Kim Kardashian’s Most Iconic Met Gala Moments

What will she wear to this year's fashion Oscars?

Kim Kardashian

by Julia Harvey |
Updated on

At the Met Gala - the fashion industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards - there's one person in particular that is almost guaranteed to go viral. Zendaya, RiRi and Beyoncé, yes, but also Kim Kardashian.

For one of the most controversial moments in the history of the event, Kim Kardashian arrived to 2022's Met Gala - where the theme was Gilded Glamour - wearing an oh-so-iconic, barely-there gown worn originally by Marilyn Monroe. The Hollywood star chose the spangled, scoop-necked number to serenade President John F. Kennedy in 1962, singing the most famous rendition of 'Happy Birthday' known to man. Sold at auction for $4.8 million in 1999, the dress (a Jean Louis design based on a sketch by Bob Mackie) is a piece of American history, or, the perfect Met Gala outfit if you're Kim Kardashian.

So as the first Monday in May approaches, we've been reminiscing about all of Kim Kardashian's Met Gala fashion moments, from the good to the questionable. Looking back, the famous all-in-one floral maternity Givenchy gown from 2013 - complete with in-built gloves - was actually quite iconic, although the internet didn't necessarily see its brilliance at the time. In a pure power move (one which surely silenced any meme-creators), Kardashian later wore the look for Halloween, the ultimate clap-back.

Cut to 2019, when Kim seemed to up her game in the Met Gala looks department. For the Notes on Camp Met Gala, Kim stepped out in a custom Thierry Mugler 'wet' dress, creating the illusion that she was dripping on the pink carpet. After a pandemic-induced hiatus in 2020, the gala returned in 2021. Kim appeared or rather didn't appear in a black gown by Balenciaga, which immediately launched a thousand memes.

Whilst we now speculate what she'll do next, Kim Kardashian's best looks at the Met Gala, which this year takes the theme of Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, are here for you perusal...

Gallery

SEE: Kim Kardashian's Best Met Gala Looks

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2023

For 2023's Met Gala, with a theme of Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, Kim Kardashian stepped out, essentially, in the longest string of freshwater pearls you've ever seen by Schiaparelli.

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CREDIT: Getty

2022

In perhaps one of the most controversial moments on the Met Gala red carpet of all time, Kim Kardashian stepped out in Marilyn Monroe's original dress from 1962 for the Gilded Glamour-themed Met Gala in 2022.

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2021

In head-to-toe (literally!) Balenciaga for the 2021 Met Gala, celebrating In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.

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2019

Kim Kardashian arriving at the 2019 Met Gala celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion, wearing the now iconic 'wet' dress designed by Thierry Mugler. Kardashian's seemingly invisible waist was down to a custom-made corset designed for the occasion by Mr. Pearl.

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2018

Wearing glistening gold Atelier Versace at the 2018 Met Gala with the theme Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.

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2017

Attending the Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between gala in 2017 wearing custom Vivienne Westwood.

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2016

For Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, the theme of the 2016 Met Gala, Kardashian stepped out in a Balmain embellished gown finished off with bleached eyebrows.

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2015

Kardashian wore a Roberto Cavalli gown with a huge embellished train to attend the China: Through The Looking Glass Met Gala back in 2015.

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2014

Kardashian attends the 2014 Met Gala where the theme was Charles James: Beyond Fashion, wearing a metallic leather Lanvin gown.

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2013

Here it is! The joyous Givenchy floral look that divided the internet. It's now achieved icon status - and rightly so. A pregnant Kim K arrives at the 2013 Met Gala where the theme was Punk: Chaos to Couture. There was quite a punk rock reaction to this outfit so she was on-theme after all.

Julia Harvey is Shopping Editor for Grazia UK and has been for the past two and a half years, overseeing and editing all things shopping for the title from trend pages, gift guides and the best things to buy now in both print and online. Having previously worked at other women's magazines, Elle UK, Glamour and British Vogue, Julia has gained over eight years of experience within the fashion industry, graduating from Nottingham Trent University with a First Class degree in Fashion Communication and Promotion.

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