There are many Met Gala looks that we will never forget—Beyoncé in the original naked dress, Kim Kardashian wearing Thierry Mugler, basically every one of Rihanna’s appearances—but long before any of those women even attended the event for the first time, models, actors, and socialites were making their mark on the museum steps.
At this point, the Met Gala has been around for quite awhile, so it’s easy to forget some of the looks from 25-plus years ago that would have blown up on social media if they had a chance. Here, look back at the most memorable looks in Met Gala history, from Princess Diana in 1996 all the way to Zendaya’s 2024 gowns.
Princess Diana in Dior
At the “Christian Dior” Met Gala in 1996.
Caroline Kennedy in Carolina Herrera
With her husband, Ed Schlossberg, at the “Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years” Met Gala in 2001.
Lee Radziwill in Armani
At the “Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years” Met Gala in 2001.
Iman in Calvin Klein
With her husband, David Bowie, at the “Goddess: The Classical Mode” Met Gala in 2003.
Gisele Bündchen in Dolce & Gabbana
At the “Goddess: The Classical Mode” Met Gala in 2003.
Linda Evangelista in Jean Paul Gaultier
At the “Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century” Met Gala in 2004.
Karolina Kurkova in Viktor & Rolf
At “The House of Chanel” Met Gala in 2005.
Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen
At the “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion” Met Gala in 2006.
Cate Blanchett in Balenciaga
At the “Poiret: King of Fashion” Met Gala in 2007.
Amber Valletta in Atelier Versace
At the “Superheroes: Fashion And Fantasy” Met Gala in 2008.
Christina Ricci in Givenchy
At the “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy” Met Gala in 2008.
Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs With a Stephen Jones Turban
At the “Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion” Met Gala in 2009.
Doutzen Kroes in Zan Posen
At the “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” Met Gala in 2010.
Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad
At the “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” Met Gala in 2010.
Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte
At the “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” Met Gala in 2010.
Beyoncé in Emilio Pucci
At the “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” Met Gala in 2011.
Tom Brady & Gisele Büdchen in Alexander McQueen
At the “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” in 2011.
Daphne Guiness in Alexander McQueen
At the “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” Met Gala in 2011.
Miranda Kerr in Marchesa
At the “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” Met Gala in 2011.
Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen
At the “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” Met Gala in 2012
Diane Kruger in Prada
At the “Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations” Met Gala in 2012
Chloë Sevigny in Miu Miu
At the “Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations” Met Gala in 2012.
Anne Hathaway in Valentino
At the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” Met Gala in 2013.
Sarah Jessica Parker in Giles Deacon with a Philip Treacy Headpiece
At the Costume Institute Gala for the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” Met Gala in 2013.
Ashley Olsen in Vintage Dior Couture
At the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” Met Gala in 2013.
Dita Von Teese in Zac Posen
At “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” Met Gala in 2014.
Lupita Nyong’o in Prada
At “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” Met Gala in 2014.
Monica Bellucci in Dolce & Gabbana
At “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” Met Gala in 2014.
Rihanna in Guo Pei
At the “China: Through the Looking Glass” Met Gala in 2015.
Beyoncé in Givenchy
At the “China: Through the Looking Glass” Met Gala in 2015.
Solange Knowles in Giles Deacon
At the “China: Through The Looking Glass” Met Gala in 2015.
Kate Hudson in Michael Kors
At the “China: Through The Looking Glass” Met Gala in 2015.
Anne Hathaway in Ralph Lauren
At the “China: Through The Looking Glass” Met Gala in 2015.
Amal Clooney in Maison Margiela
At the “China: Through The Looking Glass” Met Gala in 2015.
Claire Danes in Zac Posen
At the “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology” Met Gala in 2016.
Rihanna in Comme des Garçons
At the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Met Gala 2017.
Cara Delevigne in Chanel
At the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Met Gala 2017.
Jennifer Lopez in Valentino
At the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Met Gala 2017.
Zendaya in Versace
At the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” Met Gala in 2018.
Rihanna in Maison Margiela
At the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” Met Gala in 2018.
Blake Lively in Versace
At the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” Met Gala in 2018.
Gigi Hadid in Versace
At the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” Met Gala in 2018.
Ariana Grande in Vera Wang
At the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” Met Gala in 2018.
Kim Kardashian in Thierry Mugler
At the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” Met Gala in 2019.
Zendaya in Tommy Hilfiger
At the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” Met Gala in 2019.
Cardi B in Thom Browne
At the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” Met Gala in 2019.
Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell
At the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” Met Gala in 2019.
Lily-Rose Depp in Vintage Chanel
At the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” Met Gala in 2019.
Jared Leto in Gucci
At the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” Met Gala in 2019.
Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga
At the "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" Met Gala in 2021.
Kaia Gerber in Oscar de la Renta
At the "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" Met Gala in 2021.
Iman in Harris Reed
At the "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" Met Gala in 2021.
Zoë Kravitz in Saint Laurent
At the "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" Met Gala in 2021.
Blake Lively in Atelier Versace
At the “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” Met Gala in 2022.
Quannah Chasinghorse in Prabal Gurung and Antelope Women Designs jewelry
At the “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” Met Gala in 2022.
Lizzo in Thom Browne
At the “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” Met Gala in 2022.
Emma Corrin in Miu Miu
At the “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” Met Gala in 2022.
Rosalía in Givenchy
At the “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” Met Gala in 2022.
Dua Lipa in Chanel
At the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty” Met Gala in 2023.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky in Valentino and Gucci
At the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty” Met Gala in 2023.
Penelope Cruz in Chanel
At the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty” Met Gala in 2023.
Bad Bunny in Jacquemus
At the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty” Met Gala in 2023.
Nicole Kidman in Chanel
At the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty” Met Gala in 2023.
Tyla in Balmain
At the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” Met Gala in 2024.
Zendaya in Maison Margiela
At the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” Met Gala in 2024.
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