By channeling the very tools of sartorial creation, Jenna Ortega turned the Met Gala red carpet into her own personal comic book origin story—one where metallurgy, measurement, and mastery collide in a sleek, silvered strike of style.
At just 22 years old, Ortega—who’s already cemented her status as a genre-defining icon with roles in Wednesday and Beetlejuice: Death of a Unicorn—delivered one of the most thematically sharp and visually striking looks of the 2025 Met Gala. Under the watchful eyes of co-chairs like Anna Wintour, Colman Domingo, and A$AP Rocky, and amid the cultural gravitas of the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition, Ortega didn’t just show up. She leveled up.
Metal Rulers as Armor: A Genius Twist on “Tailored for You”
Designed by Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, Ortega’s gown wasn’t just a dress—it was a concept brought to life. Crafted entirely from metallic rulers, the bodycon strapless sheath paid homage to the unseen heroes of fashion: patternmakers. These are the craftsmen and women who wield tape measures and rulers like Thor does Mjolnir, shaping fabric into form and idea into identity.
Rousteing’s vision transformed these utilitarian tools into elements of elegance and empowerment. As People eloquently put it, the dress is “a poetical ode to couture and craftsmanship.” Each ruler was placed with precision—vertically aligned to elongate her silhouette, interlocked to mimic the structure of a bustier, and sculpted to move with her. It’s rare that a garment so literally references its own creation process and still manages to feel futuristic, feminine, and fierce all at once.
Aesthetic Choices That Balanced Softness with Strength
Jenna’s styling completed the narrative. Her brunette locks, smoothed into Old Hollywood waves and parted down the middle, softened the industrial edge of the metallic dress. Her makeup struck the perfect balance—smoky gray eyeshadow added mystery, while a deep burgundy lip injected passion. The look was a masterclass in contrast: soft glam meets steel precision.
Her jewelry—an emerald lab-grown diamond Cleopatra choker from Grown Brilliance, along with several silver and diamond rings—glimmered like artifacts from a dystopian goddess. These choices weren’t just about sparkle; they were about story. Like a hero donning relics from their origin world, Ortega’s accessories tied her look back to the theme of the night: tailored identity, craftsmanship, and cultural resonance.
More Than Fashion: A Commentary on Craft, Identity, and Innovation
While many attendees interpreted the “Tailored for You” dress code through suits, blazers, and embroidery, Ortega took a different route—one that echoes the best moments in superhero storytelling. Instead of relying on established tropes, she created an original symbol. If the Met Gala is the comic book panel for fashion, then Ortega’s Balmain gown is her variant cover: familiar in form, but revolutionary in execution.
Her metal ruler dress doesn't just celebrate tailoring—it elevates it. It calls attention to the craftsmanship behind every stitch and seam, much like how a film like Black Panther shines a light on Wakandan technology as an extension of culture. This is fashion with function, symbolism with style. It's a visual metaphor for measurement—not of bodies, but of worth, precision, and presence.
Jenna Ortega’s Met Gala Evolution: From Barbie Pink to Gothic Queen to Couture Catalyst
Ortega’s 2025 appearance marks her third consecutive Met Gala, and her evolution on the carpet is nothing short of cinematic. In 2022, she debuted with a neon Barbie-pink Valentino look that screamed youthful exuberance. In 2023, she channeled her Wednesday persona with a dual gothic ensemble by Thom Browne—one look for the main event, another for the afterparty, each dripping with storytelling and subtext.
Now, in 2025, Ortega isn’t just experimenting—she’s innovating. Her Balmain look isn't tied to a character; it's original lore. It's the kind of creative risk that transforms a star into a muse, and a muse into a legend. Ortega is no longer playing roles—she's creating a persona through fashion that's as compelling as any script.
Met Gala 2025: A Stage for Black Dandyism, Tailoring, and Ortega’s Metallic Masterstroke
Set against the backdrop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition on Black style and dandyism, Ortega’s look may not have directly referenced the theme through color or pattern, but it engaged with it on a deeper level. “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” explores how clothing has been used by Black individuals as a form of power, identity, and resistance. Ortega’s dress, with its roots in the language of tailoring, speaks to that same idea—clothes as armor, as expression, as weapon.
In a night filled with cultural heavyweights and fashion historians, Jenna Ortega spoke in metal—and the message was clear: She’s measured, she’s precise, and she’s unstoppable.