Halle Berry made headlines at this year’s Met Gala, commanding attention in one of the most revealing outfits of the night.
At 58, the Oscar-winning actress proved she’s still every bit the showstopper — confidently walking the red carpet in a daring look that appeared to leave underwear behind.
Explanation behind daring dress
In a career spanning three decades, Halle Berry, a striking beauty at 58, is one of Hollywood’s highest paid female actors.
After her performance as a struggling woman in Monster’s Ball (2001) Berry became the first black woman to have won an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Today she’s adored by millions of fans across the globe — but the actress is now facing backlash online after stepping onto the Met Gala red carpet in a shocking, underwear-free outfit that some are calling “crass.”
For her show-stopping 2025 Met Gala comeback, Berry made a bold statement in a sheer, striped gown with a plunging neckline — marking her return to the iconic Met steps for the first time since 2017.
The daring dress, designed by LaQuan Smith, was described as “a mix of s*xy Bond girl meets Harlem Renaissance,” he told Vogue. The exclusive ensemble, inspired by the Mongolian snow leopard, featured 31.69 carats of diamonds and 3.74 carats of onyx, meticulously crafted over 1,455 hours by Cartier artisans.
“Trashy” and “inappropriate”
Just Halle Berry’s earrings, mimicking the geometric design of her necklace, featured 3.96 carats of diamonds and 0.4 carats of onyx. These exquisite pieces were crafted over 319 hours, adding an extra layer of artistry and luxury to her 2025 Met Gala look.
Smith praised the Catwoman star for her hands-on role in bringing the vision to life.
“I’m just grateful to serve as a humble muse for LaQuan Smith, who answered the call for a bespoke gown befitting a powerful theme,” Halle told the outlet.
While designer LaQuan Smith described the look as a celebration of “self-expression and being bold,” not everyone was on board.
The 58-year-old actress also appeared to forgo underwear in what was arguably one of the most revealing outfits of the night, leaving little to the imagination.
Her dress sparked major backlash online — with many critics slamming her daring see-through look as “trashy” and “inappropriate.”
“Just straight up trashy,” one user wrote, while another added, “This is wrong in so many ways.”
Designed with intention
The backlash over Halle Berry’s daring Met Gala look continued to pour in across social media, with many calling out the star for taking things too far.
“Ugh,” one person wrote. “So cheap, Halle.”
Another added, “… one thing about Halle, she ALWAYS gonna show up half nekked.”
Perhaps the most blunt comment of all read: “Why is her punani out omg.”
The theme for the 2025 Met Gala was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” a celebration of menswear and Black dandyism — a movement that uses sharp tailoring and personal style as both resistance and cultural pride. The official dress code? “Tailored for You.”
Halle Berry’s American fashion designer, LaQuan Smith, said her daring dress was a direct reflection of the theme’s deeper message.
“We took traditional tailoring elements, structured shoulders, defined waistlines, and reimagined them with sheer fabrics, stretch silks, and unexpected cutouts,” he told Vogue.
LaQuan emphasized that Halle’s look was designed with intention, aligning with the theme’s “ethos” through “exaggerated lines, luxurious fabrics, and sheer boldness.”
He also praised the Oscar winner for her creative input during the design process.
“She knows exactly who she is and has such a clear sense of style, but she’s also incredibly collaborative. During the fittings, she wasn’t just stepping into a garment—she was shaping it with me,” LaQuan said.
Halle Berry’s daring 2025 Met Gala look definitely made waves — but did it go too far? While some applauded her bold, boundary-pushing style, others felt her choice crossed a line.
Was it empowering self-expression, or was it just too much for the red carpet?
