Bhavitha Mandava’s Chanel “Jeans” Spark Met Gala Backlash

"Jeans" is probably the last thing anyone expected to see at the Met Gala, and Bhavitha Mandava shows up in a casual Chanel look that sparked online controversy. The brand has received much backlash and even been called racist and tokenist for underdressing the first Indian ambassador.

Bhavitha Mandava is a rising Indian fashion model from Hyderabad and is one of the first Indian models to open a Chanel show.

Being seen on the red carpet at one of fashion’s biggest events means people expect jaw-dropping glamour, theatrical couture and extravagant fashion moments. So, that simple look of Bhavitha had people really question Chanel's outfit choice.

But what looked like simple jeans were actually ultra-fine silk couture pieces designed to imitate denim using a trompe l’oeil effect. The whole outfit was a combination of a beige muslin half-zip sweater with a white muslin underlayer and printed muslin pants that carried a subtle denim vibe. Bhavitha reposted on Instagram, explaining that the whole piece required around 250 hours of work to craft the entire look.  

But despite her explanation, many people felt it did not justify such an understated look for the Met Gala, especially since previous brand ambassadors had worn far more dramatic outfits. Many people pointed out that the outfits Chanel crafted for stars like Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie and Jennie were much more glamorous and visually striking for the red carpet.

The 2026 Met Gala theme was "Costume Art", with the dress code "Fashion is Art". So many celebrities experimented with different forms of artistic looks, from sculptural silhouettes, dramatic tailoring, wearable art, to conceptual looks. So it’s hardly surprising that many people felt her entire look seemed out of place.

There are, however, fashion critics who defended the looks, saying that art does not always mean wearing huge gowns or attention-grabbing fashion, but can be conceptual and subtle. And her look leaned more towards storytelling.

While I do agree that fashion can come in different forms and it doesn't have to be loud or overly dramatic, her looks were a little too everyday and not red-carpet or Met Gala-worthy. It's one of the most photographed fashion events in the world, so I felt it did push some fashion boundaries.

What do you guys think? “Was Chanel being artistic, or did the look simply miss the mark for fashion’s biggest night?”