Dwayne Johnson stunned fans and fashion critics when he arrived at the 2026 Met Gala in a bold, tailored pleated skirt.
Walking the red carpet hand in hand with his wife, Lauren Hashian, the star known as “The Rock” swapped his usual pantsuits for a black mohair tailcoat and matching skirt by Thom Browne.
The intricate outfit was a true work of art, featuring a “skeletal composition” made from more than 350 meters of hand-pleated silk ribbons.
When reporters reached out to him to ask what he thought of the ensemble, Johnson was quick to explain that the look was deeply rooted in his heritage.
He mentioned that when the design team first asked him if he would be comfortable wearing a pleated skirt, his answer was immediately yes.
Johnson pointed out that in Polynesian culture, men frequently wear lavalavas and skirts, noting that the more masculine men in his culture adopt these garments.
“I feel good!” he told reporters, scoffing at any suggestion that the outfit was anything less than traditional for him.
The actor joins an elite list of attendees at this year’s event, organized by a committee including Zoë Kravitz, Sabrina Carpenter and Doja Cat.
As one of the most talked about men of the evening, Johnson’s choice to embrace his Polynesian roots through high fashion was a direct response to the “Fashion is Art” theme.
By combining Thom Browne’s avant-garde tailoring with the cultural significance of lavalava, he managed to transform a red carpet moment into a meaningful conversation about identity and what it truly means to be a modern man.
