Sam Smith’s avant-garde ensemble for this year’s Met Gala was breathtaking, but it came with a staggering physical cost. The singer-songwriter admitted on the red carpet this past Monday (May 4) that their elaborate look was exceptionally heavy.
While speaking with Vogue correspondent Emma Chamberlain alongside partner Christian Cowan—who masterminded the custom design—the Grammy winner revealed that the intricate black, crystalline robe and its accompanying feather headpiece was, quite literally, “the heaviest thing I’ve ever worn in my life.”
“It’s an intense workout,” Smith remarked. “It keeps me completely alert. It feels like wearing a corset on my shoulders.”
Cowan later disclosed the precise weight of the masterpiece: a grueling 52 pounds.
A closer inspection of the garment explains the immense burden. According to details shared on Cowan’s Instagram, the jacket alone is an engineering feat, featuring 255,000 hand-applied crystals and beads, a labor of love that required 2,000 hours to construct.
“This creation is a love letter to the icon of fashion illustration, and to my partner, Sam,” wrote Cowan, who has been dating the singer since 2023.
Smith joined a star-studded guest list at the gala, which was co-chaired by Anna Wintour, Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams. Under the evening’s theme of “Costume Art” and the dress code “Fashion Is Art,” stars ranging from Madonna and Bad Bunny to Sabrina Carpenter and the members of BLACKPINK offered their own artistic interpretations, ensuring another unforgettable first Monday in May.
You can watch Smith’s full red carpet interview below.
