Why Kendall’s never-worn Givenchy gown was a McQueen Met Gala grail

Kim Kardashian might have caused a big furore when she squeezed herself into Marilyn Monroe’s legendary naked dress at the 2022 Met Gala, but Kendall Jenner wasn’t about to do the same when she dug up an extremely special archival Givenchy look for this year’s event.

The model went for a slinky 25-year-old gown designed by Alexander McQueen during his stint at the storied French house, which lasted from 1996 until 2001, which features signature bum-skimming detailing and a dramatic sweeping train.

The beaded, second-skin Haute Couture piece is also dotted with 100,000 crystals and took over 500 hours to bring to life, but since being shown on a mannequin back in 1999, it has been squirrelled away and unworn by a human.

It was touch and go whether she would actually be able to wear the look, though, with strictly no adjustments or alterations allowed were it not to fit. 

However, the piece fit “like a glove” the model told Vogue on the green carpet, which is good news for her – because who wouldn’t want to slip into such an iconic piece of fashion history? In-keeping with the theme of this year's Met exhibition, the gown was a true Sleeping Beauty – at least until Jenner got her hands on it.