Met Gala, which was co chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour. The 2026 theme centered around “Costume Art” with the dress code “Fashion Is Art,” inspiring bold interpretations from stars including Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Madonna and BLACKPINK.
Watch Smith’s interview at the Met Gala below.
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