The red carpet at the Met Gala is usually regarded as the most thrilling of the year. Unlike others, it has a definite theme that even the most infrequent expect visitors to adhere to. It isn’t governed by ambiguous and unstated fashion norms. As a result, people that take significant fashion risks frequently reap the benefits, while those who don’t typically get overlooked. Naturally, there is pressure, but the thing that makes the evening so entertaining to watch is that it is pure capital-F Clothing, and even people who are not familiar with the concepts of style feel the need to comment.
We’ll be the first to say that at Feedwire, we pay more attention to those that go above and beyond with the challenge, and our favorite Met Gala looks historically have a tendency to be those who do it right. In a yellow Chinese designer dress with a train that was so long it spilled off the sides of the museum steps for “China: Beyond the Looking Glass,” Rihanna stood out from the crowd. Sarah Jessica Parker appeared on Alexander McQueen’s arm for “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion” wearing an asymmetrical plaid dress with lace details.
1. Princess Diana, 1996
Only a few months after divorcing Prince Charles, Princess Diana displayed one of her most beautiful appearances at the illustrious occasion. (If you like, it fits with her revenge dressing philosophy.) Of course, it continues to be one of the most memorable events in Met Gala tradition. Even other guests were overjoyed to see her at the event.
For the yearly party, she wore a floor-length slip dress made of shimmering navy silk, and it was stunning. The lingerie-inspired gown exuded strong underwear-as-outerwear vibes, which was emphasized by the black lacy detail around the neckline and straps.
2. Beyonce, 2012
Beyoncé, however, has a special place in her heart for Givenchy because she wore the French label’s unique designs for the Met Gala red carpet for five years straight under the now-deceased creative director Riccardo Tisci.
She made a stunning entrance up the grand staircase of the Metropolitan Gallery of Art in 2012 wearing an ombré designer dress with a purple feathered train.
3. Katy Perry, 2013
Even if nobody realized it at the time, the costume now seems to go better with the 2018 subject “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”. The outfit was dramatic and exquisitely constructed, but Perry doesn’t seem to fit the dress’s mid-length cut.
Perry wore a full Dolce & Gabbana ensemble for the “punk”-themed gala in 2013, straight from the Italian brand’s ready-to-wear collection for the season. She added more Catholicism to the richly adorned, crystal-covered midi dress with a set of statement cross earrings, a crown, and studded ankle-strap heels. The outfit also incorporated religious symbolism.
4. Rihanna, 2015
When the pop diva and beauty entrepreneur, 32, arrived at the Met Gala in a stunning yellow dress by Chinese designer Guo Pei, she was immediately dubbed the best-dressed guest of 2015. One of her most well-known ensembles ever had fur accents and a train that ran the width of a football pitch.
But on Wednesday, Rihanna admitted that the attire caused quite a few in a conversation on “Access Hollywood” to promote her most current Fenty Skin range. difficulties at the star-studded event.
5. Blake Lively, 2018
The actress wore a Versace-designed gown with a lavish ruby and gold pattern that had a lot of intricate beading—hence the 600 hours of work it required to hand-make.
The outfit seamlessly incorporated elements of Game of Thrones with the Met Gala’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme. The dress had a jewel-encrusted gold corset at the top that perfectly highlighted Lively’s physique. The dress’s train, on the other hand, had two sheer panels, gold embroidery, and a deep crimson red color.
6. Zendaya, 2018
Zendaya appeared on the red carpet wearing a dress by the Italian label that was inspired by Joan of Arc, in keeping with the Met Gala’s theme of examining the connections between fashion and religion. Although the battle-ready attire was mostly made of chains and metal, it was also coated in shimmering sequins, which gave the more ominous clothing an unexpected twist.
Tiffany & Co. jewelry and platform heels were Zendaya’s accessories. Roach claimed over the course of the weekend that he and the leading lady debated between two Versace ensembles before deciding on the one she chose to wear that evening. Donatella is a honored co-chair for this year’s gala, alongside Rihanna and Amal Clooney, so the decision seems appropriate.
7. Lady Gaga, 2019
Gaga was a few of the first celebs to show up and directed the red carpet using the regality that comes from years of embodying the camp aesthetic both on and off stage. She was joined by Harry Styles, Gucci’s Alessandro Michele, Serena Williams, and other celebrities to host the event. Gaga arrived in a magnificently shocking fuchsia pink cape gown designed by Brandon Maxwell, her friend, pulling a 25-foot train.
8. Billie Eilish, 2021
Following her wildly popular British Vogue issue honoring vintage Hollywood sirens, Billie Eilish has decided to impersonate Marilyn Monroe at the 2021 Met Gala, who is arguably the most renowned pin-up of all time. Eilish glided into the red carpet in an Oscar de la Renta gown that was inspired by the tulle gown Monroe wore to the Oscars in 1951.
Timothée Chalamet, Naomi Osaka, Amanda Gorman, Eilish served as co-chairs of the gala. In order to create her devotion to a woman as deeply established in American society as the stars and stripes, Eilish went to one of the most prominent figures in US design. This year’s ball theme is In the United States: A Lexicon of design.
9. Gigi Hadid, 2022
The 27-year-old model was seen wearing only red Versace clothing as she entered The Metropolitan Museum of Art. An gigantic silk puffer jacket was layered on top of a skin-tight latex jumpsuit and a boned burgundy corset. With a pair of eye-catching leather knee-high boots and matching necklace jewelry, Gigi finished the ensemble.
The model, a Met Gala staple, consistently produces transformative looks. (Recall the silver jumpsuit and cape from the 2019 Michael Kors Collection?) It is obvious that Gigi is capable of anything.
Wrapping it up!
The craftsmanship and grandeur of the costumes are impressive, but the Met Gala’s appeal also comes from the symbolism and narrative they portray. Each gown conveys the year’s chosen topic, turning it into a stunningly spectacular story that resonates outside of the red floor.
We look forward to seeing more breathtaking gowns that will change the face of fashion and capture our imaginations as the Met Gala develops and inspires upcoming generations of fashion enthusiasts. These legendary Met Gala gowns’ alluring elegance will always be woven into the rich fabric of fashion history as a symbol of the transformational impact of art, imagination, and expressing oneself.
