Key Takeaways
- Kim chose a full-face Margiela couture mask as a last-minute switch — even her glam team was shocked.
- She called the look “so SKIMS and so me,” saying the mask-and-necklace combo was part of the designer’s vision.
- Inside the gala, she planned to unmask — but not before confirming she’d eaten earlier because, well… you can’t eat in a mask.
- The event honored Penélope Cruz, Bruce Springsteen, Walter Salles and Bowen Yang and raised over $12M for the museum.
On a cobalt-blue carpet in Los Angeles, cameras flashed…and then hesitated. The figure at the center of the frenzy stood motionless in a nude, sculpted gown, sleeves spilling like sand—her face completely veiled.
It was Kim Kardashian, and the 2025 Academy Museum Gala had just found its headline. What kind of A-list star covers her face on a night built for selfies? What statement was she making in an era obsessed with facial recognition, filters and instant virality?
The answer is peak 2025: part couture theater, part brand thesis, part internet experiment. Kim’s head-to-toe Maison Margiela couture look wasn’t only about shock value; it was about control—of narrative, of silhouette, of where the eye lands. And yes, it was also about fun.
Ahead, we unpack why Kim Kardashian covered her face at the gala, how the night unfolded once she stepped inside, and what the moment says about fashion, fame and the power of a single, unforgettable image.
Why Kim Kardashian Covered Her Face at the Gala
Let’s start with the “why.” On the red carpet, Kim explained that the face-covering look was a last-minute choice, even after flying in her longtime makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic from New York.
She still went full glam underneath—the mask simply hid it. Her plan? Reveal the glam once inside. The decision wasn’t random; she said she loves Margiela, and the runway look felt “so SKIMS and so me.”
The designer’s concept paired the mask with an extravagant, tiered choker—so the face veil wasn’t a gimmick; it was a focal device.
The Maison Margiela Story: Couture as Performance
Kim’s gown came straight from Maison Margiela’s Fall 2025 Couture collection: a nude, corseted column with draped, detachable bell sleeves and a full head covering that gathered into soft ruching.
The mask channeled Margiela’s long-standing language of anonymity and deconstruction, redirecting attention to line, proportion and surface—the body becomes canvas; the necklace becomes punctuation.
In Kim’s iteration, a crystalline, silver choker studded with green stones anchored the veil, turning her profile into sculpture. It’s couture as performance art, meant to be seen in motion, felt in a room, and obsessed over online.
The Necklace & the Silhouette — Why the Mask Matters
Margiela’s mask reframed the look’s most dramatic elements: the ultra-cinched corset, the draped sleeves, the gleaming choker. Without a visible face to compete, the eye traces curves and structure first—exactly the point of couture that asks you to study craftsmanship before celebrity.
What Happened Inside: The Unmasking and the Practicalities
The mask created obvious logistics. Eating? “You don’t,” Kim joked; she ate beforehand to make sure she was fine. Seeing? Navigable—with help. And as teased on the carpet, she intended to remove the mask inside, revealing a smoky eye, flutter lashes, blushed cheeks and a nude lip—classic Kim, just on a delay.
The reveal transformed a red-carpet sight gag into a two-act fashion story.
The Gala Itself: Purpose, Honorees & Money Raised
Amid the fashion spectacle, the night had a mission. The Academy Museum Gala honored Penélope Cruz (Icon Award), Bruce Springsteen (Legacy Award), Walter Salles (Luminary Award) and Bowen Yang (Vantage Award)—and raised over $12 million for the museum’s education, screenings and access initiatives.
That’s why Hollywood shows up—and why the carpet matters: fashion grabs attention so the cause gets heard.
A Quick Costume Change: The After-Party Vintage Moment
Because Kim loves a fashion plot twist, she reportedly ditched the mask later and slipped into a 1995-era John Galliano corset top once worn by Courtney Love—a grunge-archive pivot that turned the night from avant-garde cosplay to rock relic homage.
The switch underlined her current obsession with archival storytelling: every outfit a reference, every reference a headline.
From Met Masks to 2025: A Continuing Evolution
If the masked Margiela moment felt familiar, you’re remembering the controversial Balenciaga blackout she wore to the 2021 Met Gala. Back then, covering her face felt confrontational—a dare to look at the silhouette, not the celebrity.
Four years later, Kim’s 2025 mask reads less like rebellion and more like refinement: a structured couture idea executed with Margiela precision and SKIMS-era marketing savvy. She’s not hiding—she’s directing.
Could She See? Could She Eat?
The short answers: sort of and no—thus the pre-carpet meal. That admission made the look feel cheeky rather than severe, a wink that kept the internet engaged without turning the moment self-serious.
The Brand Play: SKIMS, Margiela & Viral Engineering
Kim straight-up said the couture look felt “so SKIMS.” That’s savvy brand alignment: SKIMS is about second-skin illusion and engineered shape; Margiela is about deconstructing identity and garment codes.
The mask merges both ideas—body as architecture and face as optional—and it produces ultra-shareable content. Even her confession that Mario flew in only for his work to be hidden becomes part of the mythmaking.
Fan Reactions: The Internet Weighs In
Predictably, the comments flew. Some fans praised the commitment and called it “next-level fabulous”; others said it looked like a paper bag.
That polarization is the point: you post the masked shot, your friend replies with the unmasked glam—two images, one conversation. Aggregators and entertainment outlets clocked the split reactions in real time, turning the look into a discourse machine.
Red Carpet as Strategy: Why This Worked in 2025
Fashion moments that withhold—then reveal—have legs on Discover and social. The mask created a mystery box around a familiar face, inviting swipes, zooms, and side-by-sides with the 2021 Met reference.
It also let Kim thread her current press cycle (new Ryan Murphy series All’s Fair) and recent SKIMS headline into a single cultural beat: she’s busy, booked, and confidently playing with image.
Conclusion
So, why did Kim Kardashian cover her face at the gala? Because in 2025, reinvention is a tool—and the mask was the message. It honored Margiela’s couture vision, nodded to SKIMS’ second-skin DNA, staged a perfectly timed unmasking inside, and kept the internet debating long after the lights dimmed.
It was a look designed to be felt first, decoded later—a masterclass in how a single red-carpet choice can dominate the night, serve the cause, and still feed the fun.
That’s the real answer behind why Kim Kardashian covered her face at the gala—because few stars understand the rhythm of fashion and fame like she does.
FAQs
Who designed Kim Kardashian’s face-covering look?
Maison Margiela (Fall 2025 Couture), complete with a full head covering and a dramatic tiered choker.
Why did she choose to cover her face?
She said the look felt “so SKIMS and so me,” and the designer envisioned the mask with the necklace; it was also a last-minute decision that hid her glam until she unveiled it inside.
Could she eat or see in the mask?
She joked that you don’t eat—she ate beforehand—and navigated the carpet with help.
Who were the gala honorees and what did the event support?
Honorees included Penélope Cruz, Bruce Springsteen, Walter Salles and Bowen Yang; the gala raised $12M+ for museum initiatives.
Did she remove the mask during the event?
Yes—she planned to unmask inside and later shared photos of her glam.
How does this compare to her 2021 Met Gala look?
It echoes the face-covered Balenciaga moment, but with a more couture-forward, Margiela twist tailored to 2025’s mood.
What did she wear after the gala?
She reportedly changed into a vintage John Galliano corset top once worn by Courtney Love—an archival pivot for the after-party.
Nishant Wagh is the founder of The Graval and a seasoned SEO and content strategist with over 15 years of experience. He writes with a focus on digital influence, authority, and long-term search visibility.
