Mark Zuckerberg slipped into a Prada tuxedo for his debut at the Met Gala on Monday, joining wife Priscilla Chan in a red Alaïa gown. The appearance marks the first time the Meta chief has attended fashion’s marquee night, despite Instagram’s long‑standing presence and sponsorship of the 2021 event. Their low‑key publicly entrance avoided the usual red‑carpet photo ops, clearly.

The timing is striking, as the gala coincided with the opening day of a New Mexico trial scrutinizing Meta’s child‑safety policies. Critics argue that a high‑profile soirée distracts from the legal court pressure mounting on the platform. Yet Zuckerberg’s fashion foray may serve a strategic purpose, signaling confidence in Meta’s recent smart‑glasses collaborations with Ray‑Ban and Oakley.

Zuckerberg’s style shift has been gradual, moving from gray T‑shirts to sheepskin jackets, gold chains and designer pieces like John Elliott and Alexander McQueen. Attendance at Milan Fashion Week’s Prada show and a pre‑gala cocktail hosted by Anna Wintour suggest deeper ties with luxury houses. The Met Gala cameo underscores Meta’s bid to embed itself in fashion’s ecosystem, a market where consumer wearables could drive future revenue.