Trend forecaster Mandy Lee's predictions for the 2026 Met Gala

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      With the 2026 Met Gala approaching, trend forecaster and content creator Mandy Lee is eager to see the 'Costume Art' theme come to fruition. "That theme can be interpreted in countless ways," Lee noted. "There’s a lot of possibilities." One red carpet exhibition theme that particularly excites Lee is pregnancy. "I’m really happy that there will be a focus on that," she shared. In the latest episode of The Who What Wear Podcast, Lee discusses her Met Gala predictions, her transition from an in-house trend forecaster to building a following of over 600,000 on TikTok, and more. For highlights from their discussion, scroll down.

      For those who may not be familiar, could you provide a brief overview of how you began your career as an analyst and how you became such a well-loved fashion commentator online? I kicked off my career in planning and forecasting at a tech company in Boston before switching to the beauty sector. I handled planning and forecasting for an in-house hair brand in Brooklyn. After being laid off during the pandemic, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, I downloaded TikTok that same day. I realized I wasn’t seeing the content I wanted, and honestly, I missed analyzing trends—the aspect I loved most about my corporate job. It felt like I was losing my identity after being laid off. I’ve managed to build a successful freelance career over the past four years, which I’m incredibly proud of. I’m currently signed with IMG as the only fashion commentator they have.

      What are your reflections on last season? Were there any standout moments from the last fashion month that excited you? For me, the overriding theme of fall/winter '26 was movement—in fabrics and silhouettes. I’ve always disliked the whole quiet luxury trend. To me, it seemed like a fallback into recession core, which isn’t effective. Simply making basic clothing doesn’t guarantee sales. Unfortunately, Sabato's [De Sarno] Gucci exemplified this—creating simpler clothing doesn’t incentivize people to buy. I believe the significant takeaways for fall '26 are movement and texture, emphasizing what differentiates a brand and focusing on distinct house codes that make a brand special—not just producing the same white t-shirt with a logo printed on it. That approach won’t succeed.

      What are some of your predictions or points of anticipation for the Met Gala? This year’s theme is costume art, and I think the dress code is art as fashion. The theme can be interpreted in myriad ways—there's so much to explore. I’m honestly thrilled. Much of the exhibition will highlight various body types—classical, reclaimed, pregnant, anatomical, and abstract, which are the main pillars discussed for the exhibition. As we know, the theme sometimes differs from the exhibition. To me, the exhibition often sets the tone for the theme, and when I make my trend predictions, I typically choose a few that align with what’s showcased. We only get to see five themes in advance, and the one I’m most excited about is the pregnancy aspect. I’m really looking forward to that spotlight. Rihanna has attended the Met Gala pregnant on two occasions, as we know. I’m hoping to see a lot of Comme [des Garçons] as well; I wore a Comme coat myself, anticipating that bodies would be a significant theme.

      I think the anatomical body will be the most evident, like the Schiaparelli lung dress worn by Bella [Hadid].

      (Image credit: Getty Images)

      (Image credit: Getty Images)

      Thom Browne and Schiaparelli seem to dominate the Met Gala almost every year, so I always look forward to their contributions. Also, last year, Marc Jacobs really shone – I was completely amazed. I believe Teyana Taylor will also impress, and I think another emerging talent, Olandria (Carthen), will make her debut. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.