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The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala is basically the Oscars of the fashion industry. Held each year on the first Monday in May, the biggest names in screen, music, modeling and more collaborate with the top fashion houses on one-of-a-kind looks — and the photos taken on the Met steps live on forever in style history.
Some celebrities are known for bringing their A-game year after year — Blake Lively and Sarah Jessica Parker are among those who reliably interpret the evening’s dress code in memorable ways. Others may not attend every year, but have knocked it out of the park in extremely elegant ensembles that stand the test of time (two that often get mentioned are Cameron Diaz’s tiered fuchsia Dior gown and Cate Blanchett’s fringed golden Balenciaga). And still more go all-out on the theme dressing; look for Katy Perry or Cardi B to take it to the next level when it comes to the dress code.
The Costume Institute’s famous event is returning on May 6. In support of this year’s exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” the dress code will be “A Garden in Time.” As we wait to see how the A-listers interpret it on the famous red carpeted steps into the notoriously exclusive event, look back at 80 of the most memorable Met Gala outfits of all time.
Anne Hathaway, 2023
John Shearer/WireImage
Theme: “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”
Dress: Atelier Versace
Beyoncé, 2015
Theme: “China: Through The Looking Glass”
Dress: Givenchy Haute Couture
Nicole Kidman, 2016
Theme: “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”
Dress: Alexander McQueen
Princess Diana, 1996
Theme: “Christian Dior”
Dress: Dior (from her friend John Galliano’s debut couture collection as the Creative Director of Dior.)
Cameron Diaz, 2007
Theme: “Poiret: King of Fashion”
Dress: Christian Dior
Zoë Kravitz
Getty
Theme: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”
Dress: Saint Laurent
Blake Lively, 2017
Theme: “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between”
Dress: Atelier Versace
Rihanna, 2015
Theme: “China: Through The Looking Glass”
Dress: Guo Pei
Cher and Bob Mackie, 1974
Theme: “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design”
Dress: Bob Mackie
Jennifer Lopez, 2015
Larry Busacca/Getty
Theme: “China: Through the Looking Glass”
Dress: Atelier Versace
Taylor Swift, 2014
Theme: “Charles James: Beyond Fashion”
Dress: Oscar de la Renta
Cardi B, 2022
Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images
Theme: “Gilded Glamour”
Dress: Atelier Versace
Amal and George Clooney, 2015
Theme: “China: Through The Looking Glass”
Dress: Maison Margiela
Gwyneth Paltrow, 1995
The Theme: “Haute Couture”
Dress: Calvin Klein
Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker, 2006
Theme: “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion”
Dress: Alexander McQueen
Cardi B, 2019
Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic
Theme: “Camp: Notes on Fashion”
Dress: a quilted andfeathered gown by Thom Browne which featured an epic train and jeweled bodice boasting 44 carats worth of rubies
Sienna Miller, 2013
Theme: “PUNK: Chaos to Couture”
Dress and Jacket: Burberry Prorsum
Kim Kardashian West, 2018
Theme: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”
Dress: Atelier Versace
Zoë Saldana, 2016
Theme: “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology”
Dress: Dolce & Gabbana
Lupita Nyong’o, 2014
Theme: “Charles James: Beyond Fashion”
Dress: Prada
Billy Porter, 2019
Karwai Tang/Getty
Theme: “Camp: Notes on Fashion”
Look: custom “Sun God” ensemble by The Blonds which included a bejeweled catsuit outfitted with 10-foot wings and a 24-karat gold headpiece
Madonna, 2018
Theme: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination”
Dress: Jean Paul Gaultier
Beyonce, 2012
Theme: “Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations”
Dress: Givenchy Haute Couture
Jackie Onassis, 1979
Theme: “Fashions of The Hapsburg Era”
Dress: Valentino
Katie Holmes, 2015
Theme: “China: Through The Looking Glass”
Dress: Zac Posen
Nina Dobrev, 2012
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Theme: “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations”
Dress: Donna Karan
Kendall Jenner, 2017
Theme: “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between”
Dress: La Perla
Sarah Jessica Parker, 2018
Theme: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”
Dress and Headpiece: Dolce & Gabbana
Gwyneth Paltrow, 2011
Theme: “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”
Dress: Stella McCartney
Irina Shayk and Bradley Cooper, 2018
Theme: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”
Dress: Atelier Versace
Tuxedo: Tom Ford
Katy Perry, 2017
Theme: “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between”
Dress: Maison Margiela
Billie Eilish, 2021
Theme: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”
Dress: Oscar de la Renta
Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen
Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
Theme: “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”
Dress: Black column gown with cutouts and gold lamé caftan
Kim Kardashian, 2019
Theme: “Camp: Notes on Fashion”
Dress: a beaded latex Thierry Mugler dress, which brought the designer out of retirement and took over eight months to design
Amal and George Clooney, 2018
Theme: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”
Dress: a floral strapless gown by British designer Richard Quinn teamed with a a sleek pair of trousers.
David and Victoria Beckham, 2008
Theme: “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”
Dress: Armani Privé
Gigi Hadid, 2015
Theme: “China: Through The Looking Glass”
Dress: Diane von Furstenberg
Solange, 2015
Theme: “China: Through The Looking Glass”
Dress: Giles Deacon
Lady Gaga, 2015
Theme: “China: Through The Looking Glass”
Dress: Balenciaga (designed by Alexander Wang)
Sarah Jessica Parker, 2015
Theme: “China: Through The Looking Glass”
Dress: wearing a dress of her own design, in collaboration with H&M, and Philip Treacy headpiece
Raquel Welch, 1982
Theme: Le Belle Époque
Dress: Thierry Mugler
Emma Stone and Alber Elbaz, 2012
Theme: “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations”
Dress: Lanvin
Bob Mackie and Cher, 1985
Theme: “Costumes of Royal India”
Dress: Bob Mackie
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, 2015
Theme: “China: Through the Looking Glass”
Dress and Tuxedo: Roberto Cavalli
Yara Shahidi, 2021
Theme: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”
Dress: Dior
Kate Moss and Marc Jacobs, 2009
Theme: “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion”
Dress: Marc Jacobs
Calvin Klein and Iman, 1981
Theme: “The Eighteenth-Century Woman”
Dress: Calvin Klein Collection
Zendaya, 2018
Theme: “Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”
Dress: Jean Paul Gaultier
Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake, 2010
Theme: “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity”
Dress and Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren
Mary J. Blige, 2021
Theme: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”
Dress: Dundas
Nicole Kidman, 2003
Theme: “Goddess: The Classical Mode”
Dress: Tom Ford
Anne Hathaway, 2015
Theme: ‘China: Through The Looking Glass’
Dress: Ralph Lauren
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen, 2014
Theme: “Charles James: Beyond Fashion”
Dresses: Vintage Chanel (on Mary-Kate) and vintage Gianfranco Ferré (on Ashley)
Blake Lively, 2014
Theme: “Charles James: Beyond Fashion”
Dress: Gucci Première
Kaia Gerber, 2022
John Shearer / Getty Images
Theme: “Gilded Glamour”
Dress: Alexander McQueen
Jennifer Lopez, 2019
Theme: “Camp: Notes on Fashion”
Dress: Versace
Katy Perry, 2018
Theme: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”
Dress: Atelier Versace
Michelle Williams, 2011
Theme: “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”
Dress: Miu Miu
Naomi Campbell, 2023
Theme: “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”
Dress: Vintage Chanel
Claire Danes, 2016
Theme: “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology”
Dress: Zac Posen with a light-up skirt
Naomi Campbell, 1995
Theme: “Haute Couture”
Dress: Versace
Kate Hudson, 2009
Theme: “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion”
Dress: Stella McCartney
Julia Roberts and Giorgio Armani, 2008
Theme: “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”
Dress: Armani Privé
Cate Blanchett, 2007
Theme: “Poiret: King of Fashion”
Dress: Balenciaga
Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady, 2008
Theme: “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”
Dress: Versace
Sandra Bullock, 2007
Theme: “Poiret: King Of Fashion”
Dress: Alberta Ferretti
Zendaya, 2016
Theme: “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology”
Dress: Michael Kors
Madonna, 2013
Theme: “PUNK: Chaos to Couture”
Outfit: Givenchy
Elle Macpherson, 2005
Theme: “The House of Chanel”
Dress: Calvin Klein Collection (which she wore with flats!)
Zendaya, 2017
Theme: Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between
Dress: Dolce & Gabbana
Lady Gaga, 2016
Theme: “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”
Outfit: Versace
Sienna Miller, 2021
Theme: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”
Dress: Gucci
Karolina Kurkova, 2005
Theme: “The House of Chanel”
Dress: Viktor and Rolf
Laura Davis is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Broadway, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
