Inside her ELLE US shoot for the May 2026 Met Gala, Rachel Sennott wore a custom Marc Jacobs dress and pillbox hat – and the washed lilac eye is the real hook.
That lilac eye is doing something.
In her ELLE US shoot tied to the May 2026 Met Gala, Rachel Sennott appears mid-glam in a custom Marc Jacobs look that feels part retro, part brand reset. The deep-V black dress frames the face cleanly, but it’s the makeup – that soft lavender wash with slightly smudged liner – that sets the tone.
The dress itself is minimal from what we can see in this frame: a plunging neckline, smooth fabric with a subtle sheen, and a fitted shape through the torso. It’s streamlined, almost severe, which makes the beauty choice land harder. A tilted black pillbox-style hat adds a sharp, graphic line above the brows. Very 1960s, but not costume.
And here’s where the timing matters. Marc Jacobs is relaunching Marc Jacobs Beauty on June 1st, and this image leans into that narrative without screaming it. The lilac shadow reads soft at first glance, but the slightly undone liner keeps it from feeling precious. It’s controlled, but not rigid.
The hand of the makeup artist is visible in the shot, eyeliner pencil mid-application. That behind-the-scenes angle shifts this from a standard portrait into something closer to process. You see how the look is built.
Though the full red-carpet gown reportedly included bold geometric elements, this moment focuses on restraint. Rachel Sennott in Marc Jacobs keeps the base clean so the beauty relaunch has room to breathe.
Within the wider celebrity style cycle around the Met, this feels strategic. Beauty is front and center.
If this lilac eye is a preview, expect softer color statements to carry more weight this season.
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