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with 2026 Just around the corner we met Gala, trend forecaster and content creator. mandy lee Ready to see the ‘Costume Art’ theme come alive.
“You can interpret that theme a million, billion different ways,” Lee said. “so many things to do.”
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One of the exhibition topics that Lee is most excited to see on the red carpet is pregnancy.
“I’m so thrilled that this will be shed light on,” Lee said.
For the latest episodes of Who Wears What PodcastLee shares her Met Gala predictions, how she made the jump from working in-house as a trend forecaster to reaching over 600,000 followers on TikTok alone, and much more.
Scroll down for excerpts from their conversation.
For anyone listening who hasn’t heard of it, I’d love if you could give a little glimpse into how you started your career as an analyst and then now you’re one of the Internet’s favorite fashion commentators?
I started my career working in planning and forecasting at a tech company in Boston and eventually moved into beauty.
I planned and forecasted for an in-house hair company here in Brooklyn.
I got laid off from my job during the pandemic and it turned out to be the best thing that happened to me, because the same day, I downloaded TikTok.
I basically couldn’t see the content I wanted to see and talk about.
To be honest, I really missed analyzing the trends. I really love my corporate job, so when I was laid off it felt like I was losing my identity.
I’ve been able to ride the wave all the way so far. I’ve been freelance for four years, which means it’s something I’m proud of.
Now I am contracted with IMG as I am currently the only fashion commentator.
I’d love to hear your takeaways from past seasons What are some things that really stuck with you, that really excited you from last fashion month?
For me, the overall theme of Fall Winter ’26 was movement. With clothes, with silhouette.
The whole quiet luxury thing is that I always hated it.
I feel like this was the first trend at the origin of the recession, but it doesn’t work.
Just because you make basic clothes doesn’t mean they’re going to sell.
Unfortunately, I think Sabato (De Sarno) Gucci was a good example of this.
Just because you’re making more simple clothes doesn’t give people an incentive to buy them.
I think movement and texture were huge takeaways for fall ’26 and kind of leaning more into what makes a brand different and really paying attention to different house codes and what makes a brand really special — not just making the same white T-shirt with a logo.
That’s not going to fly.
What are some things you’re anticipating or looking forward to from the Met Gala?
This year costume is art and I believe dress code is art and fashion.
You can interpret that theme a million, billion different ways. so many things to do.
Oh my god, I’m so excited.
The majority of the exhibition will focus on various bodies. Classical, reclaimed, pregnant, physical and abstract, where these are like the main pillars that he talked about especially for the exhibition.
As we know, the theme is always a little different from the exhibition.
For me, the exhibition often leads the theme and when I go into my trend predictions, often, I will pick a few that actually end up in the exhibition.
We only get to see five ahead of time.
I think the thing I’m most excited about is pregnancy. I’m so thrilled that this will be shed light on.
I mean, Rihanna she went to the Met Gala. What? I think I’ve been pregnant twice.
Comme (des Garçons) I hope to see a lot more. I actually wore the Comes coat, because I knew body was going to be a thing and I said, “Wow, there’s going to be some lumps and bumps here.”
I think the physical body would be the most obvious to people. Like the Schiaparelli lunge dress worn by Bella (Hadid).
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
I think Thom Browne and Schiaparelli have a carpet like that at almost every Met Gala. So I think we’ll always look forward to it. Even Marc Jacobs last year? I think Marc Jacobs won the Met Gala last year. I was overwhelmed and blown away. Apart from this, Teyana Taylor will also be owned. And I think another prediction is that Olandria (Carthen) will make her debut.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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