Sam Smith recently unveiled the extraordinary size of their 2026 Met Gala ensemble, designed by their partner, Christian Cowan. The black showgirl-inspired mermaid dress, which had sleeves that resembled wings, was anything but featherweight. Sharing that the garment weighed 52 pounds, the "Latch" singer admitted to Vogue correspondent Emma Chamberlain, "This is the heaviest thing I've ever worn in my life. It's a massive workout."
Despite its imposing appearance, the 33-year-old actually felt that the heavy material made them "more alert" and acted like "a corset on the shoulders." Although wearing a weighty gown wasn't the artist's idea—they have their partner of nearly four years to thank for that.
"Sam was like, 'Babe, please make something that's lighter.' And I didn't do that," Christian said to Vogue while detailing how the look came together. "Sorry. But yeah, it's just kind of hearkening back to the '20s and the opulence that came with that."
In line with the "Fashion is Art" dress code, Sam's dress, which was finished with a fuzzy collar and feather headdress, paid tribute to the acclaimed illustrator Erté, who was prominent in the art deco movement. (For his part, Christian complemented Sam at the "Costume Art" themed event in a textured all-black suit.)
As for how many beads made up the stunning embroidery on Sam's dress? The fashion designer revealed the final total was 255,000 beads. Despite the weight of the gown, the "Dancing With a Stranger" singer—who has been in a relationship with Christian since 2022—confessed there was no one else they would rather work with when it comes to crafting a look.
"There is no one that knows my body more than this man," they gushed. "And we sit at home together and it's our third Met together. And so we get to just dream up a world together." Speaking directly to their partner, Sam said, "I feel very lucky to be here with you and get to wear your incredible talent like this."
