Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Before yesterdayMain stream

Celebrities who have surprisingly never attended the Met Gala

29 April 2025 at 12:56
ryan gosling jennifer aniston
Neither Ryan Gosling nor Jennifer Aniston has attended the Met Gala.

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moët & Chandon

  • The Met Gala, one of the most exclusive fashion events, will be held on May 5.
  • Over the years, some A-list stars have surprisingly not been invited or have declined.
  • Ryan Gosling, Dolly Parton, and Angela Bassett have never walked the Met Gala red carpet.

The Met Gala is fashion's biggest night — and celebrities love to show up on the first Monday in May to show off the most iconic looks of their careers.

However, not every A-lister has decided to attend the party. There are plenty of living legends who, for whatever reason, have foregone attending the event, including Meryl Streep, Will Smith, the entire cast of "Friends," and more.

Here are some of the biggest celebrities to have skipped the Met Gala so far.

Victoria Montalti and Elana Klein contributed to a prior version of this story.

Meryl Streep
Meryl in a red plunging neck dress and glasses.
Meryl Streep.

Jordan Strauss/AP Images

A three-time Academy Award winner and nine-time Golden Globe winner, Meryl Streep is accustomed to red carpets.

However, although the acting legend has starred in several fashion-forward roles in movies like "The Devil Wears Prada" — in which she essentially played Met Gala organizer and Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour — and "Mamma Mia," she's never attended the Met Gala.

Streep was a Met Gala co-chair for the 2020 event. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented it from taking place that year.

She was not re-added as a co-chair when the Met Gala was held again in 2021, and has skipped every year since.

Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling attends the red carpet promoting the upcoming film "Barbie" at the Warner Bros. Pictures Studio presentation during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 25, 2023
Ryan Gosling.

Greg Doherty/WireImage/Getty Images

Contrary to what his popularity and his role as the clothes horse Ken in "Barbie" might suggest, Ryan Gosling has still never been to the Met Gala.

This was particularly surprising in 2023, as "Barbie" was the biggest hit of the year.

Angelina Jolie
Angelina in a strapless metallic gown.
Angelina Jolie.

Gennaro Leonardi Photos/Shutterstock

With the perfect mix of edgy and elegant style, it's shocking that the actor never attended the event, particularly in the 2000s, when she was at the height of her Hollywood career.

The costuming and cinematic masterpiece of the "Maleficent" films also seemed like perfect opportunities for Jolie to make her Met Gala debut. However, we're still waiting for that day to come. 

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Dwayne Johnson in 2023.
Dwayne Johnson in 2023.

ABC/Getty Images

Although he's acted in box-office hits like the "Fast and Furious" franchise and "Moana," the actor and former wrestler has never attended the Met Gala.

The cast of "Friends"
Courteney in a black sheer blouse, Jennifer in a black and white slip dress, and Lisa in a black blazer.
(From left to right) Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, and Lisa Kudrow.

Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Somehow, neither Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, nor Matthew Perry (before his death in 2023) ever attended the event.

While the Met's attendees include fashion's elite, the guest list also includes the biggest names of the moment, so it's shocking that none of the powerhouse "Friends" cast made appearances when the show was on the air or afterward, when their careers — especially Aniston's — and personal lives made headlines.

Drake
Drake in a grey plaid jacket and black t-shit.
Drake.

Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

No, Drake was never Rihanna's date to the Met Gala. While rappers like ASAP Rocky, Lil Nas X, Chance the Rapper, and Migos have all made appearances, the Canadian star has not. 

Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda
Lily in a black suit, Dolly in a white dress, and Jane in a pink dress.
(From left to right) Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda.

Chris Pizzello/AP Images

The "9 to 5" cast of acting legends and fashion icons has never been at the big night.

Fashion icon Dolly Parton has walked many red carpets, but never one for the Met Gala. Her "9 to 5" costars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin also haven't.

Each of these women is a legend with a very active career. They also know how to make a statement with their outfits: Parton with sparkles and fringe, Fonda with sleek silhouettes, and Tomlin with graphic T-shirt-and-blazer combos.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
Will in a black suit and Jada in a shiny green long sleeve dress.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Jae C. Hong/AP Images

The often-controversial couple has always been carefully watched by the public, making headlines and starting heated debates. However, they undoubtedly also have some pretty great red-carpet couple looks.

One carpet they never walked on is the Met Gala. Their children, Jaden Smith and Willow Smith, have attended, though.

Adele
Adele in. black gown with a plunging tulle neckline.
Adele.

Joel C Ryan/AP Images

The music icon's 2021 comeback also cemented her spot as a fashion icon. Whether performing in outstanding gowns sans heels or sitting courtside in striking coats, she turns heads.

Although the "Easy on Me" singer hasn't attended the event yet, there's hope for her debut since she's returned to the limelight in recent years.

Britney Spears
Britney in a silver rhinestone strappy dress.
Britney Spears.

Chris Pizzello/AP Images

When the Princess of Pop was at her height of fame in the 2000s, you may have suspected she walked the Met Gala's red carpet, but she didn't.

It would've been fitting to see Spears reinterpret her eccentric tour costumes and award-show style to match the unique Met Gala themes

Prince William and Kate Middleton
Kate in a pink sparkly dress. William in a blue suit and button down.
Kate Middleton and Prince William.

Pool/Getty Images

Many royals — including Princess Diana — have graced the fashion spectacle, but Prince William and Kate Middleton are not part of that group.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Meghan in a red cape sleeve dress and Harry in a red military jacket with badges, ropes, and a bow tie.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

Karwai Tang/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are one of the most talked-about couples on the planet. Shockingly, not even one of their best couple looks has been at the Met Gala.

Helena Bonham Carter
Helena in a black sheer and bustier tip and feather skirt.
Helena Bonham Carter.

Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock

If there's any celebrity who could have a Met Gala theme based on them, it's probably Helena Bonham Carter. The actor is always dressed in vintage-punk Vivienne Westwood and Tim Burton-esque looks.

While her character in "Ocean's 8" attends the Met in a fabulous gown, Bonham Carter hasn't been in real life.

In a 2018 interview on "The Graham Norton Show" in the UK, Bonham Carter said she'd never been invited. Her costar Rihanna jokingly explained, "That's because you wear dresses like that," pointing to Bonham Carter's funky printed look.

Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera in 2025
Christina Aguilera.

Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images

While the Met Gala is the perfect platform to showcase entertainers' cool and quirky styles, Christina Aguilera has never had the chance to be part of it.

The "Genie in a Bottle" singer has been busy creating music, touring, acting, and creating an image for herself for most of her life. 

While her fan base would no doubt be excited to see her flaunt her style at the Met, they'll have to keep waiting.

Brad Pitt
Brad in a tuxedo and bow tie.
Brad Pitt.

Isaaak/Shutterstock

Brad Pitt is a red-carpet staple, always in a dapper suit and always with a new hairdo. It seems surprising that he's never been to the Met, especially when his costars and friends like George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jonah Hill have.

But like his famous exes, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie, Pitt has also steered clear.

Carrie Underwood
Carrie in a sparkly bodice dress with an orange sash and skit.
Carrie Underwood.

Jordan Strauss/AP Images

With eight Grammys, 16 ACM awards, dozens of CMT awards, and many more awards, Underwood has proven she's a singing sensation.

But she hasn't attended the Met Gala — not back in the day when she won "American Idol" and not now, when she's still serving red-carpet glamour.

Tom Holland
Tom holland
Tom Holland.

Todd Owyoung/NBC/Getty Images

While many superheroes have graced the Met Gala red carpet sans armor, some key actors have not.

Tom Holland (Spider-Man) should surely have been invited over the years with his fiancée, Zendaya, but the two have never attended the event together.

Angela Bassett
angela bassett
Angela Bassett.

Valerie Terranova/Getty Images

In this case, Angela Bassett did not do the thing — she's never attended the Met Gala, even though she has impeccable red-carpet style and has been a star for decades.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The best Met Gala looks of all time

Diana Ross attends the 2025 Met Gala.
Diana Ross attends the 2025 Met Gala.

Michael Loccisano/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

  • Fashion's biggest night, the Met Gala, has come and gone once again.
  • Every year, the event has a different theme, and celebrities get creative with the dress code.
  • Stars like Rihanna, Blake Lively, and Tyla have worn some of the best Met Gala looks of all time.

On May 5, some of the world's most famous people arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for the 2025 Met Gala, celebrating Black dandyism and menswear.

The gala, which traditionally takes place on the first Monday in May, is a fundraiser for the Met's Costume Institute. It brings together actors, singers, models, influencers, billionaires, and athletes. Each year, Anna Wintour also puts together a star-studded group of Met Gala co-chairs to help promote and plan the event.

The co-chairs and other attendees always have fun with the Met Gala theme, wearing jaw-dropping looks that turn the event into fashion's biggest night.

In celebration of the event, take a look back at some of the best Met Gala looks of all time.

Cher rocked the "naked dress" trend over 40 years before it became popular.
Cher and Bob Mackie at the Met Gala in 1974. Cher's wearing a see-through look with rhinestones and white feathers.
Cher and Bob Mackie at the Met Gala in 1974

Ron Galella/Getty Images

Cher stole the show at the 1974 Met Gala in a sheer Bob Mackie dress that shimmered from head to toe. The long-sleeved gown featured feathers and strategically placed silver sparkles.

The gown inspired the Peter Dundas dress Kim Kardashian wore to the Met Gala in 2015.

At the 1995 Met Gala, supermodel Naomi Campbell stood out in a sparkling silver gown.
Naomi Campbell attends the 1995 Met Gala in a shimmering silver gown.
Naomi Campbell attends the 1995 Met Gala.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Gianni Versace designed Campbell's strapless silver gown; the model accompanied Versace to that year's gala.

"I loved this dress. It was slim-fitting and body-hugging, and it just glistened," Campbell said in a video for Vogue. "I remember when I saw this dress for the first time. It seemed like one of those dresses that you read in those fairy-tale books."

Princess Diana's lingerie-inspired gown was the ultimate "revenge dress" at the 1996 Met Gala.
Helene Mercier, Diana, Princess of Wales, Liz Tilberis, and Bernard Arnault at the Met Gala in 1996.
Diana, Princess of Wales, attended the Met Gala in 1996.

Richard Corkery/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Princess Diana's Met Gala debut came shortly after finalizing her divorce from then-Prince Charles.

And she made sure to make an entrance in a silk navy-blue slip dress designed by John Galliano to pay tribute to the year's theme in honor of Christian Dior.

Royal biographer Katie Nicholl wrote in her book, "William and Harry," that Diana worried the daring dress might embarrass Prince William, who was 14 years old at the time.

Alexander McQueen attended his only Met Gala in 2006 when he and Sarah Jessica Parker arrived in coordinating tartan looks he designed.
Alexander McQueen in a red plaid sash over his suit jacket and a red plaid kilt. Sarah Jessica Parker in a nude tulle strapless dress with a lace bustier and red plaid sash forming one arm strap and being belted before flowing over the dress to the ground.
Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker walking the red carpet at the 2006 Met Gala.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Sarah Jessica Parker asked McQueen to attend the 2006 Met Gala, which was themed "AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion," after deciding to wear a dress by the legendary British designer.

Parker told Vogue in 2022 that she was nervous to attend the event with McQueen because she admired his work, which made it difficult to enjoy the gala.

"It wasn't a fun night. Like, it was, but it wasn't because I was so nervous. I just wanted him to be OK," she told Vogue.

Parker also told Vogue she saved every pin and piece of fabric McQueen touched during their dress fittings.

Christina Ricci dazzled in a pink-and-red dress at the 2008 Met Gala.
Christina Ricci attends the 2008 Met Gala in a pink and red dress.
Christina Ricci attends the 2008 Met Gala.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Ricci captured the "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" theme at the 2008 Met Gala with her outfit, nodding to the iconic superhero uniform silhouette.

Her sheer pink gown revealed a red leotard underneath, while the back of the dress had a red star attached to its belt.

She accessorized the dress with a matching red clutch and kept her hair and makeup simple, allowing the gown to fully shine.

Beyoncé blended disco and Old Hollywood glamour at the 2014 Met Gala.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé on the red carpet at the 2014 Met Gala. Jay-Z wears a white tuxedo with black bowtie and pants. Beyonce wears a sparkling black dress with a plunging neckline and a birdcage veil.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé on the red carpet at the 2014 Met Gala.

George Pimentel/Contributor/WireImage

Beyoncé's sheer black Givenchy gown featured a plunging neckline, a thigh-high slit, and head-to-toe sparkles.

Ty Hunter, Beyoncé's stylist, told Business Insider that the dress, made by Riccardo Tisci, was inspired by Diana Ross.

"It was simple but elegant," Hunter told BI while reflecting on Beyoncé's Met Gala looks. "In person, it was so beautiful. A lot of times, the pictures don't really give justice to the garment. It was delicate and just really, really strong. I love that look."

Beyoncé upped the glamour with dark-red lips and a netted veil, while Jay-Z opted for a classic white tuxedo. The couple would make headlines that same night after a video captured Solange Knowles, Beyoncé's sister, attacking Jay-Z in an elevator.

While naked dresses dominated the 2015 Met Gala, Rihanna made the biggest splash in a 55-pound gown.
Rihanna's iconic 2015 Met Gala look: A custom yellow coat dress with a large train, fur sleeves, and a gold headpiece.
Rihanna attends the 2015 Met Gala.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Rihanna often stands out at the event, but her 2015 look is among her most memorable Met Gala outfits. The singer wore a custom couture cape dress by Guo Pei for the "China: Through the Looking Glass" theme.

The Fenty founder told Access Hollywood in 2020 that she circled the Met three times before getting out of the car because she was scared people would laugh at her for "doing too much."

"I was driving past the red carpet and I was just seeing gowns," she recalled. "I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm a clown, people are gonna laugh at me."

Instead, Rihanna was praised for the showstopping look and named best-dressed of the night by numerous outlets.

Solange Knowles looked like a walking piece of art while attending the Met Gala that same year.
Solange Knowles arrives at the Met Gala wearing a short blue dress with a large, rounded ruffle neck.
Solange Knowles at the "China: Through the Looking Glass" Met Gala in May 2015.

Larry Busacca/Getty Images Entertainment

Solange skipped the traditional gown and opted for a unique minidress by British fashion designer Giles Deacon. The sculptural dress featured a futuristic print.

"It gave the illusion of a fan," Solange told Refinery29 in 2017. "I wanted to be as respectful as possible to the theme."

Beyoncé was the last person to arrive at the 2015 Met Gala, making quite an entrance in her see-through look.
Beyonce climbs the Met Gala stairs in a sheer, nude, bejeweled dress and a top-knot ponytail.
Beyoncé at the 2015 Met Gala.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Variety

Beyoncé's sheer Givenchy dress was the ultimate naked dress of the night, as it matched the color of her skin and featured strategically placed gems.

Though Beyoncé dominated the Met steps, Ty Hunter told BI that he "did not leave her side" throughout the night because the dress was heavy.

"As light as it looked — she looks like she's butt naked, but she's not — it was the heaviest dress," he said. "Normally, I get her to the front, she goes off, and then I'll sit down somewhere. But this night, I never really left."

Beyoncé paired the ensemble with a high ponytail, ensuring the dress was the focal point of her outfit. It was the perfect way to steal the show after her elevator scandal with Jay-Z dominated headlines the year prior.

At the 2018 Met Gala, Ariana Grande wore a ball gown decorated with images from the Sistine Chapel.
Ariana Grande poses on the Met Gala stairs in a blue and tan gown with a large bow in her hair.
Ariana Grande at the 2018 Met Gala.

George Pimentel/Getty Images

Vera Wang designed Grande's strapless gown, which had a corset bodice and ruffled skirt made from layers of tulle.

The dress looked stunning on its own, but Grande's styling elevated the look even further. She wore it with delicate diamond earrings, a tan bow atop her head, and glowing makeup that matched the shades of her dress.

Few could forget Rihanna's arrival in a papal ensemble on the same red carpet.
Rihanna attends the 2018 Met Gala wearing a bedazzled papal look, complete with a pope hat.
Rihanna attends the 2018 Met Gala.

John Shearer/Getty Images

Designed by John Galliano, her outfit included a white strapless dress covered in beads and pearls, a pleated skirt that wrapped around her waist, and a matching coat decorated with the same embellishments.

Her accessories also stood out, from her pearl headdress to her statement necklaces.

Chadwick Boseman looked like royalty in a white suit embellished with gold pieces.
Chadwick Boseman arrives at the Met Gala wearing a white suit and cape adorned with gold crosses.
Chadwick Boseman at the 2018 Met Gala.

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Versace designed Boseman's five-piece outfit. It included a sheer button-up shirt, a cream-colored vest, a matching blazer, a long overcoat, and trousers in the same shade.

Gold crosses and ornate patches decorated the garment, which matched the year's theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."

Zendaya took inspiration from Joan of Arc at the 2018 Met Gala.
Zendaya on the Met Gala red carpet in a metallic out meant to look like Joan of Arc.
Zendaya at the 2018 Met Gala.

Sean Zanni/Getty Images

Versace also designed Zendaya's Met Gala look, which consisted of a flowing silver gown covered in sparkles. It had long sleeves, a tall slit in its skirt, and a train that glided along the floor behind her.

The armor-style pieces Zendaya wore around her waist, neck, and shoulders gave the dress a unique edge. She also wore platform silver sandals, diamond rings, and a red-toned bob haircut.

Cardi B looked like a golden goddess at her first Met Gala.
Cardi B poses in front of a wall of roses wearing a bejeweled gold look with an elaborate headpiece.
Cardi B at the 2018 Met Gala.

Kevin Tachman/Getty Images

Cardi B walked the red carpet in 2018 wearing a glittering gown designed by Moschino. It had a scooped neckline, a form-fitting bodice that showed her baby bump, and a thigh-high slit.

The dress also featured a detachable, crystal-adorned, satin skirt that wrapped around the singer's waist. She completed her outfit with a matching headband and thick layered pearl necklaces.

Kacey Musgraves channeled Barbie at the 2019 ball.
Kacey Musgraves at the 2019 Met Gala with blonde hair and in a bright pink dress with a fur stole on her arm.
Kacey Musgraves at the 2019 Met Gala.

Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Following the year's "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme, Musgraves arrived in a hot-pink Moschino ensemble that made her look exactly like the famous doll.

She wore a leather jacket-style gown, silver pumps, and a blonde wig. She also carried a fuzzy pink shawl, Barbie-esque sunglasses, and a purse shaped like a hairdryer.

Lady Gaga's ensemble for the 2019 Met Gala offered four looks in one.
Lady Gaga poses on the Met Gala red carpet in a mesh lingerie outfit and pulling a pink wagon full of alcohol that says "Haus of Gaga" on the side.
Lady Gaga at the 2019 Met Gala.

Karwai Tang/Getty Images

Gaga was also a co-chair for the 2019 gala, and she embraced her role by wearing four different Maison Schiaparelli looks on the pink carpet.

She started her appearance in a pink gown, unveiling layers until she was in a coordinating underwear set and fishnet tights. Gaga also added high-end jewelry to her look as it transformed.

Billy Porter's all-gold look — and coordinating entourage — made a statement at the 2019 gala.
Billy Porter arrives at the Met Gala in an elaborate gold look, carried in by six men in gold pants and headpieces.
Billy Porter at the 2019 Met Gala.

AP

Porter wore all gold to the 2019 Met Gala, wearing a gold jumpsuit called "The Sun God" from The Blonds with coordinating 10-foot wings.

Six shirtless men in gold pants carried him into the gala, adding to the drama of his look.

Zendaya wowed at the 2019 Met Gala in a "Cinderella"-inspired look.
Stylist Law Roach, dressed as the fairy godmother from Cinderella, waves a smoking wand at Zendaya, whose Met Gala dress looks like Cinderella's blue ballgown.
Zendaya and Law Roach at the 2019 Met Gala.

AP

Zendaya and her stylist, Law Roach, wore coordinating Tommy Hilfiger ensembles that resembled the outfits Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother wear in Disney's "Cinderella."

Zendaya's blue dress — which she paired with a carriage-shaped purse — lit up when Roach pointed a magic wand at it, creating an interactive moment on the red carpet.

Kendall Jenner brought back the "naked dress" for the 2021 Met Gala in an almost entirely see-through Givenchy gown.
Kendall Jenner poses in front of photographers at the Met Gala in 2021, wearing a sheer, floor-length dress covered in sparkling jewels.
Kendall Jenner at the Met Gala in 2021.

John Shearer/WireImage

Jenner paid homage to Audrey Hepburn's performance as Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady," as her gown had the same silhouette but was almost entirely transparent.

Sparkly stars covered the gown, and an oversize choker on Jenner's neck created the illusion of a high neckline.

Iman's headpiece stole the show at the 2021 Met Gala.
Iman attends The 2021 Met Gala wearing a voluminous gold feathered dress with a large feathered headpiece.
Iman attends the 2021 Met Gala.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

The supermodel wore Harris Reed to the gala, donning a gold jumpsuit and a feather-tiered hoop skirt.

An oversize, circular headpiece coordinated with the gown, floating around Iman's head like a massive halo.

Zoë Kravitz's chain-mail Saint Laurent dress for the 2021 Met Gala left little to the imagination.
Zoe Kravitz wears a netted, see-through dress at the Met Gala
Zoë Kravitz at the 2021 Met Gala.

Sean Zanni/Getty Images

The halter-style gown hung tight on Kravitz, and the dress was see-through, apart from the chains making up the silhouette.

Her silver underwear was visible as she walked the Met Gala red carpet.

When Blake Lively co-hosted the Met Gala in 2022, she wore a custom Versace dress that offered two looks in one.
A side-by-side of Blake Lively in her transforming dress at the 2022 Met Gala. The gown started out completely copper and then was unfolded to reveal a teal train.
Blake Lively attends the 2022 Met Gala.

Chris Polk/WWD/Penske Media/Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Blake Lively's custom Versace dress for the "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" gala was modeled after the Statue of Liberty.

The mosaic-patterned gown had a massive bow on one side made of copper-colored material, which unfurled to reveal teal fabric, just as the statue changed hue over time.

The Met Gala co-chair also switched gloves when she untied the bow to match the changing fabric.

Kim Kardashian created one of the most notorious Met Gala looks when she arrived at the 2022 event in a dress Marilyn Monroe once wore.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2022 Met Gala in a nude gown previously worn by Marilyn Monroe.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2022 Met Gala.

John Shearer/Getty Images

For the 2022 Met Gala, Ripley's! Believe It or Not lent Kim Kardashian the Jean Louis dress Monroe wore to serenade President John F. Kennedy for his birthday in 1962.

The sheer dress is covered in sparkly embellishments, and because of its delicate nature, Kardashian only wore it for her short walk on the red carpet. She went to extreme lengths to wear it.

Oversize pins held Anne Hathaway's Versace gown together for the 2023 Met Gala.
Anne Hathaway attends the 2023 Met Gala wearing a white tweed dress with a long slit that's held together by gold safety pins.
Anne Hathaway attends the 2023 Met Gala.

John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images

Hathaway walked the "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" red carpet in a tweed gown that hugged her figure. The white-and-gold dress had a curved cutout that ran the length of the garment and turned into a slit, with gold pins pinching the sides together.

Hathaway carried a coordinating jacket on her shoulder to complete the chic look.

Bad Bunny rocked an open-back Jacquemus suit for the 2023 Met Gala.
Bad Bunny attends the 2023 Met Gala wearing a white suit with a floral train draped on his arms.
Bad Bunny attends the 2023 Met Gala.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

The rapper wore an all-white look to the gala, pairing his avant-garde suit with a detached 26-foot train made of oversize rosettes.

Anok Yai arrived at the 2023 Met Gala in a Prabal Gurung dress covered in multicolored and textured metallics.
Anok Yai attends the 2023 Met Gala weawring a voluminous metallic gown with a train.
Anok Yai attends the 2023 Met Gala.

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

The strapless minidress had a gold bodice that spilled into a bubble skirt, with silver tassels and sequins flowing out from the bottom.

A sheer, brown train attached to the back of the gown, matching with a see-through veil that covered Yai's eyes.

Tyla's Balmain dress for the 2024 Met Gala was made of sand.
Tyla attends the 2024 Met Gala.
Tyla attends the 2024 Met Gala.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

The singer leaned into the time aspect of the event's dress code, "The Garden of Time," for her Met Gala debut.

Her strapless Balmain dress was covered entirely in sand. It hugged her silhouette and flowed out into a train for added drama.

Tyla also carried an hourglass instead of a purse.

Mona Patel accessorized her custom Iris van Herpen dress with butterfly arm cuffs that moved.
Mona Patel on the 2024 Met Gala red carpet.
Mona Patel on the 2024 Met Gala red carpet.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Mona Patel, a philanthropist and entrepreneur, also made her Met Gala debut in 2024, tapping Law Roach to style her custom Iris van Herpen look, which had a butterfly motif.

The bodice of Patel's oatmeal dress was shaped like a butterfly and accented by panels of sheer lace lining the sides. Scallops of fabric covered the gown's dramatic train.

To complete the look, Patel wore butterfly arm cuffs that flapped their wings as she walked the red carpet.

Elle Fanning also arrived at the 2024 event in an avant-garde Balmain dress, but hers looked like it was made of glass.
Elle Fanning attends the 2024 Met Gala.
Elle Fanning attends the 2024 Met Gala.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Balmain designed Fanning's form-fitting gown to transform her into a glass statue.

The off-the-shoulder neckline flowed into ruching on her stomach and down to an asymmetrical, flared skirt that had a subtle slit to allow her to walk. Birds on her shoulders appeared to be holding up the dress.

As the actor told Vogue at the gala, Fanning wanted the look to honor Sleeping Beauty, whom she played in "Maleficent."

Cartier jewelry completed the look.

Colman Domingo walked the red carpet in two eye-catching ensembles when he co-chaired the 2025 Met Gala.
Colman Domingo attends the 2025 Met Gala.
Colman Domingo attends the 2025 Met Gala.

Dia Dipasupil/Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Domingo arrived at the "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style"-themed Met Gala in a blue cape with an ornate gold shoulder piece atop it. The cape, designed by Valentino, honored the late, legendary fashion journalist André Leon Talley, who wore a similar cape to the 2011 Met Gala.

On the red carpet, Domingo removed the cape, revealing gray trousers and a black-and-white checked jacket. He also wore a white vest, a striped blouse, and a black-and-white polka dot tie. He finished the look with a large flower that coordinated with the tie.

Diana Ross' arrival at the same gala was among the most exciting of the night, partly because of her dramatic cape coat.
Diana Ross attends the 2025 Met Gala.
Diana Ross attends the 2025 Met Gala.

Michael Loccisano/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

Ross returned to the Met Gala red carpet for the first time since 2003 in a custom Eleven Sixteen ensemble.

The sleeves of her sparkly silver gown were attached to her show-stopping white cape coat, which had an 18-foot train embroidered with silver detailing and trimmed with feathered fabric.

A large, feathered hat completed the dramatic outfit.

Janelle Monáe's illusion cape and coordinating suit were a fabulous interpretation of the "Tailored For You" dress code at the 2025 event.
Two photos of Janelle Monáe's outfit for the 2025 Met Gala.
Janelle Monáe attends the 2025 Met Gala.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Kevin Mazur/MG25/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

"Wicked" costume designer Paul Tazewell helped design Monáe's custom Thom Browne outfit, which offered two looks in one.

Like Domingo, Monáe arrived in a cape, though hers was designed to look like a person wearing a suit and holding a briefcase in front of a red backdrop.

She removed the cape as she walked the red carpet, revealing a suit with the same color scheme and an actual briefcase. Monáe also wore a hat and monocle, embracing the accessories that often define dandyism.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Every look Anna Wintour has worn to the Met Gala

23 April 2025 at 07:38
Two photos of Anna Wintour at the Met Gala.
Anna Wintour first co-chaired the Met Gala in 1995.

Steve Eichner/Penske Media/Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

  • Anna Wintour, Vogue's editor in chief, has been attending the Met Gala for nearly 40 years.
  • As event chair, Wintour, 75, calls the shots, including who gets invited.
  • Take a look at how Wintour's Met Gala style has evolved since the 1980s.

It's hard to picture a Met Gala without Anna Wintour.

Vogue's editor in chief has played an integral role in organizing the most talked-about fashion event of the year for 30 years, as she first co-chaired the fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in 1995.

The gala has become more extravagant with Wintour, now 75, at the helm. As the guest list became increasingly star-studded, the cost of a Met Gala ticket skyrocketed from around $2,000 to $75,000.

Author Amy Odell, who wrote "Anna: The Biography," told the Italian women's publication Grazia in 2016 that Wintour doesn't choose the theme. Still, she wields considerable control over how it runs. Importantly, Wintour decides who gets an invite — and is known to approve almost every outfit worn on the Met Gala red carpet.

Take a look back at every look Wintour herself has worn for fashion's biggest night.

Wintour wore a sparkly gold top for the 1989 Met Gala, which was themed "The Age of Napoleon: Costume from Revolution to Empire, 1789-1815."
Anna Wintour at the 1999 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 1989 Met Gala.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Wintour became the editor in chief of Vogue in 1988, a little over a year before the 1989 Met Gala.

The silhouette of Wintour's statement top nodded to the event's theme, as her pearl necklace and double-breasted top resembled the jackets soldiers wore during Bonaparte's reign.

Wintour let her top be the focus of her ensemble, pairing it with a black skirt and tights.

Wintour kept her outfit simple for the 1990 Met Gala.
Donna Karan and Anna Wintour at the 1990 Met Gala.
Donna Karan and Anna Wintour at the 1990 Met Gala.

Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images

The Met Gala theme in 1990 was "Théâtre de la Mode — Fashion Dolls: The Survival of Haute Couture."

Some attendees wore funky looks to the event, but it wasn't common for people to dress to theme at the time. Wintour kept her look simple in a silky minidress and trench coat.

Wintour attended the 1993 Met Gala in a purple gown, which honored former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland.
Anna Wintour and Samuel Irving Newhouse, Jr. at the 1993 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour and Samuel Irving Newhouse Jr. at the 1993 Met Gala.

Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images

Wintour stepped out at the "Diana Vreeland: Immoderate Style" gala in a silky purple dress with an asymmetrical hemline and a white cardigan.

Wintour's dress for the "Orientalism: Visions of the East in Western dress" gala in 1994 featured lace detailing.
Anna Wintour at the 1994 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 1994 Met Gala.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Wintour's silver, silky dress hit her mid-thigh, and the bodice was covered in sheer lace. She paired the daring dress with a fuzzy coat featuring black and white stripes and a yellow necklace.

Wintour co-chaired the Met Gala for the first time in 1995, attending the "Haute Couture" event in an ivory halterneck gown.
Clarissa Alcock, Anna Wintour, and Annette Reed at the 1995 Met Gala.
Clarissa Alcock, Anna Wintour, and Annette Reed at the 1995 Met Gala.

Nick Haddow/Penske Media via Getty Images

For her debut as a Met Gala co-chair, Wintour nailed the straightforward theme of the night in a sleek, silky-looking floor-length white gown with matching opera gloves and minimal jewelry.

The look was refined and elegant, encapsulating the "Haute Couture" theme of the 1995 Met Gala, sponsored by designers Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace.

Wintour wasn't co-chair in 1996, but she attended the "Christian Dior" event in a floral gown.
Anna Wintour at the 1996 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 1996 Met Gala.

Steve Eichner/Penske Media via Getty Images

The 1996 event paid tribute to Christian Dior, and Wintour arrived in a dress designed by John Galliano, who started his 14-year tenure at Dior later the same year.

The figure-hugging dress had a floral pattern and delicate spaghetti straps. She also wore a statement necklace and her iconic sunglasses.

Wintour became co-chair again in 1997, arriving in a gold dress for the Gianni Versace-themed Met Gala.
Donatella Versace, Elton John, Anna Wintour, and Julia Koch at the 1997 Met Gala.
Donatella Versace, Elton John, Anna Wintour, and Julia Koch at the 1997 Met Gala.

Steve Eichner/Penske Media via Getty Images

The 1997 Met Gala paid homage to Gianni Versace, who had died after being shot in Miami months prior.

The late designer was known for his love of working with metal embellishments and gold tones, so it's no wonder that Wintour took that on board with her look for the evening: a shimmery, liquid-like gold gown with thin spaghetti straps.

She paired it with coordinating stilettos and a sparkly silver necklace.

Wintour kept things simple in a slip dress for the 1998 Met Gala, which was themed "Cubism and Fashion."
Anna Wintour at the 1998 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 1998 Met Gala.

Steve Eichner/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images

Wintour's look, a lightweight gold slip dress paired with a silver necklace and two bracelets, didn't exactly scream "Cubism and Fashion."

But, in Wintour's defense, the trend of wearing an outfit that nodded to the Met Gala theme wasn't huge at the time.

In 1999, Wintour blurred the lines between high fashion and punk rock for the "Rock Style" Met Gala.
Andre Leon Talley and Anna Wintour at the 1999 Met Gala.
Andre Leon Talley and Anna Wintour at the 1999 Met Gala.

Rose Hartman/Getty Images

In 1999, Wintour graduated from being a standard co-chair to officially taking the reins as the Met Gala's chairperson.

That year, the theme was "Rock Style," highlighting how iconic performers like Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Alice Cooper, among others, influenced style trends.

Unlike the previous year, Wintour didn't shy away from the theme. Her eclectic John Galliano couture look consisted of a purple embellished skirt with a patterned white top layered under a tanned fur stole.

Wintour channeled Jackie Kennedy's preppy yet elegant style at the 2001 Met Gala that paid tribute to the former first lady.
Anna Wintour and a friend at the 2001 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour and a friend at the 2001 Met Gala.

WWD/Getty Images

The 2000 Met Gala failed to go ahead after an exhibit on the works of Coco Chanel was canceled, but the event returned in 2001 with a gala dedicated to the late Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis and her fashion legacy. The former first lady is remembered for her sophisticated wardrobe, including vibrant dresses, pillbox hats, turtleneck long sleeves, and chic evening gowns.

Wintour arrived at the Met that year in a timeless ensemble: a floor-length gown comprised of a classic flowing white skirt and a shimmery baby-blue, high-neck top with floral embellishments and shoulder pads.

The 2003 Met Gala's theme was "Goddess: The Classical Mode." Wintour arrived in an angelic Christian Dior ensemble.
Anna Wintour at the 2003 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2003 Met Gala.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Wintour's ethereal Christian Dior look was perfect for the 2003 Met Gala's "Goddess: The Classical Mode" theme, the first held after a hiatus in 2002 following the 9/11 attacks.

The Vogue editor's look consisted of a silky floor-length white gown paired with silver strappy stilettos and a cropped, fringed cardigan.

Her final accessory? Wintour's iconic black sunglasses, which she later told CNN she likes to wear to "avoid people knowing what she's thinking about."

She wore one of her quirkiest Met Gala looks for the 2004 "Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century" event.
Anna Wintour, dressed in a sparkling jacket and pale green full-length gown, poses in front of photographers during the 2004 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour hosted the 2004 Met Gala on her own.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Wintour partnered with Christian Dior again for her look at the 2004 Met Gala. She wore a pastel-green silk dress embellished around the neckline and a crystal-encrusted jacket with exaggerated shoulder pads.

The look is one of the most eclectic that Wintour has worn to the Met Gala. Still, it was in line with the year's theme, which focused on the "refined elegance and delicate voluptuousness" of interiors and style during the 18th century, according to the Metropolitan Museum website.

The fashion editor wore a silky white gown with a floral-embellished cardigan for the 2005 "House of Chanel"-themed Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2005 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2005 Met Gala.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Wintour stayed on theme in an asymmetrical white Coco Chanel gown and a coordinating cardigan with floral appliqué.

She accessorized with silver heels and a statement pearl necklace that featured a fringed pendant.

The 2006 Met Gala was about honoring British fashion, a perfect theme for Wintour, born in London.
Anna Wintour at the 2006 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2006 Met Gala.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

"AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion" was the theme of the 2006 Met Gala.

While Wintour opted not to work with a British designer on her look for the evening, instead choosing Chanel, her ensemble oozed English elegance.

It consisted of a black sequined gown with pink rose details along the train and chest, and a flowing beige coat, perhaps a high-fashion nod to the iconic Burberry trench coat.

Wintour went for an edgy look at the 2007 Met Gala in a black sequin-heavy ensemble with scale-like detailing.
Anna Wintour at the 2007 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2007 Met Gala.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

In 2007, the Met Gala theme was "Poiret: King of Fashion," in honor of Paul Poiret, a designer famous for influencing the transition in women's fashion from corsets to looser clothing items.

For the event, Wintour wore a sequined Chanel gown with a segment of black and white scales embroidered down the center and on the shoulders.

She embodied power and fashion at the 2008 "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2008 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2008 Met Gala.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Wintour arrived on the red carpet in a silver Chanel gown designed by Karl Lagerfeld. The dress featured shell-shaped padding along the waist and shoulders.

The ensemble looked like it could've been pulled from the costume department of an epic sci-fi movie, proving she nailed the event's fantasy theme.

For the 2009 Met Gala, themed "The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion," Wintour went for a black-and-white number.
Anna Wintour at the 2009 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2009 Met Gala.

Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Chanel designed her white dress, featuring a black oval pattern.

While it was one of the safer looks Wintour has worn to the Met Gala, it featured a few playful details, such as pointed shoulders and a thick black belt.

Wintour dazzled at the 2010 Met Gala in a silver-tiered Chanel dress.
Anna Wintour at the 2010 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2010 Met Gala.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

She paired the silver Chanel dress with a sequin-heavy silver jacket and a necklace.

While elegant, it isn't Wintour's most on-theme Met Gala look of all time, given the event was themed "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity."

In 2011, Wintour wore an ombré sequined dress that paid tribute to Alexander McQueen.
Anna Wintour at the 2011 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2011 Met Gala.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The theme for the 2011 Met Gala was "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty," in honor of the late British designer known for his originality and meticulous tailoring.

Honing in on McQueen's mastery of tailoring, Wintour opted for a fitted Chanel gown decorated with tiny multicolored sequins to recreate a bold ombré pattern. It also had a section of gold sequins running down the center.

She looked glamorous at the 2012 Met Gala that honored not one but two iconic fashion houses.
Anna Wintour at the 2012 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2012 Met Gala.

Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic

The 2012 Met Gala's theme paid tribute to two iconic Italian designers: Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada.

In line with "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations," Wintour chose to wear a textured white Prada gown with a white fur stole.

The dress may have been Prada, but that doesn't mean Wintour forgot about Schiaparelli. Her gown featured a large gold lobster, a not-so-subtle nod to the "lobster dress" Elsa Schiaparelli made in 1937.

Wintour put a playful, feminine spin on the 2013 Met Gala theme, "Punk: Chaos to Couture."
Anna Wintour at the 2013 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2013 Met Gala.

Jennifer Graylock/FilmMagic

Wintour wore a floral Chanel dress with white stilettos.

To the untrained eye, the gown might not scream "punk," but the DIY-inspired pattern and the fact that a couture house created the dress nailed the theme.

The 2014 Met Gala was themed "Charles James: Beyond Fashion," to which Wintour wore a ball gown covered in floral details.
Anna Wintour at the 2014 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2014 Met Gala.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Wintour's Chanel gown had a sheer neckline and featured an array of red, blue, beige, and black flower petal appliqués. She accessorized with gold heels and a chunky silver necklace.

The ball gown was in line with the theme of the night, which paid tribute to the late designer Charles James, who was known for his "sculptural" and "scientific" approach to dressmaking, according to the Metropolitan Museum website.

The 2015 Met Gala theme was "China: Through the Looking Glass." Wintour arrived in an orange-and-red floral gown.
Anna Wintour at the 2015 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2015 Met Gala.

Larry Busacca/Getty Images

The dress, designed by Chanel, was covered in varying-sized floral appliqués in orange and red hues.

Wintour's color palette for the night was a subtle nod to the theme of the evening, "China: Through the Looking Glass."

Wintour wore an intricately beaded white gown with fringed sleeves for the 2016 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2016 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2016 Met Gala.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Joining forces with Chanel for yet another Met Gala, Wintour arrived on the red carpet in a floor-length beaded gown with fringe detailing along the sleeves and train and light-brown feathers stitched around the chest.

The intricate detail throughout the dress paid tribute to the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" theme, which delved into how fashion designers create through their handiwork and machinery.

In 2017, she wore a gold-embellished gown with a playful feathery segment and a sheer train.
Anna Wintour at the 2017 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2017 Met Gala.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The 2017 Met Gala was themed after Rei Kawakubo, a Japanese designer known for challenging classic silhouettes by playing with asymmetry and dress construction.

For the event, Wintour honored the theme and Kawakubo by wearing a technically adventurous Chanel gown that featured heavy embellishments, a feathery white skirt, and a semi-sheer train.

Wintour wore a semi-sheer silver dress with sleek cutouts and accessorized with a rosary at the "Heavenly Bodies"-themed Met Gala in 2018.
Anna Wintour at the 2018 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2018 Met Gala.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

The 2018 Met Gala theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," is among the most popular in recent history.

Wintour served a master class in abiding by the dress code when she arrived in a silver Chanel halterneck gown overlayed with a sheer cream fabric that had two delicate cutouts around the neck. The best part of her look had to be her dark silver rosary, which fit the theme perfectly.

The 2019 Met Gala was all about camp fashion, and Wintour delivered.
Anna Wintour at the 2019 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2019 Met Gala.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

The 2019 Met Gala's theme, "Camp: Notes on Fashion," was about bold, exaggerated, playful looks.

Wintour, wearing Chanel again, nailed the assignment in a pink gown covered in pastel flowers and a coordinating pink-and-purple feathery stole.

Following a yearlong hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Met Gala returned with force in 2021 — and so did Wintour's fashion.
Anna Wintour at the 2021 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2021 Met Gala.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

"In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" was the 2021 theme of the Met Gala, paying tribute to the evolution of fashion and culture in the US.

Wintour broke from her tradition of wearing Chanel by choosing an Oscar de la Renta dress. Boldly printed with sunflowers, lilacs, and posies, the long-sleeved dress featured ruffles along the train and neckline.

She returned to wearing Chanel at the 2022 Met Gala, emphasizing "Gilded Glamour."
Anna Wintour at the 2022 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2022 Met Gala.

John Shearer / Contributor / Getty Images

It seems that Wintour and Chanel cannot be separated for longer than a year. In 2022, for the "Gilded Glamour" dress code, the Vogue editor in chief opted for a rainbow-colored dress embellished with tiny beads.

She added a touch more glamour with a coordinating feathery poncho.

The 2023 Met Gala honored the late Karl Lagerfeld, so it made sense that Wintour wore Chanel.
Anna Wintour and Billy Nighy attend the 2023 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour and Billy Nighy attend the 2023 Met Gala.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Lagerfeld, who died in February 2019 at age 85, was a fashion juggernaut best known for serving as the creative director of Chanel.

Paying tribute to the designer, with whom she was close friends for decades, Wintour attended the 2023 Met Gala in a white skirt and a sparkly sequinned coat designed by Chanel.

She also arrived alongside actor Bill Nighy, briefly stirring up romance rumors until his spokesperson said they are simply "great friends."

Wintour enlisted Loewe to create an ornate floral jacket for the 2024 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2024 Met Gala.
Anna Wintour at the 2024 Met Gala.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

In line with the 2024 Met Gala's "Garden of Time" dress code, Wintour stepped onto the red carpet in a black wool floor-length jacket. Its satin collar was decorated with floral appliqués made of feathers, beads, and pearls.

According to Loewe, the jacket was inspired by an 1889 cape designed by Charles Frederick Worth — regarded by some as the father of haute couture. Wintour let it shine by donning it over an understated white silk satin long-sleeve dress.

Read the original article on Business Insider
❌
❌