26 Stunning Met Gala Looks We'll Never Forget

On the first Monday in May (or a random Monday in September if there's a global pandemic), the culturally elite gather at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to raise money for the Costume Institute. The famous steps (yes, those same steps that Blair Waldorf used as her personal cafeteria in "Gossip Girl") transform into a carpeted runway for those in attendance to show off their looks while we indulgently look on to gush over the fashion and fanciness. This event is none other than the Met Gala.

A longstanding tradition, the Met Gala is one of the most exclusive events in the entire world. Sure, it's a major display of ostentatious wealth, but the fashion brings joy to millions, and it's for a good cause. And, while not all looks are worthy of attention, some are indelibly burnt into our brains. Here are 26 stunning Met Gala looks we'll never forget.

Nobody does it like Rihanna. The bona fide fashion icon has arrived at the Met Gala in more stunning looks than there are steps leading to the museum, and, in 2018, she outdid herself by dressing like the Pope in a heavily beaded ensemble. Most would reserve this look for Halloween, but leave it to RiRi to make it high fashion. Rihanna married fashion with the Catholic imagination immaculately to fit the night's theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination." Rihanna likely will never become the actual Pope, but the Vatican should take some style notes.

The 2019 Met Gala theme, "Camp: Notes on Fashion," was one of the most talked-about themes in recent history. Based on Susan Sontag's 1964 essay "Notes on 'Camp,'" attendees had ample room for interpretation, and, unlike other years, each ensemble could've been debated over its campiness or tackiness. We filed Zendaya's Tommy Hilfiger look as camp, and we added iconic. The "Euphoria" star arrived as Cinderella alongside her stylist and fairy godmother-for-the-night Law Roach. When he cast a spell with his wand, Zendaya's dress lit up. It was a magical look and a lesson in fashion technology.

2016's Met Gala theme was "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology." The annual theme is chosen according to the exhibit that opens that night and on display for the next year, and attendees are directed to dress accordingly, often given notes if the theme needs expounding on. For "Manus x Machina," stars came clad in a lot of black, metallic, and structured pieces. Beyoncé arrived in a Givenchy dress totally different from anyone else's, yet still on theme. Her latex dress was laden with details, and she looked stunning as per usual.

Ariana Grande hasn't attended enough Met Galas. (We doubt it's for lack of invitation — the woman could attend any event she wants.) But we'll consider ourselves lucky to have documentation of the one time she did walk up the steps of the Met because it was about as grand(e) as it gets. Taking the theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," quite literally, Grande's gown was covered in portions of Michelangelo's "The Last Judgement," the painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It doesn't get more fashionably Catholic than that.

All the good puns about Janelle Monáe's 2019 Met Gala look have been used, so we'll get straight to gushing about what makes it unforgettable. With her structured dress, multiple hats, and giant eyes, the singer paid homage to artists that have come before her, as well as to herself. Monáe is no stranger to bold looks (conduct a quick Google images search if you don't believe us), and this one embodied her personal style. And, in case you were wondering, yes, the evening's theme was "Camp: Notes on Fashion."

We've praised Rihanna and Blake Lively for their contributions to the Met Gala fashion history, and deservedly so. But long before those two were eligible for an invitation, the original fashion icon, Ms. Sarah Jessica Parker herself, defined the dress code for the event. SJP arrived at the 2014 "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" event in Oscar de la Renta. There was no questioning who designed her dress, as his signature was embroidered on the back of her gown. Take notes, ladies and gents. It's SJP's Met Gala — everyone else is just attending.

2022's Met Gala theme was "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," but attendees were directed to wear "Gilded Glamour." As with all Met Galas, the 2022 attendees interpreted this direction in myriad ways. Some took it as a signal to dress like the women from "Bridgerton." Others went more abstract by making commentary on capitalism. Quite a few, like Lizzo, took the direction literally and arrived in actual gilded glamour. Lizzo stood out thanks to her show-stopping coat and unique gilded accessory — her flute. The flautist even played on the carpet. 10 out of 10.

Rihanna can do no wrong in our eyes, but one of her Met Gala looks gave her pause before stepping onto the carpet. "I remember being so scared to get out of that car because I felt like, 'I'm doing too much,'" Rihanna told Access Hollywood about her 2015 look. The night's theme was "China: Through the Looking Glass," and RiRi showed up in a sensational yellow gown with an enormous train. Thankfully, the singer disregarded potential criticism and delivered a Met moment we'll never forget. What would the Gala be without Rihanna?

Because the Met Gala has become such a spectacle in recent years, it's easy to think the fundraiser hasn't existed for that long. But, per The Met, the first Met Gala was hosted in 1948 and was just as sought-after a ticket then as it is today (albeit the tickets were much less). And, prior to Anna Wintour's takeover of the event in 1995, stars were still in attendance and looked just as fashionable. Cher served a major look in 1974 when she wore her own nude dress with feathers galore. Unquestionably iconic.

Lupita Nyong'o is no stranger to the Met Gala carpet. The actor is known for donning looks that range from outrageous to striking, and she made waves with her 2014 look. The theme was "Charles James: Beyond Fashion," a tribute to Charles James, the fashion designer known for creating very structured pieces. Every year, there's debate over whether certain looks fit the theme, and, that year, Nyong'o was the sacrificial lamb. Her green flapper-inspired dress wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but, love it or hate it, people were talking.

We don't see Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen often, but when we do, it's major news. If there's anything the sisters are more famous for than being private, it's fashion, so it's fitting that one of the few times they've been photographed in public in the past decade or so was at the Met Gala. The two had been to the event several times before (and have been a handful of times since), but their coordinating couture for the 2015 fundraiser is hard to beat. The fabrics, the glam, the trains — we loved.

If we could turn back time and be invited to any Met Gala in history, it just might be the 2019 event. "Camp: Notes on Fashion" was a near-perfect theme, and seeing the looks in person would've been a dream. That said, we completely understand why Gwyneth Paltrow returned to the Met Gala after publicly criticizing it. She probably just wanted to wear something camp and hang out with her friends. And who can blame her? Her yellow dress was delicate, and, though a change in pace from many of the night's other looks, very memorable.

Dita von Teese is an icon in her own right, and she proved herself more than worthy of walking up the steps of the Met at the 2014 Gala. Wearing a nude form-fitting gown with red stitching and details to match, the burlesque dancer turned heads and only made us wish she'd attend the event more often. We need more Met moments from von Teese.