We Dug Deep Into the Archives to Find the 70 Best Met Gala Looks of All Time

In her absolutely iconic debut, Doechii wore a dandy-inspired custom Louis Vuitton look, designed by Pharrell Williams. The look featured a monogrammed blazer and checkered shorts.

Bad Bunny wore a custom chocolate-brown mohair Prada suit with a cropped jacket, paired with a traditional Puerto Rican pava hat to honor his Caribbean roots.

I mean...are we kidding? Iconography, all around. In her first of two (!!) show-stopping looks at the 2024 Met Gala, Zendaya donned a John Galliano for Maison Margiela gown that will live in my head rent-free for years to come.

The model’s archival Givenchy gown caused quite the stir—not only because it showed off some butt cleavage, but because she claimed she was the first person to wear it when Winona Ryder was photographed in the same dress in the ‘90s. Awwwkward.

The “Water” hitmaker made her Met debut in a stunningly delicate Balmain sand gown.

At the top of this list comes the fashion killer, the queen:
Rihanna! She paid homage to Karl Lagerfeld at the 2023 Met Gala not only with her jaw-dropping look, but through her lateness. (Apparently, Karl was always tardy, too.) Proving she's forever worth the wait, Rihanna was decked out in larger-than-life flowers and served us in an all-white Valentino ensemble, starring a voluminous skirt with an endless train. If this is what glamorous maternity wear looks like, I want in. Joined by her partner, A$AP Rocky, they closed the arrivals with a bang. Dressed by Gucci, Rocky wore a recreation of a look worn by Karl Lagerfeld that was complete with a suit jacket and tie, plaid skirt, bedazzled jeans, and boots.

Wednesday-core but make it couture! Jenna Ortega gave goth glam in Thom Browne.

BIG pur. Of course, Doja Cat would go feline and have a look inspired by Karl's cat: Choupette. Talk about committed! You can thank Oscar de La Renta for this moment.

It’s not just giving Marilyn Monroe—this is actually Marilyn Monroe’s original Jean Louis gown (worn to sing “Happy Birthday” to President JFK), taken out of a museum for Kim’s night out at the Met.

Lizzo showed out in a hand-embroidered look by Thom Browne. And, of course, her flute.

Olivia Rodrigo served iridescent realness at her first Met Gala. The star wore a liquid purple Versace dress, sheer gloves, platform sandals, and butterfly accessories.

Here’s Lupita showing us that even denim can be red carpet worthy when it’s a Versace Jeans Couture gown styled by Micaela Erlanger and accessorized with diamonds via De Beers Jewellers.

Kendall showed up in a sheer, beaded masterpiece by Givenchy.

Iman, the icon, is larger than life in a Dolce & Gabbana x Harris Reid masterpiece.

For “Camp: Notes on Fashion” in 2019, Lady Gaga gave the world a live show of four entire looks—on the carpet! Surrounded by an entourage of fawning suit-wearing people, she first appeared in a fuchsia hot-air-balloon-like gown by Brandon Maxwell. When that came off, we found her in an asymmetrical black gown...and then, a hot-pink column gown. Next thing ya know, Gaga was in her undergarments pulling a wagon of champagne as she posed and crawled up the stairs.

Ta-da! From the balloon dress to her undergarments, this is Lady Gaga’s final look. The whole show took about 16 minutes. Talk about dedication.

Kim took the “naked look” to new levels with this custom, waist-cinching corset piece by Thierry Mugler. Sidebar: I never noticed how the beads resemble water droplets!

Oooh, drama. Like Kendall, Kylie also went for a feather-y vibe that year. Versace designed her a lilac netted gown with very exaggerated feather sleeves. The two sisters photographing together was a visual masterpiece.