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10 Best Met Gala Looks of All Time
# 10 Best Met Gala Looks of All Time: The Definitive Ranking The first Monday in May is more than just a date on the calendar; it's a cultural phenom...
10 Best Met Gala Looks of All Time: The Definitive Ranking
The first Monday in May is more than just a date on the calendar; it's a cultural phenomenon. It marks the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala, a night where fashion, art, and celebrity collide on the grandest stage. The Met Gala isn't merely about a pretty dress; it's a sartorial Super Bowl where attendees are challenged to interpret a specific theme, resulting in some of the most audacious, innovative, and talked-about fashion moments in history. The Met steps have become a canvas for designers and their muses to create magic, push boundaries, and sometimes, redefine the very essence of a red carpet.
Sorting through the annals of Met Gala history is a formidable task, filled with countless examples of glamour and creativity. However, some looks transcend the evening, embedding themselves in the cultural lexicon. These are the ensembles that perfectly capture the zeitgeist, masterfully interpret the theme, and showcase the transformative power of fashion. They are more than just clothing; they are performance art, historical statements, and iconic images that last forever. From gravity-defying gowns to politically charged statements, these are the looks that have not only topped best-dressed lists but have also shaped the very conversation around fashion. Join us as we definitively rank the 10 best Met Gala looks of all time.
10. Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga (2021)
For the 2021 Met Gala, themed "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," Kim Kardashian arrived in an ensemble that was immediately polarizing and endlessly discussed: a custom Balenciaga outfit that covered every single inch of her body, including her face.
### The Designer and the Vision
Under the creative direction of Demna Gvasalia, Balenciaga crafted a look for Kardashian that was the antithesis of the typical red-carpet reveal. The ensemble consisted of a black T-shirt dress over a catsuit, jersey boots, and matching gloves, with a full-face covering that rendered one of the world's most recognizable women anonymous. Gvasalia, who also walked the carpet in a similar shrouded look, made a profound statement on celebrity and iconography. The vision, reportedly encouraged by Kardashian's then-husband Kanye West, was to explore a new subculture of fashion where a person's silhouette alone could serve as their signature.
### Interpreting the Theme
While many questioned how a head-to-toe black outfit fit the American fashion theme, Kardashian offered a succinct explanation on Instagram: "What's more American than a T-shirt head to toe?!" The look played on the idea of the ultimate American icon—someone so famous that their face is unnecessary for identification. It was a commentary on celebrity culture, brand identity, and the very nature of what constitutes a "look." In a landscape of logos and faces, the void of both became the ultimate statement, proving that Kardashian's famous silhouette was an American icon in its own right.
### Lasting Impact and Legacy
The faceless Balenciaga look became one of the most memed and debated Met Gala outfits in recent memory. It challenged conventional notions of beauty and red-carpet glamour, prioritizing concept over conventionality. Initially, Kardashian herself fought against the idea of covering her face, but was convinced by Demna that the mask was integral to the look. The outfit proved that impact isn't always about sparkle and skin; it can be about provocation, concept, and the power of an unmistakable silhouette.
9. Chadwick Boseman in Versace (2018)
The 2018 Met Gala, themed "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," saw some of the most ornate and on-theme looks in the event's history. Among a sea of crosses and halos, the late Chadwick Boseman arrived in an Atelier Versace ensemble that was both thematically perfect and profoundly regal.
### The Designer and the Vision
Donatella Versace designed an ecclesiastical-inspired look that was fit for a king. The outfit consisted of an ivory suit and a magnificent, heavily embellished cape. The long cape was adorned with intricate gold baroque beading and featured large cross motifs on each shoulder, directly referencing the vestments of Catholic clergy. Boseman, styled by Ashley Weston, embodied a figure of divine authority and grace, bringing a powerful and much-needed male presence to the forefront of the fashion conversation.
### Interpreting the Theme
Boseman's look was a masterclass in thematic dressing. It directly engaged with the "Catholic Imagination" by drawing from the rich visual language of the church's ceremonial attire. The cream and gold palette, the cross embellishments, and the papal-style cape all pointed to a deep understanding of the theme. Yet, it was not merely a costume. The impeccable tailoring and luxurious detailing elevated it to high fashion, creating a look that was both reverent and revolutionary. It was one of the few male looks of the night that fully embraced the theme's potential for opulence and drama.
### Lasting Impact and Legacy
Chadwick Boseman's Versace ensemble is remembered as one of the best male looks in Met Gala history. At a time when many men opt for a simple tuxedo, Boseman demonstrated the power of embracing the theme with creativity and confidence. His appearance was celebrated for its boldness and elegance, solidifying his status as a style icon. The look remains a poignant and powerful image of Black excellence and artistry, a testament to his enduring legacy both on and off the screen.
8. Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell (2019)
For the 2019 Met Gala, co-chair Lady Gaga didn't just walk the red carpet—she delivered a full-blown performance piece. Interpreting the theme "Camp: Notes on Fashion," Gaga, with designer Brandon Maxwell, created a moment of pure spectacle that unfolded over 16 minutes.
### The Designer and the Vision
Brandon Maxwell, Gaga's longtime friend and stylist, was the mastermind behind the multi-layered creation. The concept was not a single dress but a Russian doll of four distinct looks, each revealed with theatrical flair. The entrance began with a voluminous, hot pink cape dress, which was then removed to reveal a sophisticated black strapless gown. This was followed by a slinky, hot pink column dress, and finally, a sparkling black lingerie set. The vision was to embody the essence of camp through the art of the reveal and performance.
### Interpreting the Theme
Gaga's entrance was a living, breathing interpretation of Susan Sontag's 1964 essay, "Notes on 'Camp'." Sontag defined camp as a "love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration," and Gaga's performance was the epitome of that idea. The entire spectacle—complete with backup dancers, oversized props like a giant brick phone, and choreographed gestures—was a masterclass in theatricality. It wasn't just about the clothes; it was about the performance of fashion, the celebration of extravagance, and the playful subversion of red-carpet norms.
### Lasting Impact and Legacy
Lady Gaga's 2019 entrance is cemented in Met Gala history as one of the most ambitious and unforgettable performances. It set a new standard for what a red-carpet arrival could be, blurring the lines between fashion, theater, and performance art. The look perfectly encapsulated her artistic identity and her deep understanding of the intersection of music, style, and culture. It remains the ultimate benchmark for a celebrity fully committing to and embodying a Met Gala theme.
7. Princess Diana in Dior (1996)
In her first and only Met Gala appearance, Princess Diana created an unforgettable moment that signaled a new era of freedom and confidence. For the 1996 event, themed "Christian Dior," she wore a daring, lingerie-inspired slip dress from John Galliano's debut couture collection for the house.
### The Designer and the Vision
John Galliano, then the newly appointed creative director of Dior, worked with Diana on the custom look. The navy blue silk slip, trimmed with black lace, was a departure from traditional royal attire and embodied Galliano's sensual design aesthetic. Interestingly, Galliano later revealed he had initially pushed for a pink gown, but Diana was insistent on the navy. The original design also featured a corset, which Diana had removed just before the event without informing the designer, a move he later said made the dress "much more sensuous."
### Interpreting the Theme
The choice of a Dior gown was a direct and fitting tribute to the evening's theme. However, the style of the dress was a personal statement. Arriving just months after her divorce from Prince Charles was finalized, the look was seen as a powerful act of "revenge dressing." It was a deliberate move away from the constraints of royal protocol, embracing a more modern and liberated sense of style. Paired with her famous sapphire and pearl choker, the look was the perfect blend of her royal past and her independent future.
### Lasting Impact and Legacy
Princess Diana's Met Gala look remains one of the most iconic fashion moments of the 1990s. It solidified her status as a global style icon and demonstrated the power of fashion as a tool for self-expression. The dress is often cited as a prime example of her post-divorce style evolution, marking her transition from a constrained royal to a confident, international superstar. It was a moment that not only made Met Gala history but also perfectly captured her journey toward personal freedom.
6. Zendaya in Tommy Hilfiger (2019)
Zendaya has become a modern queen of the Met Gala, consistently delivering thematic and show-stopping looks. Her 2019 appearance for "Camp: Notes on Fashion" was a literal fairy tale, as she arrived dressed as Cinderella in a gown that magically transformed before the world's eyes.
### The Designer and the Vision
Crafted by Tommy Hilfiger, the gown was an animatronic marvel of engineering and design. It began as a grey and black dress with puff sleeves, a direct nod to Cinderella's pre-ball gown. Zendaya was accompanied by her stylist, Law Roach, dressed as her "Fairy Godmother." With a wave of his smoke-emitting wand, he triggered the technology hidden within the dress, causing it to light up and transform into the princess's iconic glowing blue ballgown.
### Interpreting the Theme
The performance was a perfect execution of the "Camp" theme. It embraced the theatricality, artifice, and playful extravagance that defines camp. The choice of Cinderella was both a nod to her own Disney past and a universally understood symbol of transformation and fantasy. The entire entrance was a piece of performance art, from the magical light-up effect to the detail of leaving a single "glass slipper" behind on the steps. Roach explained that the look was literal enough for people to immediately understand the reference, a key element of its camp success.
### Lasting Impact and Legacy
Zendaya's Cinderella moment is one of the most beloved and technologically impressive looks in Met Gala history. It showcased the potential for fashion to intersect with technology to create true red-carpet magic. The look went viral, celebrated for its innovation, commitment to theme, and sheer joyfulness. It cemented the powerful creative partnership between Zendaya and Law Roach and remains a shining example of how to perfectly blend storytelling, technology, and high fashion.
5. Cardi B in Thom Browne (2019)
Also at the 2019 "Camp: Notes on Fashion" gala, Cardi B delivered a jaw-dropping spectacle of her own. She arrived in a massive, oxblood Thom Browne gown that was a masterpiece of construction and a powerful statement on femininity.
### The Designer and the Vision
The custom Thom Browne gown was an anatomical wonder, filled with down and covered in tulle and silk organza. The ensemble took an astonishing 2,000 hours to create, with a team of 35 people meticulously applying 30,000 burned and dyed coque feathers. The most talked-about details were the 44-carat ruby nipples, valued at $250,000 each. Browne stated his inspiration was the female form itself, saying, "I designed this dress for Cardi specifically because she has the ultimate beauty in a woman's body, and that is what the dress is about for me."
### Interpreting the Theme
Cardi B's gown was the personification of camp's love for the exaggerated and the theatrical. The dress's massive, three-meter train required its own entourage of ten people to navigate the stairs, creating a spectacle reminiscent of drag culture's celebration of exaggerated femininity. In an interview, Cardi B explained the look was inspired by feminism, representing the woman's body with its defined bust, waist, and hips. It was a glamorous, humorous, and unapologetically bold celebration of the female form.
### Lasting Impact and Legacy
This look solidified Cardi B's status as a Met Gala powerhouse. Following in the footsteps of Rihanna's 2015 gown, her Thom Browne creation demonstrated how a massive train could command the entire carpet. It was celebrated for its incredible craftsmanship, audacious design, and perfect thematic interpretation. The gown is remembered not just for its scale, but for its intricate details and the powerful, feminist message behind its creation.
4. Blake Lively in Atelier Versace (2018)
A perennial Met Gala favorite, Blake Lively reached a new level of sartorial excellence at the 2018 "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" event. She floated up the stairs in a regal Atelier Versace gown that was a breathtaking work of art.
### The Designer and the Vision
The custom Versace gown was a labor of love, with the jewel-encrusted corset bodice alone taking over 600 hours to hand-embroider. The design featured a stunning ruby red train with intricate gold embroidery and sheer panels. The overall vision was one of medieval and Renaissance royalty, perfectly capturing the opulence and grandeur associated with the Catholic Church's artistic history. Lively worked closely with the design team, as well as with jeweler Lorraine Schwartz and shoe designer Christian Louboutin, to create a cohesive and impactful look.
### Interpreting the Theme
Lively's ensemble was a rich and detailed interpretation of the "Heavenly Bodies" theme. The crimson and gold palette evoked the colors of papal vestments and church interiors. The bejeweled bodice resembled a piece of ornate religious armor, while the dramatic train felt like a tapestry from a grand cathedral. To complete the look, she wore a spiked, halo-like headpiece, a direct nod to religious iconography that made her look like a celestial being or a Catholic queen from a Renaissance portrait.
### Lasting Impact and Legacy
This Versace masterpiece is widely considered one of the best Met Gala looks of all time and arguably Blake Lively's personal best. It demonstrated her deep commitment to the event's theme and her ability to collaborate with designers to create a truly unforgettable fashion moment. The gown was so voluminous that she famously had to arrive in a party bus. The look is remembered for its incredible craftsmanship, its perfect thematic resonance, and its sheer, breathtaking beauty.
3. Beyoncé in Givenchy (2015)
Arriving fashionably late to the 2015 Met Gala, themed "China: Through the Looking Glass," Beyoncé single-handedly shut down the red carpet in what has become one of the most iconic "naked dresses" in fashion history.
### The Designer and the Vision
The sheer, bejeweled gown was a custom creation by Givenchy's then-creative director, Riccardo Tisci. The dress was a masterpiece of illusion, crafted from delicate tulle and strategically adorned with multi-colored crystals and gemstones. The placement of the embroidery was key, providing just enough coverage to create a stunning, barely-there effect. The vision was one of pure, unapologetic glamour and confidence, designed to highlight the power of the female form.
### Interpreting the Theme
While not a literal interpretation of the "China" theme in the way some other looks were, Tisci and Beyoncé's creation connected to the idea of "looking glass" and fantasy. The dress was a fantastical illusion, a dazzling spectacle that played with transparency and embellishment. The artful placement of the jewels could be seen as a form of modern, wearable art, echoing the intricate decorative arts showcased within the exhibit. Ultimately, the look was less about a direct cultural homage and more about creating a moment of pure, show-stopping fashion fantasy.
### Lasting Impact and Legacy
Beyoncé's 2015 Givenchy gown kicked the "naked dress" trend into high gear, inspiring countless imitations in the years that followed. It remains a benchmark for daring, high-glamour red-carpet dressing. The look is remembered for Beyoncé's incredible confidence in pulling it off and for the sheer artistry of Tisci's design. It was a moment that transcended the theme to become a cultural phenomenon in its own right, cementing its place as one of the most memorable and influential Met Gala looks ever.
2. Rihanna in Maison Margiela (2018)
As a co-chair for the 2018 "Heavenly Bodies" gala, Rihanna didn't just understand the assignment—she became the assignment. She arrived in a look that was audacious, perfectly on-theme, and instantly iconic: a high-fashion, jewel-encrusted papal ensemble.
### The Designer and the Vision
Designed by John Galliano for Maison Margiela, the look consisted of three distinct pieces: a strapless, hand-beaded minidress, a matching full-skirted robe, and an elaborate papal mitre (bishop's hat). The entire ensemble was festooned with pearls and jewels, a breathtaking display of craftsmanship that took 250 hours to sew and another 500 hours to hand-embroider. The vision was a direct and powerful tribute to Catholicism's opulent ceremonial vestments, reimagined through Galliano's theatrical lens.
### Interpreting the Theme
No one embodied the "Heavenly Bodies" theme more directly or more powerfully than Rihanna. Her look was a fearless and high-fashion interpretation of the Pope's own regalia. By dressing as the female head of a patriarchal institution, she made a powerful statement about female empowerment and reimagined Catholicism as a religion that celebrates women. The look was meticulously researched and flawlessly executed, earning her immediate and universal praise for her sartorial genius and daring.
### Lasting Impact and Legacy
Rihanna's "Pope" look is widely considered the pinnacle of Met Gala thematic dressing. It was bold, conceptually brilliant, and exquisitely crafted. The moment she stepped onto the carpet, she created an image that would define the night and be remembered for years to come. It solidified her status as the undisputed Queen of the Met Gala, proving once again her unmatched ability to merge fashion, art, and cultural commentary into one unforgettable look.
1. Rihanna in Guo Pei (2015)
Three years before her papal triumph, Rihanna created what is arguably the most iconic and defining Met Gala moment of the 21st century. For the "China: Through the Looking Glass" theme, she ascended the Met steps in a colossal, canary yellow, fur-trimmed cape gown by Chinese couturier Guo Pei.
### The Designer and the Vision
Rihanna discovered the gown online while researching Chinese couture, a move that demonstrated her deep respect for the theme. The masterpiece, originally part of Guo Pei's 2010 collection, took the designer an estimated two years to create. The magnificent yellow cape was crafted from silk, embroidered with intricate scrolls of metallic thread, and trimmed with fox fur. It weighed a staggering 55 pounds (around 25 kilograms) and required three attendants to manage its enormous train. Guo Pei later stated that the weight and grandeur were meant to symbolize the "responsibilities and challenges of a queen."
### Interpreting the Theme
This was not just a dress; it was a profound act of cultural appreciation. By choosing a gown by a Chinese designer, Rihanna brought authentic Chinese haute couture to the forefront of the global fashion stage. The imperial yellow color and intricate embroidery directly referenced Chinese imperial art and history, making it a perfect and respectful homage to the exhibition's theme. The sheer scale and drama of the gown completely commanded the red carpet, ensuring all eyes were on this celebration of Chinese design.
### Lasting Impact and Legacy
Rihanna's Guo Pei gown transcended fashion to become a major cultural event. It sparked a global conversation, launched a thousand memes (most famously comparing it to an omelet), and, most importantly, catapulted Guo Pei to international stardom. The look is the gold standard against which all other Met Gala ensembles are judged. It represents the perfect trifecta: a deep, respectful understanding of the theme; a collaboration that elevates a deserving designer; and a visually stunning moment that is forever etched in fashion history. It is, without question, the best Met Gala look of all time.
Conclusion
The Met Gala is a testament to the power of fashion as an art form. The looks on this list represent more than just beautiful garments; they are moments of cultural significance, personal expression, and breathtaking creativity. They remind us that at its best, fashion can challenge, inspire, and create a lasting legacy. As we look forward to future first Mondays in May, these ten iconic ensembles will continue to serve as the benchmark for what is possible when fashion's biggest stars dare to dream on the industry's grandest stage.