15 Iconic Met Gala Looks That Made History – Will 2025 Raise the Bar?
Everyone here can remember all the iconic Met Gala looks. The Met Gala is not just fashion’s biggest night—it’s a cultural phenomenon. Each year, celebrities, designers, and stylists bring out their boldest, most creative, and jaw-dropping looks for the world to admire. From dramatic gowns to avant-garde statements, these Met Gala moments have become timeless icons. But the question remains: Can Met Gala 2025 outshine them?
Here are the 15 Most Iconic Met Gala Looks of All Time
1. Rihanna in Guo Pei, 2015
China: Through the Looking Glass. “I will never forget that feeling of discovering that designer,” Rih told Vogue of Guo Pei, who designed her awe-inspiring yellow coat-dress. Although Pei was a prominent designer in China, a boost from Rihanna helped put her on the map in the United States. It also became known for those hilarious memes that Photoshopped eggs and frying pans onto the enormous bright yellow train.
2. Naomi Campbell in Versace, 1995
Naomi Campbell always looks fantastic. Full stop. But this dazzling Versace number from the 1995 Met Gala truly is a step above the rest.
3. Zendaya in Versace, 2018
Proof that Zendaya can slay anything—even armor. Her Joan of Arc look was so on point for the “Heavenly Bodies” theme. Her custom metallic Versace gown features an armored neck-and-shoulder piece, sparkling chainmail, a spiked belt, and a modest train. Zendaya also adopted a cropped wig in the style of The Maid of Orléans’ famous bob.
4. Hailey Bieber in Vera Wang, 2019
Yes, Bieber showed us her thong. From the front, she gave us modern-day Barbie vibes in this beautiful light pink, long-sleeve sequin gown by Alexander Wang. It seemed she had taken a safer route until she turned around and you saw the back of her dress, which featured a low back and an exposed thong. *church mom gasp*
5. Cher in Bob Mackie, 1974
Celebrating “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design,” at the 1974 Met Gala, Cher turned heads in a shockingly sheer, meticulously beaded gown, with luxurious feathered sleeves and train by Bob Mackie (who also accompanied the star). Cher would later wear to grace the cover of Time magazine.
7. Beyoncé in Givenchy, 2016
Beyoncé took a quick commercial break from the Formation tour to shut down the Met Gala in a studded, barely-there latex gown by Givenchy. After recently dropping the Lemonade album, the superstar hit the carpet alone.
8. Kim Kardashian, 2013
Hey, look, bb Northie is in there! The very pregnant Kim Kardashian is wearing a floral Givenchy gown for her very first Met Gala. She cried all the way home when she caught wind that the internet compared her gown to a couch (remember those memes?!) and how even the late Robin Williams joked that Mrs. Doubtfire wore it better. But now she loves it, so that’s all that matters.
9. Rihanna in John Galliano, 2018
Can we all take a second to memorialize Rihanna’s crystal-covered John Galliano papal look for the Heavenly Bodies themed Met Gala in 2018?
10. Madonna in Jean Paul Gaultier, 2018
This year’s Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and The Catholic Imagination Met Gala theme was practically made for Madonna so when it came time for the red carpet, we didn’t know what to expect from the Queen of Pop. Would she recreate her iconic “Like a Prayer” look? Would she shock us all by dressing like a sexy nun? Or would she really go for it and arrive on an actual crucifix? (Oh come on, it totally could have happened.) Sadly, she did none of the above, but she did arrive wearing a look covered with crosses, of course.
11. Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs, 2013
2013 was the year Miley had her twerk sesh on stage, it was also the year the Met had the theme of “PUNK: Chaos to Couture.” Safe to say, Miley nailed it with a netted gown by Marc Jacobs and ofc, signature bleached (and spiked) hair.
12. Nicole Kidman in Alexander McQueen, 2016
Nicole Kidman arrived to the 2016 Met Gala celebrating “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology” wearing an ethereal, caped moon emblazoned gown from Alexander McQueen’s Fall/Winter 2016 collection.
13. Zendaya in Dolce & Gabbana, 2017
Zendaya attended the “Rei Kawakubo/ Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between” 2017 Met Gala wearing an opulent Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda off-the-shoulder ballgown printed with parrots and florals.
14. Kim Kardashian in Jean Louis, 2022
It’s not just giving Marilyn Monroe—this is actually Marilyn Monroe’s original Jean Louis gown (worn to sing “Happy Birthday” to President JFK), taken out of a museum for Kim’s night out at the Met.
15. Princess Diana in Dior, 1996
Possibly the most iconic of all the Met Gala looks is Princess Diana in a very daring blue Dior slip dress with a matching sapphire necklace.
So… Can 2025 Outdo These?
The bar is sky-high. But the Met Gala is known for surprises, reinventions, and moments that live forever in fashion lore. With the rise of AI-generated outfits, genderless couture, and tech-integrated designs, 2025 could just blow us all away.
One thing’s for sure: we’ll be watching.
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