The first Monday in May is known as one of the biggest nights on the fashion calendar; Hundreds of the industry’s biggest names descend on New York’s Met Museum in a spectacular display of their creative style.
Often referred to as the ‘Oscars of Fashion’, the event brings together the biggest A-list names who will dress according to a specific theme, often with exclusive designs from the world’s most influential fashion designers. This year guests will dress according to the ‘Garden of Time’ theme, inspired by JG Ballard’s short story of the same name.
We thought we’d commemorate the occasion by taking a walk down memory lane. From Sarah Jessica Parker and Alexander McQueen in matching plaid to the Rihanna omelet dress, read on for 10 of the most memorable Met Gala moments of all time.
Sarah Jessica Parker wore Alexander McQueen in 2006
In 2006, Sarah Jessica Parker and Alexander McQueen walked the red carpet hand-in-hand at the Met Gala and in a moment that made fashion history, wearing the designer’s matching plaid looks. Plaid, McQueen’s signature fabric, was also a perfect nod to that year’s theme of ‘AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion’.
Rihanna wore Guo Pei in 2015
No Met Gala look has gone as instantly viral as the canary yellow cape dress Rihanna wore to the 2015 event, popularly referred to as the ‘omelette dress’. Designed by Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei, two of whose pieces were exhibited in that year’s ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’ exhibition, the embroidered, fur-trimmed piece took 20 months to make and weighed approximately 55 pounds. Pei later said in an interview that “only women with the confidence of a queen can wear it.” It seems correct.
Zendaya wore Tommy Hilfiger in 2019
Zendaya had a real-life Cinderella moment by arriving at the Met Gala for the ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’ 2019 theme in a Tommy Hilfiger creation, complete with her own Fairy Godmother in the form of her stylist Law Roach. , waved her magic wand to make her dress actually light up.
Princess Diana wore Dior in 1996
There was a royal guest at the 1996 Met Gala named Diana, Princess of Wales. In a departure from her usual style, the royal arrived in an elegant navy blue Dior slip-on gown; a look she later admitted she almost never wore for fear it would be too daring because she didn’t want to embarrass the then-young Prince William. .
Kate Moss wore Marc Jacobs in 2009
There are few fashion moments that truly deserve the label iconic, an often misused term, but this was one of them. When Marc Jacobs was deciding who to wear for the ‘Model as Muse’ themed gala in 2009, there was only one woman for the job. She arrived with Kate Moss on her arm, wearing a backless silver lamé mini dress and a matching Stephen Jones hijab; this quickly became one of the most recognizable Met Gala looks of all time.
Blake Lively wears Versace in 2018
Blake Lively is never one to play it completely safe when it comes to fashion, which always makes her a welcome addition to the Met Gala guest list. In 2018, she managed to outshine all the other guests in this gorgeous Versace gown (not bad at all), so big she had to take a minibus to the event.
Beyoncé wore Givenchy in 2015
Just when everyone thought the 2015 Met Gala red carpet was over, Beyoncé made a fashionably late arrival as all the other guests took their seats inside. The singer showed up wearing this sheer Givenchy dress adorned with strategically placed crystals, photographers went wild and the whole world agreed it was worth the wait.
Cher wearing Bob Mackie in 1974
Cher wore the original nude dress to one of her first Met Galas in 1974, with this sparkling sheer design by designer Bob Mackie, with whom she still works today. It’s a look that countless models and celebrities have claimed as inspiration for their recent red carpet outings.
Amal Clooney wore Richard Quinn in 2018
When you have the honor of being one of the night’s presenters, the pressure to wear something eye-catching really mounts. While many thought this meant collaborating with one of the biggest names in the industry, Amal Clooney instead turned to emerging London designer Richard Quinn, giving her a huge international platform in the process. While the look featured tailored trousers and a corset with a flowing skirt, George created the perfect accessory.
Rihanna wore Maison Margiela in 2018
There’s a second appearance from Rihanna in this roundup, but it’s worthwhile. One of the most interesting parts of the Met Gala is seeing each guest interpret the theme in creative ways. While many ignore it completely, Rihanna always goes above and beyond in her effort to commit; 2018 was a case in point when she arrived at the Catholic-themed event in a gorgeous, Papal-inspired Margiela ensemble.
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