Fashion
The Most Iconic Looks In Met Gala History, From 1973 To Now
40 years of the night that's all about trailblazing fashion.
Getty
In anticipation of next week’s big event, we’re looking back at over 40 years of trailblazing fashion and beauty looks from the Met Gala.
We’ve also slipped in some candid shots of the century’s finest models and designers to get you well into the costume-y, themed aspect of the evening.
Jackie O, 1979
GettyJackie O in Valentino.
Theme: ‘Fashions of The Hapsburg Era’
Angela Lansbury, 1979
GettyBritish actress Angela Lansbury.
Theme: ‘Fashions of The Hapsburg Era’
Paloma Picasso, 1981
GettyFrench designer Paloma Picasso
Theme: ‘The 18th Century Woman’
Bianca Jagger, 1981
GettyAbsolute perfection from Bianca Jagger in Dior.
Theme: ‘The 18th Century Woman’
Iman, 1981
Iman and Calvin Klein
Theme: ‘The 18th Century Woman’
Diana Ross, 1981
GettyDiana Ross
Theme: ‘The 18th Century Woman’
Raquel Welch, 1982
GetttyRaquel Welch in iconic 80s glam.
Theme: ‘La Belle Epoque’
Cher, 1985
GettyCher in Bob Mackie.
Theme: ‘Costumes of Royal India’
Naomi Campbell, 1990
Naomi Campbell in Versace, of course.
Theme: ‘Theatre de la Mode: Fashion Dolls’
Joan Rivers, 1991
Joan Rivers
No theme
Christy Turlington, 1992
GettyChristy Turlington channels Audrey Hepburn at the 1992 Met Gala.
No theme
Oscar de la Renta and stepdaughter Eliza, 1994
Quintessential Oscar De La Renta.
Theme: ‘Orientalism: Visions of the East in western dress’
Kate Moss, 1995
GettyThis yellow toned slip dress worn by Kate Moss at her debut Met Gala lives in our minds rent free.
Theme: ‘Haute Couture’
Amber Valletta, 1999
GettyAmber Valletta in a stunning Atelier Versace jumpsuit.
Theme: ‘Rock Style’
Diane Kruger, 2004
GettyDiane Kruger
Theme: ‘Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century’
Sarah Jessica Parker, 2006
GettySarah Jessica Parker, with her designer pal Alexander McQueen
Theme: ‘AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion’
Gisele Bundchen, 2008
GettyGisele Bundchen
Theme: ‘Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy’
Kate Moss, 2009
GettyIf there was ever going to be a star of the ‘Model as Muse’ Met Gala, it was Kate Moss. Here she’s pictured with Marc Jacobs, who also designed her dress for the evening.
Theme: ‘The Model As Muse’
Doutzen Kroes, 2010
GettyThere have been many great Cinderella moments on the Met Gala red carpet, but model Doutzen Kroes looks fabulous in blue Zac Posen.
Theme: ‘American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity’
Beyoncé, 2012
GettyBeyoncé loves a sheer Met Gala moment, but this Givenchy dress was thrown together after Bey decided to attend the 2012 Met Gala last minute.
Theme: ‘Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations’
Karolina Kurkova, 2012
GettyKarolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe.
Theme: ‘Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations’
Kim Kardashian, 2013
GettyShe may have admitted to “crying all the way home” following criticisms of her 2013 Met Gala dress designed by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, but it’s nothing if not iconic.
Theme: ‘PUNK: Chaos to Couture’
Sarah Jessica Parker, 2014
GettyA regular of the Met Gala red carpet, Sarah Jessica Parker wore a wild hairdo with this classic black-and-white gown.
Theme: ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’
Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, 2014
GettyAshley and Mary-Kate Olsen tend to play it down for the Met Gala red carpet, but there’s something iconic about their refusal to overdo it.
Theme: ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’
Rihanna, 2015
GettyIt was compared to both Big Bird and a pizza, but there’s no mistaking that Rihanna’s yellow Guo Pei dress at the 2015 Met Gala is one of the greatest of all time.
Theme: ‘China: Through The Looking Glass’
Taylor Swift, 2016
GettyTaylor Swift debuted a brand new look at the 2016 Met Gala, in line with her Reputation Era.
Theme: ‘Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology’
Kendall Jenner, 2017
GettyKendall Jenner wore a cheeky dress by lingerie greats, La Perla.
Theme: ‘Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between’
Rihanna, 2018
GettyThe Met Gala queen strikes again. Rihanna in John Galliano for Maison Margiela.
Theme: ‘Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination’
Emily Ratajkowski, 2019
Emily Ratajkowski in an ethereal skin-baring dress designed by Peter Dundas and Evangelo Bousis.
Theme: ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’
Billie Eilish, 2021
GettyIn 2021, Billie Eilish attended the Met Gala in the most beautiful Cinderella-style ball gown, designed by Oscar De La Renta.
Theme: ‘In America: A Lexicon of Fashion’
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