Iconic Met Gala Looks (source Style Rave)

13 Unforgettable Met Gala Red Carpet Fashion

Since its inception in 1948, the annual Met Gala has been a star-studded event.

While the fashion world changes daily, celebrities’ bold and creative sides have also transcended through revolutionary designs. 

However, it wasn’t until late-1990 that stars began to show off their unique red carpet dresses.

Met Gala (source DNA India)
Met Gala (Source: DNA India)

This list features the 13 most memorable gala red carpet fashions. 

Excited? We know we are!!

Quick Overview

S.N. Worn By Designer Year
13. Princess Diana Dior 1996
12. Pete Davidson  Thom Browne 2021
11. Diane Kruger Prabal Gurung 2018
10. Bianca Jagger  Not Available 1974
9. Naomi Campbell Versace 1990
8. Zayn Malik  Jason Rembert 2016
7. Priyanka Chopra Ralph Lauren 2017
6. Cher Bob Mackie 1974
5. Billie Eilish  Oscar de la Renta 2021
4. Zendaya Law Roach 2018
3. Harry Styles  Alessandro Michele 2019
2. Rihanna Guo Pei 2015
1. Jared Leto  Alessandro Michele 2019

13. Princess Diana 

Theme: Christian Dior

The late Princess Diana wore a navy blue, full-length Dior slip gown with black lace cut at the bust in the 1996 Met Gala. 

She wore it with a massive pearl choker, and the whole ensemble was her best fashion moment. 

Princess Diana almost did not wear this navy blue Dior dress in 1996 (source: WhoWhatWear)
Princess Diana almost did not wear this navy blue Dior dress in 1996 (source: WhoWhatWear)

However, according to Royal biographer Katie Nicholl, Princess Diana nearly didn’t wear the outfit.

Additionally, she did not want to wear the dress because Princess Diana was concerned that its revealing nature would belittle her then-14-year-old son William.

12. Pete Davidson

Theme: In America: A Lexicon of Fashion

Pete Davidson wore a stylish ensemble to the 2021 Met Gala, deemed a “cool dress” by the media and the comedian himself.

Davidson wore a black mid-length gown and a white blazer with black trim to the annual Met Gala.

Thom Browne created the Saturday Night Live star’s look.

Pete Davidson had a hidden meaning behind this Met Gala look (source: Extra TV)
Pete Davidson had a hidden meaning behind this Met Gala look (source: Extra TV)

He completed the appearance with black socks, black combat boots, and dark sunglasses.

However, his outfit had a hidden significance as well.

The Met Gala was held just two days after the 20th anniversary of the tragic September 11, 2001 attacks.

The incident also killed Davidson’s father, a firefighter.

To pay tribute to his father, Davidson wore garnets, his father’s birthstone, in the shape of an ancient necklace.

11. Diane Kruger

Theme: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination

Diane Kruger is a former fashion model and actress of German and American descent.

Furthermore, she completely charmed the audience when she walked down the red carpet at the 2018 Met Gala. 

Diana Kruger Met Gala
Diana Kruger in Prabal Gurung (Source: Pinterest)

Designed by Prabal Gurung, an American-based Nepalese designer, the satiny-blue gown flaunted sweet innocence in the gold engravings.

Furthermore, the dress was even more stunning with the pouf sleeves and long train.

The use of a netted hairpiece emphasized the fairytale-meets-angelic concept.

10. Bianca Jagger

Theme: Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design

Bianca Jagger’s Met Gala ensemble from 1974 has jubilantly stood the test of time.

Her halter neck Halston gown was complemented by a perfectly matched embellished beret and jacket.

Bianca Jagger's 1974 Met Gala dress has stood the test of time (source: University of Fashion)
Bianca Jagger’s 1974 Met Gala dress has stood the test of time (Source: University of Fashion)

Furthermore, combining clean lines and copious sparkle enabled Jagger to pull off the look with ease.

The whole style looked magnificent and was enhanced by her minimum yet sufficient accessories.

In addition, Jagger completed the look with low-key makeup and simple side-swept hair.

9. Naomi Campbell

Theme: Théâtre de la Mode – Fashion Dolls: The Survival of Haute Couture

Campbell went all out for her first Met Gala to appreciate the Costume Institute’s Theatre De La Mode showcase.

She made sure that she would be welcomed back as a guest of the late Gianni Versace.

Naomi Campbell in the 1990 Met Gala (source: Style Bistro)
Naomi Campbell in the 1990 Met Gala (Source: Style Bistro)

Naomi’s multi-colored high-waisted skirt had a definite retro vibe to it. She accessorized her glitter bustier dress with a tiny black backpack and pencil heels.

Furthermore, the supermodel makeup also drew the attention of fashionistas.

8. Zayn Malik 

Theme: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology

Zayn decided to make his MET Gala debut in 2016 as part of the Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology theme.

Furthermore, Malik was joined by his then-girlfriend, model Gigi Hadid.

He was dressed in a Versace suit with sculpted metal arms embellished with Swarovski crystals and Medusa specifics.

Then boyfriend and girlfriend Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid at the 2016 Met Gala (source: billboard)
Then boyfriend and girlfriend Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid at the 2016 Met Gala (source: Billboard)

On the other hand, Gigi looked stunning in a gunmetal dress with a silvery bustier and sheer skirt.

She also enhanced her appearance with some exciting armor rings on her fingers.

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7. Priyanka Chopra

Theme: Rei Kawakubo or Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between

Priyanka Chopra received a lot of media attention during the 2017 Met Gala.

After arriving at the Met Gala red carpet, Priyanka drew much attention in a ballgown-meets-trench coat ensemble.

Additionally, Ralph Lauren designed the famous actress’s dress.

Ralph Lauren designed this amazing Priyanka Chopra's MetGala look (source: The Indian Express)
Ralph Lauren designed this fantastic Priyanka Chopra’s MetGala look (source: The Indian Express)

Furthermore, Chopra’s stylist Cristina Ehrlich ordered the design elements to be included.

She was accompanied by her now-husband, Nick Jonas, who wore the same designer suit as her.

In addition, both Jonas and Chopra were making their first red carpet appearances at the Met Gala.

6. Cher

Theme: Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design

The “Goddess of Pop” stunned the world with her fantastic look at the 1974 Met Gala. 

Specifically, Cher was dressed in the “Naked dress,” with fashion designer Bob Mackie on her arm.

Mackie’s signature look includes glitter, feathers, a touch of burlesque, a barely covered tease of breasts, posteriors, and plenty of legs.

Cher in
Cher in “The Naked dress” (source Luxebook)

Like many of Mackie’s signature looks, Cher was hardly covered in black netting, a few feathers, and some well-placed beads.

5. Billie Eilish 

Theme: In America: A Lexicon of Fashion

Billie Eilish, the pop-icon, walked the Met Gala 2021 red carpet in an Oscar de La Renta specially made tulle corset gown.

Furthermore, her corseted gown also featured a massive skirt with a 15-foot train.

For this year’s Met Gala, the Grammy-winning artist kept it all peach.

Billie Eilish looked stunning in the Oscar De La Renta gown at the 2021 Met Gala (source: Hindustan Times)
Billie Eilish looked stunning at the 2021 Met Gala in the Oscar De La Renta gown (Source: Hindustan Times)

Oscar de La Renta’s media department took to social media to explain the specifics of the singer’s outfit.

“Billie Eilish is a dream in shimmering layer upon layer of tulle and a fit-to-perfection corset bodice,” they titled her picture.

Billie also had a firm policy for her Marilyn Monroe-inspired dress: “NO FUR.”

4. Zendaya 

Theme: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination

Zendaya arrived at the 2018 Met Gala dressed as a character and in full costume.

She was dressed as a glammed-up Joan of Arc, the Catholic patron saint.

Roach dressed the “Spider-Man” star in a sequined Versace chain-mail dress with a heavily armored neckpiece and clarified shoulder guards.

Zendaya's dress was inspired by the legendary Joan of Arc. (source: Pinterest)
The legendary Joan of Arc inspired Zendaya’s dress. (source: Pinterest)

In addition, Zendata’s gown was accompanied by a magnificent train.

In faithful Joan of Arc manner, the outfit’s motivation came to Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach, in a dream.

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3. Harry Styles 

Theme: Camp: Notes on Fashion

Harry Styles attended the 2019 Met Gala as one of the event’s co-chairs.

The former One Direction member walked the Met Gala red carpet wearing Gucci from head to toe.

From a distance, Harry may have appeared to be wearing an all-black ensemble, but up close, the features were simply stunning.

Harry Style's 2021 look created a buzz (source Capital FM)
Harry Style’s 2021 look created a buzz (source Capital FM)

His look was complemented by a ruffled bow and flowing lace sleeves.

Furthermore, the musician’s sheer top complemented his conventional black trousers and gleaming black shoes.

Harry’s jewelry and nails were two of the best parts of his outfit. The Gala co-chair wore a single pearl earring in his earlobe and a slew of rings on his fingers.

In addition, one of his rings featured a gold H and S for his initials.

2. Rihanna 

Theme: China: Through the Looking Glass

Rihanna has some incredible looks from various Met Gala events.

However, the singer’s 2015 Guo Pei gown cemented her Met Gala reign. 

An imperial yellow, embroidered, and fur-trimmed silk cape with an enormous train was the show-stopping creation at the event.

Rihanna in the chinese designer Guo Pei's dress (source: Hashtag Legend)
Rihanna in the Chinese designer Guo Pei’s dress (Source: Hashtag Legend)

Despite the night’s theme of “China: Through the Looking Glass,” Rihanna was one of the few guests to wear an outfit designed by a Chinese designer.

Guo Pei’s gown provided much-needed attention to the worlds of Chinese fashion, styling, and craftsmanship.

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1. Jared Leto 

Theme: Camp: Notes on Fashion

At the 2019 Met Gala, Jared Leto replicated a jaw-dropping moment.

Leto was dressed in Gucci, wearing a silky red high-neck gown with shoulder pads and a gemstone body chain.

However, his human head companion took a look to new heights.

Jared Leto stunned the 2019 Met Gala with his head accessory (source: Popsugar)
Jared Leto stunned the 2019 Met Gala with his head accessory (source: Popsugar)

In addition, Alessandro finished the head with his trademark wavy locks, which stole the show.

Gucci debuted its creepy human head accessory on the Fall 2018 catwalk at Milan Fashion Week.

Conclusion

With that, folks, we have ended the list with some unforgettable Met Gala moments in history. 

Though we have to admit, the absence of some A-listers like Rihanna, Zendaya, and Lady Gaga did leave a huge blank spot in the event. Hopefully, we will get to see them next year. 

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