Inside Rauw Alejandro’s Met Gala Preparation Process
Hours before hitting the “Fashion Is Art” Met Gala carpet, the Puerto Rican reggaeton MVP invited Hypebeast to his room to get a first look at his custom Saint Laurent outfit.
Words by Nico Gavino
Photos by Nayquan Shuler
Rauw Alejandro was seated at the bathroom mirror, apparently relaxed, in the early afternoon before the 2026 Met Gala — his second time attending. Salsa music filled the hotel suite while a barber touched up his fade and another pair of hands lathered moisturizer over his tattoos. Sketches of his custom look and fabric swatches were sprawled out on a coffee table, each page emblazoned with a Saint Laurent header. One half of the night’s outfit, the trousers, was being finished by a seamstress in the next room, and the other half, a glossy black jacket, was hung on a rack nearby.
“I’m a pretty calm person,” Alejandro said as his team began the glam process. “I think being in a stadium gives me this adrenaline pump more than being on a red carpet, but I try to get relaxed a few minutes before.” For the Puerto Rican superstar, returning to The Met Gala feels more like a reunion among very stylish relatives whose well-dressed manner he’s eager to match: “I’m gonna see my people; I have to be dressed well.”
This year, the reggaeton sensation was dressed with the close involvement of Saint Laurent Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello, with whom he’s actively collaborated on events like his recent Cosa Nuestra tour and the Latin Grammys. “It’s like a family thing; it feels natural and organic,” he shared. In another corner of the suite, a modular silver headpiece inset with jewels by Yaaqee Studio (known for its sculptural grills) was being polished, and elsewhere, dazzling Chopard timepieces were spread out on a tray. For shoes, Rauw opted for a pair of pointy black YSL boots with a slightly raised heel, a go-to style in his day-to-day attire.
Clothing as an embodied art form was the central statement of the gala’s “Fashion Is Art” dress code, and many of the carpet looks, including Rauw’s bold-shouldered jacket, emphasized bodily perception. His alter-ego El Zorro (Spanish for “The Fox”) offers a complementary archetype for Alejandro: handsomely presented yet not overstated, and humble in size but full of nerve. “I’m not a ‘top model’ whose height is 6’2” — I’m 5’8”, but this outfit that we picked accentuates the body wearing it,” he added.
“Expensive,” “strong,” and “fearless” are the words Rauw uses to describe how a Saint Laurent look makes him feel, and if there’s an essential red-carpet accessory for him, it’s “confidence.” In the hours leading up to the Met Gala, Hypebeast got ready with Rauw Alejandro at the Carlyle Hotel to get a first look at his custom Saint Laurent look, his grooming tips for staying fresh through the night, and the YSL boots he can’t get enough of.
Nico Gavino: You had your first Met Gala in 2024. How does it feel to return for your second?
Rauw Alejandro: It’s like when you have very stylish family members that you haven’t seen in a while, and coming back, you’re like, “Damn, I know they dress good, and I have to step it up ’cause they are always killing it.” So I don’t feel a lot of pressure, but that kind of feeling of, “OK, I’m gonna see my people, I have to be dressed well.” I’ve got great colleagues here, and it’s a special night.
You’re coming back with one of the most legendary maisons to fashion’s biggest night. How does it feel to be working with Saint Laurent this time?
Oh, really happy man. I’m a big fan of Saint Laurent, of Anthony [Vaccarello], and all the work. It’s just amazing, and we’ve been working together for so long now. We did the entire Cosa Nuestra tour in YSL. Before that, runways and music videos. It’s like a family thing; it feels natural and organic. It’s just perfect that I’m wearing YSL at the Met Gala.
Tell me a little bit about what you’re gonna wear tonight.
I’m wearing a special piece by Anthony Vaccarello. It’s like a latex material with big, exaggerated shoulders and a big bow tie magnifying that. Then, really tailored pants — and the boots, which are amazing. I think black is a color that represents YSL. It’s so elegant, and it goes with my body. I’m not a ‘Top Model’ whose height is 6’2” — I’m 5’8”, but this outfit that we picked accentuates the body wearing it. I feel confident, man. I feel happy and so elegant. This is celebrating art in fashion.
Do you have a favorite detail from the look?
I think the reflection of the latex in contrast with the pants. The pants are kind of more matte, and the top is shiny. The contrast is strong in pictures and for a red carpet.
In three words, how do you feel when you put on a Saint Laurent look?
Expensive. Strong. And fearless.
If tonight’s song had a soundtrack, what would be playing?
It depends, because when I’m doing a fitting, it’s another vibe, but if you ask me for a red-carpet song, I think I would pick “Batdance” by Prince.
Good choice. What about go-to accessories for the carpet?
Man, the accessory for me is confidence. That’s my main accessory. And then the rest is optional, you know? Confidence.
When it comes to shoes, do you prefer lace-ups or loafers these days?
Lace-ups can be good during the day, and then at night, loafers can be nice. It also depends on the mission. I wear many types of shoes; it just depends on what we’re doing.
What are you wearing tonight for shoes?
For shoes, we’re doing a signature boot from YSL. Pointy boots. I have them all, like the charol (patent leather) and also the more matte leather one, but this is like an in-between for a nice contrast between the shirt and the pants. That’s one of my favorite YSL boots. It’s one of my favorite pairs to wear on the red carpet. I’ve been wearing them since, I think, my first Grammys. So it’s kind of part of my day-to-day [attire].
Do you have any grooming tips for keeping your look fresh through the night?
Oh my God, I think sleep. Sleep is the best medicine. And I try to do my skincare… sometimes. I’m gonna be honest, I don’t do it every day, but maybe twice a week. I think skincare is just as important. But for me, it’s a lot of water, exercise, and good sleep.
What about personal rituals before hitting the carpet?
I’m a pretty calm person. I think being in a stadium gives me this adrenaline pump more than being on a red carpet. But I try to get relaxed, try to be calm during the few minutes before [it starts]. Put some chill music on and then we’ll switch to “Batdance” and get into character.
Who do you think of when you hear “fashion is art” and why?
Man, I don’t have someone specific in my mind, but I think about the people who don’t follow the rules. They just go and they are themselves. It’s what is in my mind when you ask me this question. And I feel a similar attitude with those types of people, in that I just go how I feel and present myself. So yeah, there’ve been so many great celebrities and actors, models, singers, and artists that have done it, and you can tell that they are expressing themselves, not following the rules. Just be yourself.
