The Met Gala, formerly the 'Costume Institute Gala' or 'Met Ball', is a firm fixture in the fashion calendar. This year's theme is a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld - Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty - while co-chairs include the all-star line-up of Michaela Coel, Penélope Cruz, Roger Federer and Dua Lipa.
Conceived as an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, it marks the opening of the institute's annual fashion exhibit and also plays host to a series of jaw-dropingly spectacular outfits. Famous for being the fashion industry's equivalent of the Oscars, the gala is known for being a who's who of Hollywood (and beyond). Such stars include Kim Kardashian, Kate Moss, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and of course, Anna Wintour – chair of the event and guardian of the guest list.
Scroll down to remember some of the best – and most daring – looks in recent history.
SEE: The Best Dressed Celebs At The Met Gala
1 of 93Michelle Yeoh wearing Prabal Gurung
In America: An Anthology of Fashion, 2022
2 of 93Cynthia Erivo wearing Louis Vuitton
In America: An Anthology of Fashion, 2022
3 of 93Jodie Turner-Smith wearing Gucci
In America: An Anthology of Fashion, 2022
4 of 93Lizzo wearing Thom Browne
In America: An Anthology of Fashion, 2022
5 of 93Kim Kardashian wearing the famous dress belonging to Marilyn Monroe
In America: An Anthology of Fashion, 2022
6 of 93Lil Nas X wearing Versace
In America: The Lexicon of fashion, 2021
7 of 93Yara Shahidi wearing Dior
In America: The Lexicon of fashion, 2021
8 of 93Billie Eilish wearing Oscar de la Renta
In America: The Lexicon of fashion, 2021
9 of 93Michaela Coel wearing Balenciaga
In America: The Lexicon of fashion, 2021
10 of 93Zoë Kravitz wearing Saint Laurent
In America: The Lexicon of fashion, 2021
11 of 93Kim Kardashian wearing Mugler
Camp: Notes on Fashion, 2019
12 of 93Hamish Bowles in Maison Margiela Artisanal
Camp: Notes on Fashion, 2019
13 of 93Lady Gaga wearing Brandon Maxwell
Camp: Notes on Fashion, 2019
14 of 93Billy Porter wearing The Blonds
Camp: Notes on Fashion, 2019
15 of 93Jemima Kirke and Lena Dunham, both wearing Christopher Kane
Camp: Notes on Fashion, 2019
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16 of 93Janelle Monae wearing Christian Siriano
Camp: Notes on Fashion, 2019
17 of 93Katy Perry wearing Versace
Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, 2018
18 of 93Rihanna wearing Maison Margiela
Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, 2018
19 of 93Ariana Grande wearing Vera Wang
Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, 2018
20 of 93Amal Clooney wearing Richard Quinn
Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, 2018
21 of 93Cara Delevingne wearing Dior
Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, 2018
22 of 93Madonna wearing Jean Paul Gaultier
Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, 2018
23 of 93Rihanna wearing Comme des Garçons
Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, 2017
24 of 93Blake Lively wearing Versace
Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, 2017
25 of 93Cara Delevingne wearing Chanel
Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, 2017
26 of 93Gigi Hadid wearing Tommy Hilfiger
Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, 2016
27 of 93Kim Kardashian wearing Balmain
Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, 2016
28 of 93Kendall Jenner wearing Atelier Versace
Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, 2016
29 of 93Emma Watson wearing Calvin Klein
Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, 2016
30 of 93Beyoncé wearing Givenchy
Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, 2016
31 of 93Rihanna wearing Guo Pei
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
32 of 93Beyoncé wearing Givenchy Haute Couture
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
33 of 93Amal Clooney wearing Maison Margiela Artisinal
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
34 of 93Sarah Jessica Parker wearing H&M
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
35 of 93Anna Wintour wearing Chanel
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
36 of 93Sienna Miller wearing Thakoon
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
37 of 93Jennifer Lawrence wearing Dior Haute Couture
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
38 of 93Kendall Jenner wearing Calvin Klein
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
39 of 93Naomi Campbell wearing Burberry Prorsum
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
40 of 93FKA Twigs wearing Christopher Kane
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
41 of 93Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
42 of 93Jennifer Lopez wearing Versace
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
43 of 93Solange Knowles wearing Giles Deacon
China: Through the Looking Glass, 2015
44 of 93Rihanna wearing Stella McCartney
Charles James: Beyond Fashion, 2014
45 of 93Reese Witherspoon wearing Stella McCartney
Charles James: Beyond Fashion, 2014
46 of 93Victoria Beckham wearing Victoria Beckham
Charles James: Beyond Fashion, 2014
47 of 93Sarah Jessica Parker wearing Oscar de la Renta
Charles James: Beyond Fashion, 2014
48 of 93Lupita Nyong'o wearing Prada
Charles James: Beyond Fashion, 2014
49 of 93Georgia May Jagger wearing David Koma
Charles James: Beyond Fashion, 2014
50 of 93Dita Von Teese wearing Zac Posen
Charles James: Beyond Fashion, 2014
51 of 93Lena Dunham wearing Giambattista Valli
Charles James: Beyond Fashion, 2014
52 of 93Anne Hathaway wearing Valentino
Punk: Chaos to Couture, 2013
53 of 93Cara Delevingne wearing Burberry
Punk: Chaos to Couture, 2013
54 of 93Sarah Jessica Parker wearing Giles Deacon
Punk: Chaos to Couture, 2013
55 of 93Emma Watson wearing Prabal Gurung
Punk: Chaos to Couture, 2013
56 of 93Rooney Mara wearing Givenchy Haute Couture
Punk: Chaos to Couture, 2013
57 of 93Carey Mulligan wearing Prada
Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, 2012
58 of 93Florence Welch wearing Alexander McQueen
Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, 2012
59 of 93Beyoncé wearing Givenchy Haute Couture
Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, 2012
60 of 93Marion Cotillard wearing Christian Dior
Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, 2012
61 of 93Lana Del Ray in Altuzarra
Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, 2012
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62 of 93Michelle Dockery wearing Ralph Lauren
Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, 2012
63 of 93Maya Haile wearing Ralph Lauren
Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, 2012
64 of 93Diane Kruger wearing Jason Wu
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, 2011
65 of 93Chanel Iman wearing Dolce & Gabbana
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, 2011
66 of 93Daphne Guinness wearing Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, 2011
67 of 93Beyoncé wearing Emilio Pucci
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, 2011
68 of 93Zoe Saldana wearing Calvin Klein Collection
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, 2011
69 of 93Florence Welch wearing Yves Saint Laurent
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, 2011
70 of 93Gwyneth Paltrow wearing Stella McCartney
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, 2011
71 of 93Karolina Kurkova wearing Jean Paul Gaultier
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, 2011
72 of 93Anne Hathway wearing Valentino
American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity, 2010
73 of 93Diane Von Furstenberg wearing Diane Von Furstenberg
American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity, 2010
74 of 93Sienna Miller wearing Emilio Pucci
American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity, 2010
75 of 93Doutzen Kroes wearing Zac Posen
American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity, 2010
76 of 93Victoria Beckham wearing Marc Jacobs
The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, 2009
77 of 93Kate Moss wearing Marc Jacobs
The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, 2009
78 of 93Agyness Deyn wearing Burberry
The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, 2009
79 of 93Iman wearing Donna Karen
The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, 2009
80 of 93Anna Wintour wearing Chanel
The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, 2009
81 of 93Claudia Schiffer wearing Gianni Versace
The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, 2009
82 of 93Diane Kruger wearing Chanel
The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, 2009
83 of 93Anna Wintour wearing Chanel
Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, 2008
84 of 93Victoria Beckham wearing Giorgio Armani
Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, 2008
85 of 93Sandra Bullock wearing Alberta Ferretti
Poiret: King of Fashion, 2007
86 of 93Mary-Kate Olsen wearing Giambattista Valli
Poiret: King of Fashion, 2007
87 of 93Lucy Liu wearing Zac Posen
Poiret: King of Fashion, 2007
88 of 93Sarah Jessica Parker wearing Alexander McQueen
AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion, 2006
89 of 93Victoria Beckham wearing Roland Mouret
AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion, 2006
90 of 93Sienna Miller wearing Burberry
AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion, 2006
91 of 93Charlize Theron wearing Dior
AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion, 2006
92 of 93Kate Moss wearing Burberry
AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion, 2006
93 of 93Princess Diana wearing Dior
Christian Dior, 1996