Ever since Phoebe Bridgers wore a Halloween skeleton suit on the cover of her 2020 album Punisher, the singer has made bones a trademark element of her performances, music videos, and red carpet appearances (see: the Thom Browne ensemble she wore to last year’s Grammys). It’s only natural, then, that Bridgers would bring this motif to the 2023 Met Gala—only, her custom Tory Burch dress had a more unexpected, glamorous feel. “I’ve worn skeleton costumes for my entire adult life, but this is a really cool, subtle take on it,” says Bridgers, who is attending for the second time this year.
Bridgers never sought out to make this her signature, of course. “It just kind of happened,” says Bridgers. “It started out with a very cheap $10 skeleton suit—and then it turned into a Thom Browne one.” Even so, she’s enjoyed seeing her fans embrace the style: Attend any concert of hers, and you’re always bound to see a few skeleton-clad spectators in the crowd. “It’s so cool,” says Bridgers. “I even saw an instructional video on TikTok, of a fan teaching their followers how to make a top.”
When it came time for Bridgers and Burch to brainstorm for this year’s Met Gala, it became clear that the pair wanted to do an evening-ready riff on her skeleton suits. It resulted in Burch’s custom gown, made of lingerie mesh and duchesse satin, complete with hook-and-eye closures, an open back, and a pleated chiffon train. The ivory pearls embroidered onto the dress roughly outline the shape of a skeleton. “Phoebe and I talked about doing an abstract take on her skeleton suit,” says Burch. “I loved this challenge, because I thought it worked perfectly against the backdrop of Karl Lagerfeld’s signatures. I also wanted to continue the lingerie details from our fall 2023 collection. I am interested in challenging perceptions of femininity and revealing what is normally hidden.” The pearls—sourced from existing stock in Burch’s atelier—are a nod to Lagerfeld, who loved using the gems in his work.
