Fashion’s Price: Kardashian-Jenner Family’s Commitment to ‘Beauty is Pain’ at the Met Gala

The Kardashian-Jenner family, renowned for their trendsetting style and willingness to push fashion boundaries, often embody the mantra "beauty is pain," especially when it comes to their appearances at the Met Gala, fashion’s most prestigious and extravagant event. Their dedication to high fashion often involves significant discomfort and even physical challenges, as highlighted by recent anecdotes from Kylie Jenner, Hailee Steinfeld, and Kim Kardashian.

Kylie Jenner’s 2025 Met Gala look, a striking black-and-gray ensemble designed by Maximilian Davis of Ferragamo, exemplified this dedication. The gown featured a form-fitting corset bodice and a skirt with a dramatic slit, showcasing Jenner’s left leg. However, the real struggle lay not in the garment itself but in the footwear. According to Jenner’s Instagram Stories, Davis advised her to tape her feet into her stilettos for a secure fit. This seemingly simple fashion hack quickly turned into a painful ordeal.

After the event, Jenner revealed the predicament she faced while attempting to remove the shoes. "Max told me to tape my feet into the shoe, and now my feet are stuck in the shoes," she explained. Multiple people were required to assist in freeing her feet, using a liquid solution to dissolve the adhesive. Jenner later disclosed that Davis had suggested using wig tape on the soles of her feet to keep the shoes in place. Despite the discomfort, she reassured her fans that her feet were "okay!!!!"

Jenner’s experience echoes similar struggles faced by other celebrities at the Met Gala. Hailee Steinfeld, in her May 9 Beau Society newsletter, recounted her own wig glue-related difficulties at the 2021 Met Gala. Steinfeld, who wore an ethereal Iris van Herpen dress paired with a blunt blond bob, described the drastic measures taken to remove the wig glue at 2 a.m. "That baby was cemented to my scalp. We couldn’t rip it — it’s this beautiful, handmade, lacefront wig — but we were delusionally tired and just wanted to go to bed," Steinfeld wrote. In a moment of desperation, they turned to an unconventional solution: "Eventually, we went to the minibar… vodka breaks down wig glue." The attempt resulted in Steinfeld ending the night "covered in vodka."

Kim Kardashian, another prominent figure in the Kardashian-Jenner clan, has also openly discussed the sacrifices she makes for fashion, particularly at the Met Gala. In an episode of "The Kardashians" that aired earlier this year, Kardashian recalled the extreme discomfort she experienced while wearing a severely cinched corset to the 2024 Met Gala. "I’ve never felt this much pain in my life," she confessed, describing the difficulty she had breathing while being transported to the event.

This was not the first time Kardashian had endured such discomfort for fashion. In 2019, she made a similar remark to WSJ Magazine about the Thierry Mugler dress she wore to the Met Gala, which also required a tightly cinched waist. The restrictive nature of these garments poses significant physical challenges.

After the 2024 Met Gala, assistants worked to unclip Kardashian’s Maison Margiela corset. Kardashian lamented how she had to attempt sitting twice during the dinner portion of the gala, highlighting the impracticality of the outfit. Her mother, Kris Jenner, jokingly questioned, "Are you ever going to wear a dress to the Met where you actually can walk?" Despite the discomfort, Kardashian remains committed to her fashion choices. "That’s just who I am. If you look good, it is all worth it," she stated in an interview on the show.

The pursuit of a flawless appearance often leads to compromises in comfort and even health. Doctors have warned about the potential health risks associated with waist trainers, a common tool used to achieve a desired silhouette. According to a 2022 article in The New York Times, waist trainers can cause gastrointestinal issues, acid reflux, and breathing difficulties.

The Kardashian-Jenner family’s experiences at the Met Gala underscore the lengths to which some individuals are willing to go to make a fashion statement. While their commitment to high fashion is admirable, it also raises questions about the value of comfort and well-being in the pursuit of aesthetic ideals. The "beauty is pain" philosophy, while prevalent in the fashion world, is not without its consequences.

The Met Gala, with its extravagant themes and elaborate designs, serves as a stage for pushing fashion boundaries. However, the stories of Kylie Jenner, Hailee Steinfeld, and Kim Kardashian reveal the hidden struggles and sacrifices that often accompany these glamorous appearances. Whether it’s taped feet, vodka-soaked hair, or painfully tight corsets, the pursuit of fashion perfection can come at a significant price. The Kardashian-Jenner family’s experiences at the Met Gala serve as a reminder that while fashion can be a form of self-expression and artistry, it is important to consider the impact on one’s physical well-being.