Surprise! Blake Lively made her grand return to the 2026 Met Gala tonight. (The star last attended the event in 2022, but has been a regular fixture on the Met steps over the years—having attended a whopping total of 10 times prior to this evening.)

To mark her buzzy entrance into this year’s red carpet, the star chose an archival Atelier Versace number from spring 2006. (A decade later, the glamorous gown clearly still feels relevant.) “Blake looks stunning in archive Atelier Versace,” Donatella Versace exclusively tells Vogue. “She has had so many iconic Versace moments at the Met, and tonight is no exception.”

Drawing inspiration from the “Fashion is Art” dress code, Lively chose a pastel Atelier Versace gown that featured three-dimensional architectural elements, all inspired by 18th-century Venetian Rococo paintings. The draped bodice—which clung to the body with an almost liquid-like construction—was embroidered with gemstones in shades of powdery pinks, yellows, corals, peaches, and lilacs.

At the hips, four three-dimensional structures—acting as “bays”—evoked the architecture of a Baroque church. The sweeping four-meter skirt (that’s over 13 feet), meanwhile, featured fabric that dissolved into a painted sunset-like sky. “As in grand ceiling decorations, this is not simply a dress to be worn, but a space to inhabit,” read a release from the Italian label.

Lively accessorized the look, meanwhile, with a personal and meaningful accessory: A custom Judith Leiber Couture bag that incorporated colorful artworks made by her four children (her three daughters and son, which she shares with husband Ryan Reynolds).

"The team and I always enjoy it when Blake reaches out with special projects. Her love of sparkle and touch of whimsy make her a dream client,” says Jana Matheson, the EVP and chief creative officer of Judith Leiber Couture. “This season’s clutch, featuring her children’s artwork, is an especially meaningful touch. We used a new minaudière shape with four sides, so each of her children's drawings could be included. What better way to bring your four little ones to a black-tie event than by carrying them with you on your clutch?”

Lively has always been one star to count on delivering drama at the Met. In years past, the actor has worn many winning Versace creations, including her 2022 gown inspired by the Statue of Liberty that “patinaed” on the carpet—her long train unraveled to showcase a copper-like finish. In 2018, she donned an ornate red-and-gold Versace design for the “Heavenly Bodies” theme. Tonight, then, you could say she continued on with tradition. Va-va-versace!

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