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Rihanna Met Gala© GettyImages

From Cardi B to Rihanna, see the Met Gala’s most unforgettable looks

A walk through some of the Met Ball’s most memorable looks


UPDATED MAY 1, 2020 6:13 PM EDT

Fashion’s most-anticipated event of the year, the  Met Gala  first began in 1971 with the Fashion Plate-themed exhibition. Since then, the annual event hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art by  Anna Wintour  and the museum’s co-chairs, has allowed attendees to take risks and up the ante with eccentric and avant-garde looks. It’s the one night a year models, celebrities, designers, artists and more A-listers dress up for the charitable cause of raising money for the museum’s Costume Institute.

In recent years,  Rihanna  has been at the helm of mastering the dress code for previous themes, including that time she dressed as a bejeweled Pope ensemble by Margiela for the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination theme. At the 2019 Camp: Notes on Fashion theme,  Lady Gaga , who was one of the hosts, stole the show with a series of outfits shown at the museum’s famous carpeted steps.

This year, the chosen theme was About Time: Fashion and Duration, but being there won’t be any new ensembles to startle us due to its cancellation, we’re highlighting some of the most memorable looks from previous years.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Cardi B, 2018

Cardi B made her red carpet debut at the 2018 Met Ball wearing custom Moschino by Jeremy Scott. At the time, the Bodak Yellow rapper was pregnant with her daughter, Kulture.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Rihanna, 2017

Rihanna broke the internet when she appeared at the museum’s famous steps wearing an insane Comme des Garçons dress for the theme literally called, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: The Art of the In-Between.

Met Gala looks© GettyImages

Anne Hathaway, 2013

Remember when Anne Hathaway had a bleach blonde haircut? The actress showed up to fashion’s biggest event wearing a black see-through gown and a fearless attitude.

Met Gala looks through the years© GettyImages

Mary Kate Olsen, 2011

Mary Kate struck a pose while exuding boho-chic vibes in this vintage Givenchy Haute Couture dress. The one-half of the Olsen twins completed her OOTN with Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, a Judith Leiber clutch, and jewelry by David Webb and Van Cleef & Arpels.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Zoe Kravitz, 2018

Zoe’s look wasn’t entirely on-theme for the Heavenly Bodies exhibit, but she’s still spectacular in this daring lace number.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Lady Gaga, 2019

Lady Gaga stole the show in 2019, and this is just one of the four looks she wore to the annual event. All looks were by her close friend, designer Brandon Maxwell.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Priyanka Chopra, 2018

Priyanka, a.k.a. Mrs. Jonas, looked stunning in a deep burgundy velvet gown by Ralph, topped with a bejeweled golden hood that took over 250 hours to make!

Met Gala looks through the years© GettyImages

Penélope Cruz, 2011

The Spanish actress can do no fashion wrong. Penélope was the definition of timeless elegance when she showed up in this elaborate, tiered gown by Oscar de la Renta. She accessorized with delicate diamond jewels and added a romantic flair by wearing her hair in loose, voluminous waves.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Blake Lively, 2018

Blake Lively stunned as she walked her way up the Met’s stairs in an incredible Versace gown, which took more than 600 hours to make due to the and intricate beading.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Emily Blunt, 2019

Emily was a golden statue when she appeared in this Michael Kors Collection number paired with a matching gold floral hat by Stephen Jones.

Met Gala looks© GettyImages

Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge, 2013

Sienna attended the ball with her partner at the time, merging glamour with punk in the form of a pristine white gown and a studded cropped moto jacket.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Kendall and Kylie Jenner, 2019

The Jenner sisters arrived in plumage with custom feathered lavender and orange Versace gowns.

Met Gala most memorable looks© GettyImages

Lupita Nyong’o

Beads, feathers, and mesh all collided in Lupita’s stunning green Prada dress. The award-winning actress showed up to her first Met Gala event honoring fashion designer Charles James with Charles James: Beyond Fashion theme. Her eccentric look was ‘20s-inspired and a true winner in our eyes.

Met Gala most memorable looks© GettyImages

Beyoncé, 2014

Another fabulous look by Queen Bey. The singer went for a vintage noir-inspired look with a sheer dress by Givenchy, dark chandelier earrings, and a birdcage headpiece. A plunging neckline and dangerously short underlining showed off her glorious curves.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Rihanna, 2018

Bad Girl Ri Ri won the Met Gala when she stepped out in a bejeweled Pope ensemble by Margiela. The fashion icon rocked a pearl and jewel-encrusted robe with matching papal mitre and necklace. She accessorized with Christian Louboutin heels and jewelry by Cartier.

Met Gala most memorable looks© GettyImages

Karolína Kurková, 2014

The former Victoria’s Secret Angel turned heads in a satin Marchesa stunner when she arrived at the red carpet. The voluminous gown featured stunning artwork, hand-painted navy and cream florals, and a sharp asymmetrical neckline.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Cardi B, 2019

Cardi needed an entire team to support her gown at the Met Ball in 2019. The artist was dripping in pearls and more than $250,000 worth of rubies in an unforgettable creation by Moschino.

Met Gala looks through the years© GettyImages

Salma Hayek, 2011

Salma Hayek was an honorary chair for the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty theme, and she dressed the part in a stunning peach-toned gown by the fashion house. The Mexico-born actress looked simply beautiful.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Ciara, 2019

Ciara turned up in a custom Peter Dundas feathered emerald gown and dramatic hair. The singer looked gorgeous with color-coordinating heels and ultra-glam makeup.

Met Gala looks through the years© GettyImages

Jennifer Lopez, 2011

Always one to stand out, JLo made herself memorable in this bold fuschia gown by Gucci. The vivid number highlighted parts of her lean torso and adorned her shoulders with an elaborate floral wrap. We love she added a ruby-toned lip to pick up the richness of her dress.

Met Gala looks© GettyImages

Sarah Jessica Parker, 2013

The Sex and the City star dressed on-theme for the PUNK: Chaos to Couture gala in a black and gold dress by Giles Deacon, tartan thigh-high boots by Christian Louboutin and an outstanding mohawk headpiece by Philip Treacy.

Met Gala, most memorable looks© GettyImages

Lizzo, 2019

The Juice singer was a vision in head-to-toe pink wearing a feathered coat by Marc Jacobs over a blush-toned number by the American designer. The musician further accented her look with a hot pink wig styled in an updo.

Met Gala most memorable looks© GettyImages

Zoe Saldana, 2014

Zoe showed up to the Met Gala accompanied by Michale Kors, the designer behind her custom black cashmere halter bodysuit and poofed floral skirt.

Met Gala looks© GettyImages

Madonna, 2013

The queen of dress arrived at the event wearing an incredibly, butt-baring short get-up by Givenchy’s creative director at the time, Ricardo Tisci. The music icon embraced the PUNK: Chaos to Couture theme in full style.

Met Gala most memorable looks© GettyImages

Reese Witherspoon 2014

Reese exuded vintage Barbie doll vibes in a bold fuchsia dress by Stella McCartney. The glamourous number was made of satin fabric and showed off her decolletage with a unique sweetheart neckline. The actress doubled up on the pink factor with a matching lip color.

Met Gala looks© GettyImages

Beyoncé, 2013

Queen Bey made her grand entrance in a Givenchy Haute Couture gown. Beyoncé wore a show-stopping gown that featured elbow-length gloves, a long train, and thigh-high boots to match her dress.

Met Gala looks through the years© GettyImages

Naomi Campbell, 2011

The top model looked angelic in a glorious white gown honoring late designer, Alexander McQueen. The ornate design can’t be easily pulled off, but if anyone can, it’s Naomi. The model finished off her gorgeous look with a gold clutch and a statement brooch placed at the front and center of her updo.

Met Gala looks through the years© GettyImages

Serena Williams, 2011

The pro tennis champion slipped switched from her accustomed tennis wear and into a feathered creation by Oscar de la Renta, paired with a hat by Philip Treacy and jewels by Lorraine Schwartz. She looked gorge!

Met Gala most memorable looks© GettyImages

Jessica Alba, 2014

Jessica was glowing in a Grecian lace dress by Diane von Furstenberg. She added golden accents, including a clutch and long earrings.

Jared Leto Met Gala© GettyImages

Jared Leto, 2019

Jared Leto will forever be remembered in this bright red Gucci number decked with sparkly crystals, and for carrying his own head to the fashionable affair. Only he can pull off such accessory!