Hailee Steinfeld recently shared a behind-the-scenes beauty blunder from the 2021 Met Gala that fans won’t forget anytime soon.

Known for her signature brunette hair, Steinfeld surprised everyone when she showed up at the high-profile event wearing a platinum blonde wig to complement her Iris van Herpen dress. The transformation was so dramatic that even people she knew didn’t recognize her.

In her newsletter *Beau Society*, Steinfeld opened up about the hilarious moment. She recalled how she was having full conversations with acquaintances who later admitted they had no idea they were speaking to her.

But the real twist came after the event when she struggled to remove the wig. Back at the hotel in the early hours of the morning, she and her friend Greer attempted to take it off—with no luck. The wig, a delicate handmade lacefront, was glued so firmly that they couldn’t budge it.

Delirious with exhaustion, the pair eventually found an unexpected solution: vodka from the hotel minibar. As it turns out, vodka helps break down wig glue, and that did the trick.

Steinfeld’s blonde look was one of the night’s most surprising transformations, complete with a glittering Iris van Herpen gown and matching heels.

Though she didn’t attend the 2025 Met Gala, she still weighed in on her favorite looks, naming stars like Zoe Saldaña, Rihanna, and Sofia Richie.

Steinfeld’s story is a reminder that even on fashion’s biggest night, things don’t always go as planned—but they do make for great memories.