The first Monday in May isn’t just another date on the fashion calendar — it’s the Met Gala, a night when celebrities, designers, and stylists converge on the Metropolitan Museum of Art for what’s arguably the most extravagant red carpet of the year. Unlike the Oscars or Cannes, the Met Gala thrives on spectacle, where the goal isn’t just to look polished, but to make a statement. It’s a night where fashion goes beyond beautiful gowns and sharp tailoring and dives into the realms of art, performance, and occasionally, pure chaos.
This year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, promises to celebrate the craft, influence, and cultural impact of Black fashion. But before we get swept up in the anticipation, it’s worth looking back at the unforgettable moments that have defined the Met Gala over the years — because this isn’t a red carpet that rewards playing it safe.
Rihanna’s sweeping yellow Guo Pei cape in 2015, Solange’s latex Iris van Herpen gown and halo in 2018, Sarah Jessica Parker’s tartan McQueen moment in 2006, and Kim Kardashian’s dripping wet-look Thierry Mugler dress in 2019 didn’t just stick to the brief — they set new standards. From Princess Diana’s sleek Dior slip in 1996 to Lady Gaga’s theatrical Brandon Maxwell striptease in 2019, these looks weren’t just fashion — they were cultural milestones. And whether it’s Zendaya’s light-up Cinderella moment, Bad Bunny’s daring Margiela, or Blake Lively’s dramatic Versace gown, the Met Gala’s greatest hits are the ones that continue to shape how we think about style, spectacle, and risk on the red carpet.
Rihanna in John Galliano for Maison Margiela, 2018
Rihanna stole the show dressed as a bejewelled pope, transforming Heavenly Bodies into pure fashion spectacle.
Kim Kardashian in Thierry Mugler, 2019
Kim’s dripping wet-look corset dress redefined red carpet body-con with a surreal, hyper-glamour twist.
Christina Ricci in Givenchy, 2008
Christina stunned in a gothic, intricately webbed Givenchy gown that felt both romantic and subversive.
Iman in Harris Reed, 2021
Iman floated onto the carpet like a celestial sun goddess in a gilded Harris Reed feathered ensemble.
Zendaya in Tommy Hilfiger, 2019
Zendaya transformed into a light-up Cinderella, complete with a glowing gown and a fairy godstylist waving his wand.
Naomi Campbell in Versace, 1995
Naomi’s slinky lavender Versace slip dress was the epitome of ‘90s supermodel minimalism.
Bad Bunny in Margiela, 2024
Bad Bunny turned heads in a sculptural, gender-fluid Margiela look that challenged red carpet expectations.
Tyla in Balmain, 2024
Tyla’s sand-textured Balmain gown was both ephemeral and architectural, dissolving into art with every step.
Blake Lively in Burberry, 2016
Blake delivered fairy-tale romance in a blush Burberry gown with delicate floral appliqués cascading down the train.
Rihanna in Guo Pei, 2015
Rihanna ruled the night in a canary-yellow Guo Pei cape with a train so grand it needed its own entourage.
Rosalía in Givenchy, 2022
Rosalía brought flamenco flair to the Met in a fringed, sculptural Givenchy look that felt both edgy and traditional.
Amber Valletta in Maggie Norris Couture corset and John Galliano skirt, 2004
Amber embodied rococo excess in a corseted, baroque-inspired Maggie Norris and Galliano look that oozed drama.
Harry Styles in Gucci, 2019
Harry blurred gender lines in a sheer black Gucci blouse and pearl earring, making menswear deliciously subversive.
Ariana Grande in Vera Wang, 2018
Ariana wore Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel on a gown, turning herself into a literal Renaissance angel.
Timothée Chalamet in Haider Ackermann, 2021
Timothée nailed casual cool in a white Haider Ackermann suit paired unexpectedly with Converse sneakers.
Blake Lively in Versace, 2022
Blake’s Versace gown transformed on the carpet, shifting from copper to teal in a tribute to New York architecture.
Zendaya in John Galliano, 2024
Zendaya stunned in a moody Galliano masterpiece, balancing old-world drama with razor-sharp modernity.
FKA Twigs in Christopher Kane, 2015
FKA Twigs wore an anatomically inspired Christopher Kane dress, fusing surrealism with bold sensuality.
Princess Diana in Dior, 1996
Princess Diana kept it timeless in a midnight-blue Dior slip dress, radiating effortless royal cool.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in Comme des Garçons, 2017
The Olsens embraced gothic romance in layered, vintage-inspired Comme des Garçons looks.
Charlize Theron in Christian Dior, 2006
Charlize exuded Old Hollywood glamour in a sweeping, ice-blue Dior gown.
Doutzen Kroes in Zac Posen, 2010
Doutzen channeled silver screen sirens in a sculpted, strapless Zac Posen that hugged every curve.
Anne Hathaway in Ralph Lauren, 2015
Anne shimmered in a liquid gold Ralph Lauren hooded gown that was part goddess, part sci-fi heroine.
Fan Bingbing in Christopher Bu, 2015
Fan Bingbing was a vision of opulence in a jade-embroidered cape that celebrated Chinese craftsmanship.
Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell, 2019
Lady Gaga served up a four-act fashion performance, stripping from pink ballgown to lingerie live on the carpet.
Lana Del Rey in Alexander McQueen, 2024
Lana gave gothic romance a McQueen twist, complete with ethereal embroidery and darkly poetic details.
Anne Hathaway in Versace, 2023
Anne blended Versace’s signature glamour with a punk edge in a safety-pinned, pearl-studded gown.
