The Most Iconic Met Gala Looks of All Time — See Photos
Another Met Gala is upon us, and what better way to prepare than by revisiting some of the most iconic Met Gala looks in history?
Of course, our brains are already on overdrive anticipating how the new theme will be interpreted by those in attendance. There will be some who wear pieces that are over-the-top iconic, others who play it safe, and plenty who have the internet abuzz with theories about why they chose their look.
A lot of celebs go all out every Met Gala but you never know whether the impressions will last well past the season. Will this year be the year that another celebrity's look reaches icon status? Only time will tell.
As we wait to see, we're celebrating with some of the most iconic Met Gala looks from the past — which happen to be some of our all-time favorites. From Cher, Diana Ross, and Princess Diana to Rihanna and Beyoncé, check them all out in chronological order below.
Getty Images1/61Cher and Bob Mackie, 1974
The Bob Mackie naked dress that started it all.
Getty Images2/61Diana Ross and Patrice Calmette, 1981
No one can pull off a dress completely made of feathers quite like this American icon — and she even pulled it back out of the archives for the 2012 American Music Awards!
Rose Hartman3/61Cher, 1985
There is just something so very chic and special about a '90s Cher Met Gala moment.
Photo: Getty Images4/61Naomi Campbell, 1990
For her Met Gala debut, Naomi Campbell chose to wear some color.
Getty Images5/61Princess Diana, 1995
The OG slip dress, from Dior, fit for a princess.
- Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty Images6/61
Naomi Campbell, 1995
Naomi Campbell surely knows how to steal the show and this dazzling Versace gown takes the cake.
- Mari Sarai7/61
Donatella Versace, 1999
The popular designer wore a very low-cut gown from Versace, of course, that stole the show.
- Mitchell Gerber/Getty Images8/61
Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999
Gwyneth Paltrow and her father Bruce Paltrow attended the 1999 'Rock Style' Gala at the Met. Although this Gucci dress is 25 years old, it could easily be something worn by Gen Z today.
Getty Images9/61David Bowie and Iman, 2003
I mean, have you ever seen a more glamorous couple? Iman's dress was Calvin Klein.
Photo: Getty Images10/61Amber Valetta, 2004
Amber Valetta looked like royalty in this Maggie Norris Couture corset, John Galliano skirt, and accompanying updo.
Evan Agostini11/61Linda Evangelista, 2004
Linda sported this coordinated look with model Amber Valetta.
- Jamie McCarthy12/61
Kimora Lee Simmons, 2008
The supermodel wore a patterned dress next to the late popular designer Karl Lagerfeld.
Photo: Getty Images13/61Kate Moss, 2009
Kate coordinated everything in this Marc Jacobs look, including her choice of eyeshadow.
Kevin Mazur14/61Katy Perry, 2010
In need of good selfie lighting? Take a cue from Katy Perry and bring your own glow in Cute Circuit.
Photo: Getty Images15/61Ashley Olsen, 2011
Ashley's puffy sleeves stole the show in Dior.
Kevin Mazur16/61Florence Welch, 2012
Florence Welch's tiered Alexander McQueen dress was made for twirling.
Larry Busacca17/61Mary-Kate Olsen, 2012
Another little black dress from Mary-Kate Olsen, but this The Row dress was far more formal than your typical LBD.
Stephen Lovekin18/61Beyoncé, 2012
A Givenchy train made of feathers?! Iconic.
Larry Busacca19/61Miley Cyrus, 2013
Miley Cyrus gave us punk rock chic for the 2013 Met Gala thanks to Marc Jacobs.
Photo: Getty Images20/61Kim Kardashian, 2013
Kim Kardashian went with all floral, Givenchy everything for this 2013 Met Gala appearance.
George Pimentel21/61Erykah Badu, 2014
It was all about the accessories with this Givenchy look. Erykah Badu matched her choice of hat to her jacket.
Dimitrios Kambouris22/61Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, 2014
Another Met Gala, another opportunity for Mary-Kate (in vintage Chanel) and Ashley (in vintage Gianfranco Ferréto) challenge the typical black dress norms.
Getty Images23/61Beyoncé, 2015
Giving new meaning to the term “naked dress” in Givenchy.
Getty Images24/61Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, 2015
They might have been raised on the west coast, but MK and A really lean into the NYC lifestyle, showing off their stunning little black
dressesvintage John Galliano for Dior gowns.
Mike Coppola25/61Rihanna, 2015
Just another stunning Met Gala appearance from Rihanna in Guo Pei.
Larry Busacca26/61Zendaya, 2015
In Fausto Puglisi, Zendaya brought her own sun to the Met Gala.
Larry Busacca27/61FKA Twigs, 2015
FKA Twigs proved that fashion truly is all about the details. Look very closely to catch the artwork that many missed in this Christopher Kane.
Larry Busacca28/61Selena Gomez, 2015
Selena looked radiant in a white gown by Vera Wang with a matching floral headpiece.
Getty Images29/61Lady Gaga, 2016
No pants? No problem. The full look was Atelier Versace.
Kevin Mazur30/61Taylor Swift, 2016
Only punk rock Taylor (in Louis Vuitton) could come to the phone right then.
Larry Busacca31/61Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West, 2016
The couple that matches their silver Balmain together, slays the Met Gala red carpet together — but doesn't stay together.
Karwai Tang32/61Willow Smith, 2016
An oversized jacket and high-waisted trousers completed this Chanel outfit from Willow Smith.
Mike Coppola33/61Solange, 2016
Solange stole the show with a bright yellow dress from David LaPort and artsy heels.
Taylor Hill34/61Lupita Nyong'o, 2016
One can never go wrong with green Calvin Klein.
Venturelli35/61Selena Gomez, 2016
This pairing of combat boots and polka dots from Louis Vuitton was fit and both casual for the Met's Futuristic theme.
Kevin Mazur36/61Kendall Jenner, 2016
Bits of blue were scattered throughout this white gown by Versace.
Getty Images38/61Rihanna, 2017
Paying homage to the theme in a runway look from Comme des Garçons.
Getty Images39/61Zendaya, 2017
Having fun with color as she does best in a truly regal red carpet moment by Dolce & Gabbana.
- J. Kempin/Getty Images40/61
Bella Hadid, 2017
While Bella is known for having a killer outfit for the Met Gala after parties, this Alexander Wang look on the actual steps was also a stunner.
J. Kempin41/61Katy Perry, 2017
From her custom John Galliano–designed crimson wool coat to her headpiece, Katy looked like IRL art in Maison Margiela Artisanal.
- John Shearer/Getty Images42/61
Rihanna, 2018
Rihanna's Maison Margiela Atelier Heavenly Bodies look that drew inspiration from the pope is perhaps the most iconic Met Gala look ever.
- Dia Dipasupil43/61
Solange, 2018
Just another spectacular Met Gala appearance from Solange in Iris van Herpen.
Neilson Barnard44/61Zendaya, 2018
Zendaya put a glamorous, and glittering, spin on a coat of arms in Atelier Versace.
Dia Dipasupil45/61Cardi B, 2018
Cardi B proved that one can truly never have enough diamonds if they are Moschino.
Photo: Getty Images46/61Winnie Harlow, 2018
For her Met Gala debut, Winnie Harlow pulled out all the stops in Tommy Hilfiger, wearing a billowing white gown with a matching headpiece.
Karwai Tang47/61Ariana Grande, 2018
Classic art, but make it Met Gala fashion courtesy of Vera Wang.
Rabbani and Solimene Photography49/61Zendaya and Law Roach, 2019
Zendaya and long-time stylist Law Roach took to the pink carpet to bring to life a full Cinderella fantasy, complete with smoke and light effects. The dress was Tommy Hilfiger and the bag was Judith Leiber Couture.
- Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images50/61
Katy Perry, 2019
Katy was truly looking camp right in the eyes in this Moschino number.
Kevin Tachman/MG1951/61Kylie and Kendall Jenner, 2019
Cinderella came and so did her wicked stepsisters. With these coordinating outfits, Kendall (in Versace and Tiffany & Co.) and Kylie (in Atelier Versace and Lorraine Schwartz) etched their name into Met Gala history.
- Theo Wargo/Getty Images52/61
Lil Nas X, 2021
Lil Nas X knows how to make an entrance; this Atelier Versace outfit came in three parts.
- Mike Coppola/Getty Images53/61
Iman, 2021
We'll never forget how Iman stole the show in this stunning feather look from Harris Reed.
- Taylor Hill54/61
Zoë Kravitz, 2021
Some criticized Zoë Kravitz for this sheer Saint Laurent gown, but though not precisely on theme, we loved it.
- Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images55/61
Kylie Jenner, 2022
The reality television star paid tribute to her late friend Virgil Abloh with this Off-White Met moment.
- Sean Zanni/Getty Images56/61
Kim Kardashian, 2022
As one of the last looks of the evening, Kim surprised everyone with the vintage Marilyn Monroe dress – while the moment was controversial, the dress is iconic on its own.
- Mike Coppola/Getty Images57/61
Lizzo, 2022
Lizzo played a tune for the photogs in a Thom Browne ensemble that took 22,000 hours to create.
- Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images58/61
Blake Lively, 2022
Black Lively looked like the queen of the ball paying homage to New York City with a two-toned Versace gown with images of the Empire State Building and Lady Liberty.
- Mike Coppola/Getty Images59/61
Sarah Jessica Parker, 2022
SJP wore this billowing gown from Christopher John Rogers for the 2022 Met Gala, centering Black American designers.
Getty Images60/61Dua Lipa, 2023
Simple is sometimes best, and this white-and-black tweed Chanel Bride ball gown from the '90s is proof.
Getty Images61/61Jenna Ortega, 2023
Jenna Ortega or Wednesday Addams? The actor stayed committed to her role for the 2023 Met Gala in this eclectic Thom Browne fit.
