I was flipping through some old photos the other day, and it reminded me of that crazy time I tried to recreate Rihanna’s 2018 Met Gala look. I’m no fashion designer, but I’ve always loved a good challenge, and let me tell you, this was a DOOZY.

It all started when I saw the photos of Rihanna at the event. The theme was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” and Rihanna, being Rihanna, totally nailed it. She wore this insanely intricate outfit by Maison Margiela that looked like something the Pope would wear, but, like, a really cool, fashionable Pope.
I was like a kid who wants to make a cake, so I got this wild idea to try and make my own version. I mean, how hard could it be, right? Famous last words, my friends.
First, I had to gather my materials. I hit up every fabric and craft store in town. I was looking for anything silver, sparkly, and vaguely religious-looking. I ended up with a weird mix of stuff, like tinfoil, old costume jewelry, and a bunch of those shiny beads you use for Mardi Gras necklaces.
Then came the hard part – actually putting it all together. I didn’t really have a plan, just a vague idea of what I wanted it to look like. I started by making a sort of robe out of some cheap silver fabric I found. It was way too big, and I had no idea how to sew properly, so I ended up using a lot of safety pins and hot glue. I would say it looks terrible, and I love it!
- Made a hat out of cardboard and tinfoil.
- Glued a bunch of fake jewels onto it.
- Tried to make it look like a crown.
- It ended up looking more like a spaceship, but I went with it.
The whole process took me weeks. My apartment was a total mess, covered in glitter and fabric scraps. I stayed up late every night, fueled by coffee and the sheer determination to finish this ridiculous project. My friends thought I was nuts, but they also couldn’t wait to see the final result.

When I finally finished, I tried it on, and… well, it was something. It definitely wasn’t as polished or professional-looking as Rihanna’s, but it had its own weird charm. It was heavy, it was uncomfortable, and it was falling apart in places, but I was so proud of it.
I wore it to a costume party, and people loved it. They couldn’t believe I had made it myself. I won the “Most Creative Costume” award, which was pretty awesome. So, yeah, that’s the story of how I tried and sort of succeeded to recreate one of the most iconic Met Gala looks of all time. It was a wild ride, and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.