'Awkward': Anna Wintour Appears at the Met Gala in a Dress with a Stain, Igniting Criticism

Netizens have pointed out faults with Anna Wintour's dress at the 2025 Met Gala. The fashion guru discussed the event in an interview with Michael Strahan.

Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour made a striking appearance at this year's Met Gala, held in New York City on May 5, 2025. After photos of the fashion icon surfaced online, netizens noticed something amiss with her attire, pointing out unexpected flaws, which they had a lot to say about.

Wintour arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art draped in a floor-length ice-blue silk gown adorned with delicate floral embroidery. The richly textured dress with sheen caught the light with every step, flowing elegantly beneath a sharp-shouldered, pastel blue blazer coat.

Accentuating the ensemble was a prominent brooch pinned neatly to her lapel — a vintage-style piece that added a layer of stately charm. Around her neck sat a heavy, double-stranded silver necklace, grounding the look with a touch of modern flair.

The carefully coordinated palette and tailored silhouette aligned with this year's Met Gala theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style."

What began as a regal appearance on the iconic Met Gala steps quickly turned into a subject of online chatter, thanks, in part, to a sharp-eyed post from Bored Panda.

The outlet shared a side-by-side zoomed-in image of Wintour in her blue ensemble alongside a close-up of a visible mark on the silk fabric — a subtle but clearly defined stain near the dress's embroidery.

Though minute in size, the blemish stood out against the smooth sheen of the material, and Bored Panda didn't hesitate to spotlight it in their post, which quickly made rounds on social media.

The post's tone leaned toward being cheeky yet incredulous, hinting at the magnitude of such a slip-up in the context of Wintour's meticulous reputation.

The post and other images shared of Wintour quickly became a lightning rod for online opinions, with netizens flooding various comment sections to weigh in on the visible blemish and the fashion mogul's overall look.

Many were stunned that such an oversight had made it to the Met Gala red carpet — and on Wintour, no less. One spectator remarked, "Yes! I zoomed in to examine the puckering and was shocked at [sic] that stain on her thigh/knee area. Awkward."

Someone else chimed, "Sad that she's disrespecting the gala like this." Several people also took aim at the condition of the gown itself, with particular attention paid to its texture.

"Beautiful; too bad it's wrinkled at the bottom. Some one must her down and give that dress a blow dry [sic]," a Facebooker noted, while another declared, "Yikes, dress is so wrinkled and stained."

Despite the disapproval, not all commentary was harsh. Someone on Reddit tried to make sense of the surprising flaw, theorizing that it might have been intentional.

Others pointed out the contrast between the criticism and the garment's aesthetic appeal, with one person noting how the stain had become impossible to ignore, even as they praised the look.

Additional voices hinted at behind-the-scenes consequences, offering dramatic reactions like, "Oh baby; [sic] heads will roll." Still, admiration managed to cut through the scrutiny for a few commenters, one of whom praised, "Stained or not, that's a beautiful blue gown."

As online reactions circulated in response to Wintour's appearance, her own words, shared earlier that day in an interview with "Good Morning America" co-anchor Michael Strahan, offered a more grounded look into the meaning behind the evening.

Wintour, who has spearheaded the Met Gala since 1995, spoke candidly about the emotional resonance of this year's event, noting, "Each one is very different. And this one has been, I think, particularly meaningful and emotional and has a real heightened sense of purpose, because of the times that we're living in."

The theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," paid tribute to Black designers, Black identity, and the transformative role of fashion in elevating cultural narratives.

Wintour emphasized the industry's responsibility in this regard, stating, "Obviously [sic] there's always more work to be done, Michael. And it's very aware that the Black fashion community needs to be supported as much as possible."

The conversation also touched on the upcoming Costume Institute exhibition, opening May 10 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It complements the gala's theme by showcasing the craft of Black creatives through the lens of menswear tailoring.

Wintour hopes the exhibit will leave a lasting impression, explaining, "What I'm hoping that this exhibition will do is really put a light on the talent of all these arbiters of style [...] when I look at the show I [sic] see freedom. I see liberation. I see hope. I see respect. And I see joy."

This year also marked a historic first for the event, with all four co-chairs — Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell Williams — and honorary chair LeBron James being Black men.

Admiring their involvement, Wintour divulged, "They've all been on the phone, they've been up to see the exhibition, they want to represent being co-chairs for this exhibition to the fullest." She even shared a lighthearted anecdote about Domingo texting her a preview of his outfit, which she dubbed "a work of art."

Though she hadn't yet seen all the co-chairs' ensembles at that time, she expressed full confidence, especially in Hamilton, saying, "I trust Lewis. Lewis totally knows what he's doing."

Anna Wintour also spoke about her own Met Gala outfit, revealing that it came to fruition from a collaboration with Williams, who was inspired by the late and great designer Virgil Abloh.

"It's a combination of the reference to a creation that a design that Virgil made some years ago with Pharrell's reinterpretation," disclosed Wintour.

Speaking on the theme and dress code, "Tailored for You," Wintour shared, "We always try and honor the theme of the exhibition, and because the exhibition is really about men's tailoring, men's costumes, we felt that tailoring for you was a nod to the title of the exhibition, the content of the exhibition, the theme of the exhibition."

She continued, "It also left, hopefully, room for self-expression and individuality." Even amid the meticulous preparation, Wintour acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the gala's final moments.

"Well, the final hours … the train has left the station," she quipped. "There's not much more one can do except panic … which I do in spades." Still, her composure and dedication to inclusivity continued to shape the spirit of the Met Gala.

As Strahan reflected on the cultural weight of the evening, telling her, "Culturally, it means a lot to someone like me," Wintour responded with warmth, "I'm very happy to hear that."

While Wintour's Met Gala outfit certainly got the public talking, it was not the only eye-catching look at the glitzy affair and the afterparty that followed. Check out some of the dazzling ensembles at the Met Gala After-Party below: