The greatest Met Gala moments of all time

May 04, 2020

By Heather Cichowski

The Met Gala is arguably fashion's biggest night of the year with celebrities – and sometimes royals – attending the annual event. Every year, fashion fans eagerly anticipate when stars step out on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in head-turning outfits to celebrate the year's theme.

A-listers dress to steal the show, which means there are many incredible and jaw-dropping looks. Even though the bar gets raised every year, there are those special outfits that go down history and are remembered fondly no matter how much time goes by.

Scroll through the gallery (or click through if you're on desktop) to see all of the best fashion moments from the Met Gala of all time.

Photos: © Jamie McCarthy/FilmMagic, Larry Busacca/Getty Images, Dimitrios Kambouris/FilmMagic

<h2>Sarah Jessica Parker and Alexander "Lee" McQueen, 2006</h2>
<p>The <a href=/tags/0/sarah-jessica-parker><strong><em>Sex and the City</em> actress</strong></a> and fashion designer coordinated and were dressed to theme at the "Anglomania: Tradition and Transgression" Met Gala in his designs.
<p>Photo: © Brian ZAK/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

<h2>Céline Dion, 2019</h2>
<p>Showgirl! The <a href=/tags/0/celine-dion><strong>Canadian icon</strong></a>'s fringed outfit by <a href=/tags/0/oscar-de-la-renta><strong>Oscar de la Renta</strong></a> and gravity-defying headpiece commanded attention at the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" Met Gala.
<p>Photo: © Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

<h2>Beyoncé, 2014</h2>
<p>The <a href=/tags/0/beyonce><strong>singer</strong></a> smouldered at the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Met Gala in a sheer black <a href=/tags/0/givenchy><strong>Givenchy</strong></a> gown designed by then-creative director <strong>Riccardo Tisci</strong>.
<p>Photo: © George Pimentel/WireImage

<h2>Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, 2014</h2>
<p>The couple looked like Old Hollywood royalty at the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Met Ball in 2014. <a href=/tags/0/blake-lively><strong>Blake Lively</strong></a> and hubby <a href=/tags/0/ryan-reynolds><strong>Ryan Reynolds</strong></a> both wore <a href=/tags/0/gucci><strong>Gucci</strong></a>.
<p>Photo: © Kevin Mazur/WireImage

<h2>Rihanna, 2015</h2>
<p>At any Met Gala, everyone always anticipates the arrival of <a href=/tags/0/rihanna><strong>Rihanna</strong></a>. The singer's appearance at the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Gala will go down in history thanks to her head-turning yellow look from Chinese couturier <strong>Guo Pei</strong>.
<p>Photo: © Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

<h2>Charlotte Casiraghi, 2016</h2>
<p>There was no missing <a href=/tags/0/grace-kelly><strong>Princess Grace</strong></a> and <strong>Prince Rainier III</strong>'s granddaughter at the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" event in her tiered multicoloured gown by <a href=/tags/0/gucci><strong>Gucci</strong></a>.
<p>Photo: © Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

<h2>Cardi B, 2018</h2>
<p>The <a href=/tags/0/cardi-b><strong>rapper</strong></a> made quite the impression at the "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" Costume Institute Gala in a <a href=/tags/0/jeremy-scott><strong>Jeremy Scott</strong></a> ensemble. She was pregnant at the time!
<p>Photo: © Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

<h2>Cate Blanchett, 2007</h2>
<p>The <a href=/tags/0/cate-blanchett><strong>Australian actress</strong></a> paid tribute to the night's theme of "Poiret: King of Fashion" in a gold fringed <a href=/tags/0/balenciaga><strong>Balenciaga</strong></a> dress. Poiret was a well-known fashion designer during the beginning of the 20th century.
<p>Photo: © Ryan Born/WireImage

<h2>Emma Stone, 2014</h2>
At the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Met Gala, <a href=/tags/0/emma-stone><strong>Emma Stone</strong></a> showcased vivid colour in a trendy two-piece <strong>Thakoon</strong> creation.
<p>Photo: © Larry Busacca/Getty Images

<h2> Jennifer Lawrence, 2013</h2>
<p>In a surprise move, the <a href=/tags/0/jennifer-lawrence><strong>Oscar-winning actress</strong></a> subverted the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" theme of the 2013 Met Gala in a black dress by <a href=/tags/0/dior><strong>Dior</strong></a> with an elegant netted veil.
<p>Photo: © Larry Busacca/Getty Images

<h2> Princess Beatrice, 2018</h2>
<p>The <a href=/tags/0/princess-beatrice><strong>elder Princess of York</strong></a> looked lovely at her Met Gala debut in a regal purple gown by <a href=/tags/0/alberta-ferretti><strong>Alberta Ferretti</strong></a> and embellished headband. The theme of the event was "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."
<p>Photo: © Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

<h2>Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss, 2009</h2>
<p>The <a href=/tags/0/kate-moss><strong>iconic model</strong></a> donned a dazzling lamé dress designed by her fellow co-host with a custom-made <strong>Stephen Jones</strong> turban and vertiginous <a href=/tags/0/yves-saint-laurent><strong>YSL</strong></a> Tribute 2 pumps.
<p>Photo: © BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

<h2>Priyanka Chopra, 2018 </h2>
<p>At the "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" Met Gala, the <a href=/tags/0/priyanka-chopra><strong>Indian actress</strong></a> looked divine in a luxurious <a href=/tags/0/ralph-lauren><strong>Ralph Lauren</strong></a> burgundy gown featuring an ornate golden headpiece.
<p>Photo: © Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

<h2>Lupita Nyong'o, 2014</h2>
<p>The <a href=/tags/0/lupita-nyongo><strong>Kenyan-Mexican actress</strong></a> was ready to dance in a beaded and feathered <a href=/tags/0/prada><strong>Prada</strong></a> number that evoked a flapper spirit perfect for the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" event.
<p>Photo: © Jamie McCarthy/FilmMagic

<h2>Princess Diana and Liz Tilberis, 1996</h2>
<p><a href=/tags/0/princess-diana><strong>Diana, Princess of Wales</strong></a>, clad in <a href=/tags/0/john-galliano><strong>John Galliano</strong></a>, wowed at the 1996 Met Gala, celebrating <a href=/tags/0/dior><strong>Christian Dior</strong></a>. She was accompanied by friend and fashion editor <strong>Liz Tilberis</strong>.
<p>Photo: © Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

<h2>Scarlett Johansson, 2004</h2>
<p>The <a href=/tags/0/Scarlett-Johansson><strong><em>Marriage Story</em> actress</strong></a> looked sensational in a cheerful yellow <a href=/tags/0/Calvin-Klein><strong>Calvin Klein</strong></a> dress.
<p>Photo: © Evan Agostini/Getty Images

<h2>Queen Rania, 2016</h2>
<p>The <a href=/tags/0/jordanian-royals><strong>Jordanian Queen</strong></a> showed off her fashion sense at the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" Met Gala in a detailed dress.
<p>Photo: © Karwai Tang/WireImage

<h2>Jennifer Lopez, 2011</h2>
<p><a href=/tags/0/jennifer-lopez><strong>J.Lo</strong></a> opted for colour and romance in a fuchsia <a href=/tags/0/gucci><strong>Gucci</strong></a> gown at the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Met Ball.
<p>Photo: © Dimitrios Kambouris/FilmMagic

<h2>Taylor Swift, 2014</h2>
<p><a href=/tags/0/taylor-swift><strong>Taylor Swift</strong></a> brought the bustle back at the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Met Gala in a pale pink <a href=/tags/0/oscar-de-la-renta><strong>Oscar de la Renta</strong></a> gown featuring an oversized bow.
<p>Photo: © Jamie McCarthy/FilmMagic

<h2>Zendaya, 2017</h2>
<p>There was no missing the <a href=/tags/0/zendaya><strong>young actress</strong></a> at the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcçns: Art of the In-Between" Met Gala in her <a href=/tags/0/dolce-gabbana><strong>Dolce & Gabbana</strong></a> Alta Moda dress, featuring a bold parrot print!
<p>Photo: © George Pimentel/WireImage

<h2>Sarah Jessica Parker, 2010</h2>
<p>In a pleated champagne gown by <strong>Halston Heritage</strong>, SJP shone bright at the "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" event.
<p>Photo: © Larry Busacca/Getty Images

<h2>Lady Gaga, 2019</h2>
<p>The <a href=/tags/0/lady-gaga><strong>performer</strong></a> wowed in not one, not two, not three, but four dramatic looks at the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" Met Gala. They were all designed by <a href=/tags/0/brandon-maxwell><strong>Brandon Maxwell.</strong></a>
<p>Photo: © Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

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