The actress shares the details of her jewelry selection for her return to fashion's buzziest night
Credit: Heidi Stanton, Courtesy of Pandora
NEED TO KNOW
- Tessa Thompson attended the 2026 Met Gala in a Valentino gown and lab-grown Pandora diamonds
- As if the actress’ jewelry weren’t eye-catching enough, she also had a latex manicure
- This year’s Met Gala theme was “Costume Art” with the dress code being “Fashion Is Art”
The 2026 Met Gala shined bright with diamonds and actress Tessa Thompson helped contribute to the megawatt glow.
Among the guests who lit up the carpet with fabulous jewelry was the 42-year-old Creed actress, who wore Pandora lab-grown diamonds that she said were all about meaning over aesthetics (although, there was much to admire when it came to her stones).
“For me, jewelry is never just decorative, it carries memory, symbolism and feeling," the Emmy-nominated star tells PEOPLE exclusively. Pandora's lab-grown stones, which they introduced to the U.S. market in 2022 following their U.K. release in 2021, felt "especially right."
"They brought a sense of refinement and intention, while still feeling deeply modern and artistically alive," she added.
Credit: Heidi Stanton, Courtesy of Pandora
The showstopper was her Rigid Infinite Bracelet in 14K yellow gold with a 2-carat diamond, which she wore on her left wrist. As if that hand wasn't eye-catching enough thanks to the bling, manicurist Mei Kawajiri actually dipped her hand in cobalt blue latex paint and completed the look with Chillhouse's cobalt shade.
On her right hand, Thompson stacked six rings including the Triple Stone Ring, Eternity Ring, Diamond Ring, Half Eternity Band Ring and the Station Ring from the Era collection, as well as the Talisman Diamond Heart Ring.
She completed the look with elegant stud earrings from Pandora's Era and Infinite collections.
Credit: Heidi Stanton, Courtesy of Pandora
Thompson married her jewelry with a custom cobalt blue — or klein blue — silk crêpe gown by Valentino. As shared in the brand's Instagram description of the piece, it was designed with an asymmetrical silhouette with sculpted cut-outs at the hem and neckline to evoke the fluidity of a dripping painting. For context: the dress code for the evening was "Fashion Is Art" with the theme — and coordinating exhibit — being "Costume Art."
Her glam was created by celebrity makeup artist Michael Anthony using Valentino Beauty. As shared in a press release, her complexion was enhanced with the brand's dual-purpose palettes to create a "natural flushed and bronzed effect" all over.
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This year's Met Gala was Thompson's seventh since she made her debut in 2018. She's worn everything from innovative hairstyles (yes, we're still thinking about her 12-inch long latex braid from 2019) to romantic confections to inspirational glam, and if she returns to fashion's biggest night again, well, we'll be seated.
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