The Met Gala has played host to a number of extravagant trains over the years. Rihanna drove that point home in 2015 when she swanned in wearing a yellow fur-lined Gui Pei masterpiece of legendary proportions. The story goes like this: Given the extreme measurements (some fifty pounds of embroidery and a 16-foot train), Rihanna had to take a stretch limo to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The singer was so self-conscious about her splashy transportation, she had the driver circle the block three times, only to arrive with minutes to spare. It took four men to carry the thing up the red carpet, and although Rihanna changed the minute she was in the building, the moment would go down as one of the most memorable (and glamorous) grand entrances to date.
Elaborate theatrics are commonplace when working with a train, as Priyanka Chopra learned in 2017 when she wore a Ralph Lauren Collection trenchcoat dress with a staggering 20-foot train. It was the train that launched a thousand memes, and it too, was a study in logistics. For starters, Chopra couldn’t sit down in it, and instead took a minibus to the museum and arrived standing up. Fortunately, the train was detachable, which allowed the look to be converted into a minidress—and also meant Chopra could sit for dinner.
Bigger isn’t necessarily better, as many stars have made a dramatic statement with trains bearing considered details. Sarah Jessica Parker introduced the world to the logo train in 2014 when she wore an Oscar de la Renta ballgown with the designer’s autograph embroidered in red cursive. The signage was Parker’s idea, who told reporters at the time: “He would never in a million years have done it, he’s far too modest.”
Kim Kardashian West was far less timid about revealing who was behind the sultry Roberto Cavalli design she chose in 2015. West famously told everyone—including Cher herself—that the look was inspired by the Bob Mackie “naked dress” the singer wore to the first-ever Met Gala in 1974. Covered in crystals and finished with a white feathered skirt, the homage became on of the most-talked-about turns of the night.
The next year, it was an expectant Blake Lively who made headlines. The actress was pregnant with her second child with Ryan Reynolds, and her blush pink Burberry column with rose-embroidered Watteau train proved ideal for balancing out a growing baby bump.
An exquisite train needn’t feel fussy, either. In 2017, Solange Knowles (who has never been one to shy away from sartorial theatrics, onstage or on the red carpet) sported a Thom Browne coat with an extra-long quilted train. The end result showed off the puffer expertise Browne acquired during his tenure at Moncler, and set a new standard for how cool girls can go long.
More recently, in 2019, Lady Gaga did the camp theme justice with a long, pink cape-train by Brandon Maxwell (the train was even was fluffed by her entourage of dancers while on the carpet). Cardi B also wore a three-meter train by Thom Browne, which was covered in over 30,000 red feathers—because with the Met Gala, more is always more. Last year, Billie Eilish channeled Old Hollywood in a peachy Oscar de la Renta gown, complete with a sweeping hemline that required several people to carry it up the stairs.
There is no shortage of inventive or exquisite ways wear a train at the Met Gala, but we’ve highlighted the 32 most showstopping ones below.
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Billie Eilish in Oscar de la Renta, 2021
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Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga, 2021
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Diane Kruger in Prabal Gurung, 2021
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Simone Biles in Area x Athleta, 2021
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Rosalia in Rick Owens, 2021
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Teyana Taylor in Prabal Gurung, 2021
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Jennifer Lopez in Ralph Lauren, 2021
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Jeremy Pope in Dion Lee, 2021
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Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell, 2019
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Nicki Minaj in Prabal Gurung, 2019
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Cardi B in Thom Browne, 2019
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Lily Collins in Giambattista Valli, 2019
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Blake Lively in Versace, 2018
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Rita Ora in Prada, 2018
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Jennifer Lopez in Balmain, 2018
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Nicki Minaj in Oscar de la Renta, 2018
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Chrissy Teigen in Marchesa, 2017
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Solange in Thom Browne, 2017
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Zendaya in in Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda, 2017
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Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren Collection, 2017
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aura Osnes in Christian Siriano, 2017
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Emmy Rossum in Carolina Herrera, 2017
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Gigi Hadid in Tommy Hilfiger, 2017
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Blake Lively in Burberry, 2016
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Zoe Saldana in Dolce & Gabbana, 2016
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Emma Watson in Calvin Klein Collection, 2016
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Rihanna in Guo Pei, 2015
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Kim Kardashian West in Roberto Cavalli, 2015
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Sarah Jessica Parker in Oscar de la Renta, 2014
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Tabitha Simmons in Dolce & Gabbana, 2014
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