See All of Rihanna's Met Gala Looks Through The Years
Over the years, Rihanna's Met Gala appearances have become one of the event's undeniable highlights. Rihanna has attended the gala as far back as 2007, skipping a few years in between, for a total of 11 appearances on the famous stairs.
Nineteen years ago, 19-year-old Rihanna hit the red carpet for her first-ever Met Gala in a Georges Chakra dress that was understated and simple, despite some embellishment on top. Her looks at the Met have been so perfect that some of her 'fits have actually made it to a couple of exhibitions themselves.
Since her Met Gala debut, Rihanna has only risen further and further up the fashion-statement totem pole, consistently topping the best-dressed list and being one of the few celebrities on the red carpet to nail the theme and dress code almost every year. (Remember the time she co-hosted the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Image” gala in 2018 and made quite the entrance?)
Even when she skipped the 2022 Met Gala, she still managed to make her presence known, and that's when you know you've made it. While Rihanna decided to skip the Met Gala 2024, all eyes were on the singer and beauty mogul to return for the Met Gala 2025. And she didn't disappoint. We'll have to patiently wait to see if she'll be attending this year, but in the meantime, we can relive all of Rihanna’s Met Gala looks to date — from Chinese designer Guo Pei to a Comme des Garçons look that we’re still dreaming about — here.
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Rihanna at the Met Gala 2025
Rihanna attended the 2025 Met Gala with her baby bump, which she showed off in a Marc Jacobs cropped blazer, body-hugging bustier, and skirt, complete with a slit and long train. She committed to the "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" theme with a wide brim hat and a polka dot silk scarf tied under a collar.
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Rihanna at the Met Gala 2023
For the 2023 Met Gala honoring “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” Rihanna arrived with her partner A$AP Rocky fashionably late (yes, again) and dressed in a larger-than-life white gown by Valentino. This marked Rihanna's return to the Met Gala, as she skipped the 2022 Met Gala because she was pregnant with her first son, RZA.
John Shearer/WireImage3/11Rihanna at the Met Gala 2021
Rihanna skipped the 2019 Met Gala and then the 2020 one was canceled in light of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, however, both the Met Gala and Rih made their triumphant return. Rih arrived fashionably late at the event, which was hosted in September, with A$AP Rocky. Celebrating the “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” theme, Rih wore a larger-than-life gown and a simple black beanie by Balenciaga.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images4/11Rihanna at the Met Gala 2018
The year she served as a co-host, Rih vowed everyone in a custom fully-beaded minidress, cape, and miter by John Galliano. She was crowned as one of the best dressed of the night instantly and made Met Gala history.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images5/11Rihanna at the Met Gala 2017
For “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between,” Rihanna chose a structured dress made of floral rosettes from the honorary design house itself.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images6/11Rihanna at the Met Gala 2015
With the theme of “China: Through The Looking Glass,” Rihanna chose a bright yellow fur-trimmed cape created by Guo Pei, one of the designers featured most prominently in the exhibit itself. We get why this is Rih's fave.
Neilson Barnard7/11Rihanna at the Met Gala 2014
For “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” in 2014, Rihanna went with a cropped top (which was totally backless) and a floor-skimming skirt in lieu of a dress. By Stella McCartney, the two-piece was made of simple white silk with little embellishment, but it was still one of the most striking looks in the room. In 2024, Rihanna actually revealed to British Vogue that this is one of her favorite Met Gala looks she's worn, tied with 2015's, which you can see below.
Larry Busacca/Getty Images8/11Rihanna at the Met Gala 2012
2012’s theme was “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations,” and Rihanna showed up in a not-so-basic textured long-sleeve black dress with a down-to-there neckline in the back from Tom Ford.
Kevin Mazur9/11Rihanna at the Met Gala 2011
For “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty,” Rihanna was striking in a one-sleeved black lace dress by Stella McCartney and green dangling earrings.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage10/11Rihanna at the Met Gala 2009
At “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion” Met Gala, Rihanna went for a menswear vibe, choosing a black silk tux, complete with oversized puff sleeves.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images11/11Rihanna at the Met Gala 2007
For her first Met Gala, themed “Poiret: King of Fashion,” Rihanna wore a prom-worthy white gown, embellished with crystals at the halter top and on the bodice from Georges Chakra. To make a statement, her accessory was a single red rose.
