The Met Gala is where celebrities ascend to style icon status. On the first Monday in May, stars don’t just walk the red carpet, they climb the steps of the Metropolitan Museum in statement couture presenting their interpretation of the exhibition’s theme to the entire world. Unlike an awards show or a premiere, the goal isn’t to shine for a moment, it’s to create a look that resonates for decades. Despite the wealth of designer gowns and bespoke suits, few accomplish that feat, but those who do earn themselves a place in fashion history. The greatest hits—Rihanna’s papal chic, Kate Moss’s golden turban, Sarah Jessica Parker’s tartan Alexander McQueen, Erykah Badu’s glittering top hat, Madonna in a hippie caftan—rank among the best outfits ever to be worn. And their charms wouldn’t have been as compelling on another night.
The gala encourages the kind of innovation rarely seen elsewhere. The Costume Institute’s trove of landmark runway creations serves as an inspiration for guests, allowing them to take on fashion at its most avant-garde. Where else will you see Cardi B. and a small army of assistants move a mountainous red Thom Browne train across a pink carpet? Or watch awestruck as Lady Gaga and Brandon Maxwell take their magenta nesting doll ballgown to the streets, much to the delight of New Yorkers. A standout Met look can be performative (Amber Valletta going full baroque in 2004), subversive (Daphne Guinness in a plume of McQueen feathers in 2011), witty (Karolina Kurkova’s playful Viktor and Rolf in 2015, or referential (the Olsen twins and their yearly vintage surprise), it just can’t be boring.
Fashion’s biggest night returns this year with a fete that shifts the focus—to menswear instead. “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” will explore the role of sartorial style in forming Black identities, focusing on the emergence, significance, and proliferation of the Black dandy. Ahead of the 2025 iteration, we look back on the best and boldest Met Gala looks that represent fashion at its most inspiring. Here, see the most memorable, daring, and over the top outfits ever.
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Kate Moss in Calvin Klein, 1995
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Naomi Campbell in Versace, 1995
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Madonna in Versace, 1997
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Elizabeth Hurley in Versace, 1997
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Sean Combs and Jennifer Lopez, 1999
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Amber Valetta in Versace, 1999
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Liv Tyler in Stella McCartney, 1999
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Gwyneth Paltrow in Gucci, 1999
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Lil' Kim in Versace, 1999
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Whitney Houston, 1999
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Demi Moore in Donna Karan, 2000
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Hillary Clinton in Oscar de la Renta, 2000
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Lee Radziwill in Armani, 2000
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Christy Turlington in Saint Laurent, 2001
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Stephanie Seymour in Alaia, 2001
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Marie-Chantal Miller in Valentino Couture, 2001
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Carmen Kass in Gucci, 2003
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Davie Bowie and Iman in Calvin Klein, 2003
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Diana Ross in Tom Ford, 2003
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Nicole Kidman in Tom Ford, 2003
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Amber Valleta in a Maggie Norris Couture Corset, John Galliano Skirt, 2004
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Linda Evangelista in Jean Paul Gaultier Couture, 2004
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Scarlett Johansson in Calvin-Klein, 2004
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Karolina Kurkova in Viktor and Rolf, 2005
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Vanessa Paradis in Chanel, 2005
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Charlize Theron in Christian Dior, 2006
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Charlotte Gainsbourg in Balenciaga, 2006
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Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen, 2006
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Sienna Miller in Burberry, 2006
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Cameron Diaz in Christian Dior, 2007
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Cate Blanchett in Balenciaga, 2007
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Charlotte Gainsbourg in Balenciaga, 2007
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Daria Werbowy in Azzedine Alaia, 2007
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Jennifer Connelly in Balenciaga, 2007
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Renee Zellweger in Carolina Herrera, 2007
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Shalom Harlow in Viktor and Rolf, 2007
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Christina Ricci in Givenchy, 2008
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Gisele Bundchen in Versace, 2008
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Julia Roberts in Armani, 2008
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Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs, 2009
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Madonna in Louis Vuitton, 2009
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Miranda Kerr in Jil Sander, 2009
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Gwen Stefani, 2010
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Doutzen Kroes in Zac Posen, 2010
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Oprah in Oscar de la Renta, 2010
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Beyonce in Emilio Pucci, 2011
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Daphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen, 2011
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Daphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen, 2011
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Liv Tyler in Givenchy, 2011
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Madonna in Stella McCartney, 2011
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Michelle Williams in Miu Miu, 2011
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Naomi Campbell in Alexander McQueen, 2011
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Anja Rubik in Antony Vaccarello, 2012
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Carey Mulligan in Prada, 2012
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Rooney Mara in Givenchy, 2012
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Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana, 2012
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Stella Tennant in Christopher Kane, 2013
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Ashley Olsen in Dior, 2013
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Kim Kardashian in Givenchy, 2013
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Sarah Jessica Parker in Phillip Treacy and Giles Deacon, 2013
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Dita von Tesse in Zac Posen, 2014
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David Beckham in Ralph Lauren Black Label and Victoria Beckham in Victoria Beckham, 2014
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Erykah Badu in Givenchy, 2014
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Lupita Nyongo in Prada, 2014
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Monica Belluci in Dolce and Gabbana, 2014
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Rihanna in Guo Pei, 2015
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Alexa Chung in Erdem, 2015
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Anne Hathaway in Ralph Lauren, 2015
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Chloe Sevigny in J.W. Anderson, 2015
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Grace Coddington in Michael Kors, 2015
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FKA Twigs in Christopher Kane, 2015
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Sienna Miller in Thakoon, 2015
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Lady Gaga in Alexander Wang, 2015
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Miley Cyrus in Alexander Wang, 2015
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Solange in Giles Deacon, 2015
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Blake Lively in Burberry, 2016
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Florence Welch in Gucci, 2016
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Beyonce in Givenchy, 2016
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Brie Larson in Proenza Schouler, 2016
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Emma Watson in Jean Paul Gaultier, 2016
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Gigi Hadid in Tommy Hilfiger, 2016
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Lena Dunham, Jenni Konner, and Jenna Lyons in Creatures of the Wind, 2016
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Lupita Nyongo in Calvin Klein, 2016
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Poppy Delevingne in Marchesa, 2016
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Selena Gomez in Louis Vuitton, 2016
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Taylor Swift in Louis Vuitton, 2016
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Bella Hadid in Alexander Wang, 2017
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Caroline Kennedy in Comme des Garçons, 2017
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Jennifer Lopez in Valentino, 2017
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Julie Macklowe in Comme des Garçons, 2017
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Katy Perry in Maison Margiela Artisanal designed by John Galliano, 2017
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Kendall Jenner in La Perla, 2017
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Kylie Jenner in Versace, 2017
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Lily Rose Depp in Chanel, 2017
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Michelle Lamy in Comme des Garçons, 2017
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Rihanna in Comme des Garçons, 2017
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Zendaya in Dolce & Gabbana, 2017
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Amal Clooney in Richard Quinn, 2018
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Frances McDormand in Valentino, 2018
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Karen Elson in Dolce and Gabbana, 2018
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Kim Kardashian in Versace, 2018
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Lena Waithe in Carolina Herrera, 2018
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Rihanna in Maison Margiela Artisanal designed by John Galliano, 2018
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Zendaya in Jean Paul Gaultier, 2018
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Katy Perry in Moschino, 2019
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Katy Perry in Moschino, 2019
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Jared Leto in Gucci
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Cardi B in Thom Browne, 2019
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Billy Porter in The Blondes, 2019
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Kristen Stewart in Chanel, 2021
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Lorde in Bode, 2021
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Grimes in Iris van Herpen, 2021
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Isabelle Huppert in Balenciaga, 2021
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Iman in Dolce&Gabbana x Harris Reed, 2021
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Timothée Chalamet in Haider Ackermann, 2021
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Kendall Jenner in Givenchy, 2021
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ASAP Rocky in ERL and Rihanna in Balenciaga Haute Couture, Bulgari necklace, bracelet, and earrings, Thelma West Diamonds rings, 2021
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Cardi B in Chenpeng Studio, 2023
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Rihanna in Valentino and A$AP Rocky in Gucci, 2023
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Lana Del Rey in Alexander McQueen
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Zendaya in Maison Margiela by John Galliano
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