23 Met Gala Outfits From Over The Years That You’ll Still Love Today

When it comes to historic red carpet moments in fashion, there isn’t a bigger event than the Met Gala. Since the first celebration of the Costume Exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1948, the soirée has been a place for celebrities, tastemakers, and designers to have fun with their personal styles. Over the years, all the Met Gala outfits have made waves throughout the fashion industry. Take Rihanna’s Guo Pei ensemble from 2015 or Cher’s regal look from the event in 1985, or Zendaya’s Cinderella moment circa 2019 — they were all unforgettable.

The preparation for these looks takes months of planning and close collaborations between celebrities, designers, and stylists. Together, they have to build an outfit around the theme and ensure that every detail is considered before the photo op. This year’s theme is “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” with the dress code titled “The Garden of Time,” which is inspired by a 1962 short story from J.G. Ballard. That said, expect celebrities to be covered in flowers, moss, and more garden-like details. From the hairstyles to the jewels to even their undergarments, no detail can be overlooked. The result of all their hard work? An outfit that lives on long after the night ends.

Before May 6 rolls around, take a look at the most memorable Met Gala outfits from years past, ahead.

Cher

In 1985, the theme of the Met Gala was “Costumes of Royal India” and Cher attended the event in a bedazzled unitard and low cut skirt designed by Bob Mackie. She completed the look with elaborate ear ornaments.

Christy Turlington

For the event in 1992, the legendary supermodel channeled Audrey Hepburn with her black and white outfit, which she accessorized with a statement-making pearl necklace.

Naomi Campbell

‘90s bombshell Campbell attended the 1995 Met Gala in a strapless sparkly Versace Haute Couture gown. She styled it with matching flats and a black shoulder bag.

Princess Diana

Princess Diana’s one and only Met Gala appearance was, unsurprisingly, unforgettable. For the 1996 “Christian Dior” theme, the royal donned a navy blue haute couture collection number from John Galliano.

Alicia Keys

In a sea of ballgowns, Keys stood out at the 2003 affair in a shiny white suit and coordinating pointy pumps.

Lucy Liu

The actor donned a punchy purple gown by Zac Posen for the Met Gala in 2007, which was themed “Poiret: King of Fashion.” Accessorizing with a gilded gold crown and sparkly jewels, Liu looked like a real-life princess.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Typically, the Met Gala is characterized by lavish floor-length gowns, but in 2012, Paltrow broke the unspoken rule in this mini dress designed by Prada.

Rihanna

The singer wore a magnificent yellow ensemble to the 2015 Met Gala when the theme was “China: Through The Looking Glass.” She wore a Guo Pei creation.

Beyoncé

Beyoncé made an entrance at the 2015 Met Gala in this sheer gown by Givenchy. The gown featured pink, green, and yellow sequins and a short train.

Lupita Nyong’o

For the “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology” Met Gala in 2016, Nyong’o rocked a sparkly mint green Calvin Klein Collection dress. The actor’s towering, sculptural updo was just as memorable.

Emily Ratajkowski

Ratajkowski wore a blue and green sequin gown by Marc Jacobs to the 2017 Met Gala. Her floor-length dress for ‘‘Art of In-Between” was inspired by Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.”

Cara Delevingne

Delevingne stunned in a metallic Chanel pantsuit at the 2017 Met Gala. The final touch? A freshly shaved head painted silver.

Cardi B

Cardi B made an entrance at the 2018 Met Gala alongside Moschino designer Jeremy Scott. This beaded gown weighed 30 pounds and was styled with a matching headpiece.

Jennifer Lopez

In 2019, Lopez dazzled in a custom crystal-drenched Versace ensemble for the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” Met Gala. She completed the hand-beaded gown with a coordinating headpiece.

Kim Kardashian

For the 2019 Met Gala, Kardashian stunned in a latex beaded gown designed by Thierry Mugler. The dress featured glass water droplets and an extra cinched corset waist.

Lady Gaga

For the 2019 Met Gala, Lady Gaga went all out for “Camp: Notes on Fashion” in a transforming dress by Brandon Maxwell. As she walked up the steps, the dress evolved from a lavish pink gown with a 25-foot train to a sparkly bra, high-waisted underwear, and pantyhose.

Zendaya

For “Camp: Notes on Fashion” in 2019, Zendaya lived out her Disney princess dreams in this blue gown by Tommy Hilfiger.

Gigi Hadid

For the 2021 Met Gala, themed “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” Hadid stepped on the red carpet, unveiling her new red hair for the first time. The model’s regal strapless gown from Prada was equally as buzz-worthy as her hair.

Olivia Rodrigo

For her Met Gala debut in 2021, Rodrigo went bold in this sheer black lace jumpsuit designed by Saint Laurent.

Zoë Kravitz

In 2021, Kravitz wore a mesh dress by Saint Laurent that left little to the imagination. Underneath the garment, she wore a pair of shimmery underwear.

Iman

The supermodel’s outfit resembled that of the sun for her appearance at the 2021 Met Gala. Her memorable look was from Harris Reed.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker’s Christopher John Rogers outfit in 2022 paid tribute to Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, the first Black female designer in the White House. Specifically, the body-hugging top and ballgown skirt was inspired by a look Keckley made in the 1860s.

Janelle Monáe

Monáe put on quite the show at last yea’rs extravaganza. While posing on the coveted stairs in an oversized Thom Browne coat, two men removed the jacket, revealing a voluminous see-through dress (with pearl-adorned black lingerie on full display underneath).