Hailey Bieber’s Met Gala Evolution: From Princess Heels to That Crystal “WANG” Thong

At the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Hailey Bieber embraced the night’s “Camp: Notes on Fashion” theme with a deliberately exaggerated take on late-2010s glamour, combining a blush-pink Alexander Wang gown with hyper-feminine “Barbie” styling and one of the evening’s most talked-about accessories: a crystal-embellished “WANG” thong intentionally built into the dress.

Hailey Bieber’s blush-pink Alexander Wang gown exposed the crystal “WANG” thong detail across her open back, turning visible lingerie into one of the defining fashion statements of the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019 (Credit: WENN / Andres Otero)

She wore a custom Alexander Wang gown constructed from stretch tulle densely covered in micro-sequins, creating a sleek, second-skin effect that reflected the body-conscious eveningwear trend dominating red carpets at the time.

The exposed crystal “WANG” thong — described by the designer as a “crystal nameplate thong” — turned visible lingerie into a deliberate styling statement and quickly became one of the defining fashion moments of the night.

A close-up of the crystal-embellished “WANG” nameplate thong revealed the intentionally provocative styling detail that anchored Hailey Bieber’s exaggerated “Barbie-chic” Met Gala look

Rather than competing with the dress’s sparkle and provocative styling detail, Hailey’s accessories stayed intentionally minimal. Her custom Alexander Wang sandals were mostly hidden beneath the floor-length hem, following the late-2010s preference for nearly invisible evening shoes that elongated the silhouette without distracting from the gown itself.

Wang described the exposed crystal thong as a “crystal nameplate thong,” turning what would normally be hidden lingerie into a deliberate part of the outfit’s styling.

With a sleek high ponytail, barely-there styling, and a body-skimming sequined gown, Hailey Bieber embraced the hyper-feminine glamour that dominated late-2010s red carpets

The then-22-year-old model also spoke with Vogue’s Liza Koshy during the red-carpet livestream, where the sleek ponytail, crystal branding, and exaggerated “Barbie-chic” styling helped cement the look as one of the night’s most recognizable fashion moments.

The styling marked a noticeable evolution from the softer, more traditional red-carpet aesthetic Hailey had favored just a year earlier.

At the 2018 Met Gala, she wore a custom Tommy Hilfiger gown styled with Jimmy Choo shoes and Tiffany & Co. jewelry, leaning into a polished, princess-inspired look before shifting toward the sleeker, intentionally provocative Alexander Wang styling that would soon dominate celebrity fashion in the early 2020s.

At the 2018 Met Gala, Hailey Baldwin attended alongside Shawn Mendes in a romantic gray Tommy Hilfiger gown styled with metallic lace-up heels and floral hair accessories, reflecting the softer, princess-inspired aesthetic she favored before her dramatic Alexander Wang transformation a year later

How Hailey Bieber’s Shoe Style Evolved Beyond the Met Gala

While her 2019 Alexander Wang look became one of the Met Gala’s most recognizable “Camp” moments, Hailey Bieber’s broader fashion evolution can also be traced through her footwear choices — from minimalist red-carpet sandals to sharply tailored evening looks and modern off-duty designer staples.