The reaction was swift and far from unanimous, split between admiration for her fearless styling and criticism of the gown’s daring cut. Photos from the star-studded party showed off a look built on sheer fabric, cascading feathers, and a hairstyle nobody expected from her, setting the stage for one of Rinna’s most talked-about appearances yet.
A Daring Look for a Pre-Met Gala Night
Rinna stepped out on May 2, 2026, in New York City for a pre-Met Gala party hosted by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos at the Amazon founder’s NoMad apartment. The gathering came just two days before the Met Gala itself, and Rinna had reportedly hinted she would be making her debut at the main event on May 4.
The evening seemed to give her a chance to preview the night’s “fashion is art” theme on her own terms, and she leaned all the way in.
Feathers, Fringe, and a Bold New Hairstyle
The most immediate change was her hair. Rinna ditched her familiar pixie cut for a faux-hawk with a distinctly Y2K edge, her short brown hair slicked tightly at the sides for what one outlet described as a mullet-like effect.
At the crown, a burst of cherry-red hair spiked upward, giving the style a rebellious finish that instantly became a talking point.
The hair was only part of the story. Rinna’s gown embraced the Met Gala’s long tradition of daring, sheer silhouettes, pairing a completely sheer black net bodice with a flowy, high-waisted black skirt.
Black fringe curled across her chest, arms, and waistband, offering just enough coverage to keep the look from tipping fully into shock value. Vivid red feathers cascaded from her sleeves, adding color and movement, especially as she walked.
Beaded black accents at her wrists added further structure to an outfit already juggling sheer fabric, shine, fringe, and feathers. She finished the ensemble with chunky cheetah-print platform heels and a simple black leather clutch, keeping the accessories from competing with the gown itself.
Her makeup matched the drama of the outfit, with fuchsia-pink smoky eyeshadow, an extended black cat-eye, sunset-toned blush, and a cool pink lip.
Her husband, actor Harry Hamlin, joined her for the outing in a far more understated black suit, black shirt, gray tie, and dark-framed glasses. In one photo, he was seen walking behind her near a parked car, an image that later fueled online chatter about his expression. In another shot, the couple was pictured holding hands as they left the event together.
Fans and Critics React Online
Once the photos hit social media, reactions split quickly. On Rinna’s own Facebook post, one commenter claimed, “You can tell he’s embarrassed,” while another dismissed the gown outright, calling it a “Hideous dress.”
Others were far more enthusiastic. One fan praised the hairstyle as “absolute fire,” while another celebrated the full ensemble, writing simply that they loved the whole look. The mixed response mirrored the outfit’s own contrasts: sheer versus structured, muted versus vivid, classic versus rebellious.
Memoir Context: Addressing Old Rumors
The appearance came a few months after Rinna published her memoir, You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It, released on February 24, 2026. In it, she revisited a topic that trailed her for years during her run on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: persistent rumors about Hamlin’s sexuality.
Rinna wrote that she wanted to put the speculation to rest for good, stating plainly that Hamlin is heterosexual and addressing the rumors directly in the book. She said she hadn’t encountered such claims before joining the show and suggested they intensified as the series grew more personal.
She also maintained that the gossip never bothered her personally, framing it instead as an attempt to provoke a reaction.
That backdrop adds an extra layer to the couple’s latest outing together. Once again, they appeared side by side in public, but this time the conversation centered not on old rumors, but on a fashion moment that made sure all eyes stayed on Rinna.