Kent Mechanic Applies Paint Finish to Fibreglass Breastplate Worn by Kim Kardashian at Met Gala

A mechanic from Lydd, Kent, woke up the day after the 2026 Met Gala to find his spray-painting work featured on one of the evening's most talked-about outfits. Martyn Smith, owner of MPS Body & Paint, had applied the burnt orange finish to a fibreglass breastplate worn by Kim Kardashian. The piece was a recreation of a 1960s work by pop artist Alan Jones, of whom Kardashian is a massive fan.

Designers Keir Malem and Patrick Whitaker brought Smith into the project after Kardashian requested the artwork be made as a breastplate rather than a full sculpture. The pair, who live in Lydd and have studios in London, were former customers who had used Smith's garage services.

Smith repaired their car a few years ago and they remembered his skills with paint on materials beyond automotive work.

Smith was initially told only that the breastplate was for a very famous celebrity and would be worn at a large event. He guessed the celebrity might be Madonna, Gal Gadot, or Kim Kardashian. After he finished the job, Malem and Whitaker collected it and revealed the client on the condition he keep it secret until after the event.

"I thought maybe Madonna or Gal Gadot, someone like that. " He did not know the date or what the Met Gala was when he completed the work.

The breastplate arrived at Smith's shop in primer. He filled tiny pinholes and mould lines in the fibreglass with fine filler and smoothed it down. The finished piece was gun finished and not polished.