14 Met Gala Dresses We Can’t Stop Talking About

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The Met Gala is not just any regular red carpet affair; it’s a spectacle that captures the attention of the entire world as they wait with bated breath to see what their stars will wear on the renowned red carpet.

On the first day of May each year, the world’s most influential and avant-garde designers, celebrities, and artists gather at the iconic stairs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to highlight their creativity and interpretation of each year’s theme through a unique showcase of fashion. This custom stretch of creative activities makes the Met Gala a huge platform for social and cultural commentary.

As the 2023 version of the event is almost here, the world will be thrown again into another sartorial storytelling and controversy that ignite the conversation that last year after years.

Ahead are 14 Met Gala dresses to refresh your mind for what to expect, the ones that made us gasp, cheer, and question everything we thought we knew about fashion. From Rihanna’s omelet-inspired dress to Katy Perry’s chandelier regalia and Lady Gaga’s four-in-one ensemble, these dresses remain a testament to the power of fashion to captivate, inspire and ignite timeless conversations.

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When it comes to red-carpet looks, Jennifer Lopez is a sure bet to deliver a show-stopping look, and the 2019 Met Gala was no exception. Embracing the extravagant and flashy “camp” theme of the night, J. Lo commanded attention in a stunning, bedazzled Versace gown that lit up the pink carpet.

The daring dress boasted a plunging V-neckline and a high slit that showcased her toned legs, which have become a signature feature of J.Lo’s iconic style. To complete the dazzling ensemble, Lopez rocked iridescent platform heels, multiple diamond-studded bracelets and rings, and a shimmering silver Judith Leiber clutch. And, of course, no ice queen look would be complete without an enormous pendant necklace that added to the overall dripping-in-diamonds effect.

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Lady Gaga made a grand entrance at the 2019 Met Gala, embracing the “camp” fashion theme of the night with gusto. She arrived in a stunning hot pink Brandon Maxwell gown, featuring a flowing train and a large bow on her head. However, this was only the beginning of her fashion statement as she proceeded to change her outfit FOUR times on the red carpet.

Starting with her Brandon Maxwell pink cape gown, complete with a 25-foot train and dramatic eye makeup, Gaga exuded confidence and regality on the red carpet, setting the tone for the evening as co-host at the event. She then removed her pink cape dress, with the assistance of designer Brandon Maxwell, revealing her second look: a sultry black corseted dress.

Taking it up a notch, she stripped down to a crystal bra, undergarments, and pantyhose before changing into her third and final outfit of the evening. Gaga then stunned in a hot pink column gown, accessorized with sunglasses and a dazzling necklace. She even playfully applied lipstick in front of the cameras, cementing her status as the undisputed queen of camp.

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Tessa Thompson was an ethereal vision in the Syntopia dress from the Fall-Winter 2018/2019 haute couture collection bearing the same name. The mix of burgundy and black ruffled fabric perfectly complemented the sartorial elegance of her classic black ankle boots. She exuded an otherworldly beauty that left us awestruck by her unparalleled, eccentric radiance.

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She was literally the night’s Pope! Adhering to the theme of “Heavenly Bodies” at the 2018 Met Gala, Rihanna donned a divine ensemble that paid tribute to the grandeur of Catholic vestments. A cream gown adorned with jewels served as the foundation overlaid with a flowing overcoat.

Drawing inspiration from Catholicism, Rihanna completed the look with a pearl and jewel-encrusted robe, a papal mitre and necklace, Christian Louboutin heels, hoop earrings by Maria Tash, and Cartier jewelry. The entire ensemble was masterfully crafted by Margiela, marking the first time that the singer had graced the Met Gala in the designer’s masterpiece.

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It was her first Met Gala but Cardi B came dripping in lustrous pearls. The hip-hop sensation strutted arm in arm with renowned designer Jeremy Scott both decked out in custom Moschino attire. Not only did they arrive together, but also stole the limelight with matching pearl-studded outfits that perfectly matched the “Catholic Imagination” theme.

Cardi’s gown, gloves, choker, and headdress were all meticulously bedecked with beads and ornate jewels. And as if the thigh-high slit on her luxurious dress wasn’t enough to make a statement, a flowing satin overskirt belted at the waist added instant volume and a train that was nothing short of iconic.

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For Zendaya, the Met Gala was an event that demanded a bold approach and she played good at it. The actress arrived in a stunning Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda off-the-shoulder ball gown adorned with a vibrant tropical parrot print in shades of tangerine, lemon yellow, and blue.

Despite not adhering to the ‘Comme des Garçons’ theme, her dress added an element of whimsical glamour to the red carpet. To complement the full skirt and lengthy train, Zendaya sported a voluminous Afro and coral lips, which made for a striking beauty moment. The actress also accessorized with a ForeverMark yellow diamond ring and coordinating drop earrings, adding extra sparkle to her already resplendent appearance.

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In 2015, Rihanna made a striking entrance at the Met Gala, clad in a sensational yellow gown with a voluminous train trimmed with fur. This bold fashion statement was soon christened ‘the omelet dress’, causing a whirlwind of excitement across the globe and propelling the talented Chinese designer, Guo Pei, into the limelight of the international fashion scene. To this day, it remains one of the most unforgettable and iconic looks in the history of the Met Gala.

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At the Met Gala of 2012, Florence Welch gracefully floated along the red pathway wearing a multi-layered organza dress embellished with delicate dandelion embroidery. She complemented her attire with a pair of sandals, adorned with matching embellishments and an armadillo heel while clutching onto a timeless McQueen purse. A braided updo beautifully tied together her entire ensemble, leaving a lasting impression.

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In the midst of a challenging 2015 theme, selecting attire for the Met Gala was no easy task, but our fashion-savvy elites rose to the occasion with elegance and an air of Hollywood glamour that perfectly matched the exhibit’s theme. And Kim Kardashian opted for an exquisite Roberto Cavalli dress and a pair of dazzling Lorraine Schwartz earrings, exuding sheer glamour and radiance.

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In line with the camp theme and drawing from Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice In Wonderland’, Priyanka Chopra donned a stunning Dior gown at the 2019 Met Gala. Her ensemble was a masterpiece, consisting of a sheer bodice adorned with intricate spiky, silver criss-cross details, accompanied by a skirt and a trailing cape flaunting feathers in a myriad of colors ranging from frothy greys to vivid pinks, reds, and yellows.  

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During the 2017 Met Gala, Rihanna stepped onto the red carpet in a sculptural wonder. She came to honor the Costume Institute’s exhibition “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between” and was stunned donning an architectural masterpiece by Comme des Garçons, straight from their Fall 2016 runway collection.

The dress was a true work of art, originally worn by Anna Cleveland in Paris. It drew inspiration from 18th-century “punks” and featured layers of floral fabrics, arranged in a way that resembled pulled-apart petals.

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Kim Kardashian made a splashy appearance at 2019 met gala, embodying a wet lewk of herself. Thierry Mugler, who had been on a design hiatus since 2003, came out of retirement to craft her a one-of-a-kind gown made of latex and beads, a laborious undertaking that took eight months to perfect.

The corseted latex dress hugged the contours of her body, while beaded crystals cascaded from her like droplets of water. Her hair was styled to look drenched, and she ensured her skin appeared slick with copious amounts of oil.

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Katty’s 2019 Met Gala ensemble was a stroke of artistic genius that truly lit up the event. Her outfit for the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” exhibit was a confirmation of her dedication to the theme, as she donned a stunning chandelier. It’s hard to believe, but her silver Moschino gown was bedecked with three tiers of luminous candles, culminating in a grandiose headpiece that weighed a whopping 40 pounds, as reported by the New York Times.

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Lupita Nyong’o at the 2019 met gala, channeled the spirit of Marie Antoinette, the French queen known for her love of theatrics, in a frothy, neon rainbow Versace Atelier creation. The stunning column dress was made of macramé in star shapes, adorned with crystals in vivid shades of fuchsia, and featured a dramatic cape made of hand-brushed organza, decorated with bejeweled buttons. To complete her look, the actress added a matching fan that also gave the illusion of a handbag.