Lena Dunham's 2026 Met Gala Look Was Ahead Of The Curve On This Comeback Trend

While Lena Dunham was one of the worst-dressed celebs at the 2026 Met Gala, she did predict the return of one iconic 2010s shoe: Valentino's Rockstud pumps. The shoes feature a high heel, studded straps, and a bold red inner lining universal across all color variations (a bit of an inversion of Christian Louboutin's recognizable red sole). It's no wonder Dunham tapped into the trend early, as she's the creator, writer, and main actor behind "Girls," one of the most emblematic television sitcoms of the mid-late 2010s. Dunham made her long-awaited return to the Met Gala in 2026 after a seven-year period where she "stopped being invited" (per The Hollywood Reporter); the actor made headlines in an over-the-top feathered gown and pair of red Rockstud heels.

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We weren't the biggest fans of her custom Valentino dress, but her simultaneous revival of the brand's studded heels is something we can get behind. The Rockstud was one of the defining going-out shoes of the 2010s, with everyone from regular women to celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Kate Middleton rocking them (pun intended) at one point or another. They're sexy, stylish, and just a bit edgy — everything a perfect nighttime heel should be. Valentino's Rockstud heels are one of many 2010s trends making a comeback in 2026; thanks in part to celebrities like Dunham, we're seeing pieces once regarded as uncool and outdated in the 2020s slowly reintegrate themselves into the mainstream again.

While Lena Dunham's use of Rockstud pumps in her divisive 2026 Met Gala look was ahead of the style curve, the classic Valentino shoes are just one of several 2010s trends to make their 2020s return. In early 2026, we saw the outdated 2010s peplum silhouette stage a comeback in an unexpected way: denim. Around the same time, the "indie sleaze" aesthetic slowly began to reemerge; "indie sleaze" revolves around unintentional post-club messiness (often made intentional by those attempting to imitate the look) like slouchy shirts with tears, run-over ballet flats, and a lived-in smoky eye.

Alongside indie sleaze, the "twee" aesthetic has also come back into the trend cycle. Unlike the grungy vibe of Rockstud pumps and indie sleaze's distressed clothing, twee is quirky, preppy, and girlish. Twee has crept its way back into the mainstream through whimsical accessories like colorful tights and stockings, which were hugely popular once more in 2025; now, rounded Peter Pan collars also seem to be on the rise — brands like Chanel, Miu Miu, and Sandy Liang all included the recognizable collars in their respective 2026 runways. Given that nostalgia has been the overarching trend of the 2020s (and been the driving force behind all of the retro fashion resurgences we've seen thus far), it's not surprising that it's the 2010s' turn for a revival.