On Monday, the stars will ascend the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for the annual Met Gala. For decades now, to a smattering of flash photography and crowds of people clamoring for a peekat (or in protest of) the spectacle, celebrities have attempted to show up in their “first Monday in May” best. At this so-called Super Bowl of fashion, these looks aren’t always a hit (and there are always plenty of misses, disses, and side-eyes to be beheld on the carpet), but when a guest truly embodies the essence of what they’re wearing, it stands out. Below are some of my Hall of Fame favorite Met Gala looks.
Cher in Bob Mackie, 1974
Thanks to Bob Mackie, the dresser of divas, the costumer of dreams, Cher looked so Cher in this.
Kate Moss in Calvin Klein, 1995
There’s something about pre-internet Met Gala looks that makes me swoon. This simple look feels emulatable — it’s a simple dress with a very ’90s neckline and open back — until one remembers this outfit looks this good partially because it has Kate Moss’s supermodel face to frame it.
Naomi Campbell in Versace, 1995
I love to see someone wearing a dress this ostentatious and the dress not wearing them.
Liv Tyler in Stella McCartney, 1999
This one feels a little controversial, but in hindsight — and especially in light of all the nepo-baby discourse — I think we can all agree this look rocks (ha). At least Tyler and McCartney are being honest!
Christina Ricci in Givenchy, 2008
At first glance, I didn’t pay this look much attention. But when I let my eye linger, the soft pink swirls and the red enveloped some part of my brain in an indescribable way. This dress looks good enough to eat (to me).
Beyoncé in Emilio Pucci, 2011
The shape. The embroidery. The contrast. It’s all there!
Daphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen, 2011
Yes, that Guinness. The beverage heiress wore McQueen to the Met just a year after the famed designer’s death. I know some people probably aren’t fans of the plumage here, but I personally love the shape and the willingness to go there.
Rihanna in Guo Pei, 2015
This is an all-time favorite of mine, as well as of the late fashion great André Leon Talley, who called this couture look a “fantasy” when Rihanna wore it. The star said it took two years for one woman to make this dress.
Zendaya in Versace, 2018
Protect yourself, protect your heart. Come to think of it, I need to get myself one of these.
Rihanna in Maison Margiela, 2018
Ri finds her way on the list again, looking extra papal this time! Forgive me, mother, for I have sinned!
Paloma Elsesser in Coach, 2022
The 2022 Met Gala was essentially a corset convention (which I love!), but Elsesser’s corset and look stood out. The pearls wrapped high on her neck paired with a bob gave this soft look the perfect amount of edge.
Gigi Hadid in Versace, 2022
A puffer coat? In May? I love the drama! I love the deep red! It’s a win for me!
