18 Outrageous Looks from the Met Gala Through the Years

Fashion’s biggest night is always one to remember.

Celebrities descend on The Met Steps every first Monday in May to bring their fashion A-game for a different theme each year. Sometimes, in an effort to be memorable, stars go above and beyond for their outfits, sometimes resulting in some of the most outrageous looks of the year.

This year, the Met Gala has a theme, with the dress code reading “The Garden of Time,” depending on the interpretation of the attending celebrities and their stylists. The title refers to some of the precious costumes from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute collection, some of which are too fragile to hang upright for fear they might break. So, they would lie in glass cases, just like Sleeping Beauty did.

“When a garment enters the Met Collection, it is irrevocably changed,” said Michael Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute. “It can’t be worn, obviously, you can’t see it in motion, you can’t smell it, you can’t hear it, you can’t touch it.” He added that the idea was to “reawaken the sensual side” of clothing.

Anna Wintour will headline the event with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and Chris Hemsworth, who will serve as her Met Gala co-chairs.

The exhibition opens at The Met on May 10 and runs until September 2. Bolton explained that he is looking for a way to breathe life into a collection of 33,000 pieces, many of which have never been seen. For this year’s exhibition, he has selected around 250 designs, spanning four centuries. The aim is to convey clothing to museum visitors through multiple senses, including smell and sound.

In honor of this year’s special night, here’s a look back at some of the weirdest Met Gala outfits from throughout the year—from Kim Kardashian’s head-to-toe black Balenciaga to Jared Leto’s twirl around his head. .

Jared Leto, 2023

Jared Leto never fails to make a splash at the Met Gala every year. In 2023, the star took Lagerfeld’s “in honor of Karl” theme to the next level when she dressed up as the late fashion designer’s beloved pet cat Choupette.

Duja Cat, 2023

Jared Leto wasn’t the only one to take a feline approach to the theme. Dooja Billy also wore a Choupette dress with cat prosthetics, cat paws (nails) and a diamond headpiece with cat ears for his first Met Gala. “This is my first meeting,” she said during the live stream. “It’s not really bad. Usually it’s a little bad. I feel good, I feel calm here. I don’t know – maybe it’s gray. I feel really calm, it’s great.

Lil Nas X, 2023

Lil Nas X is another celebrity who takes his Met Gala appearance to the next level. This year, rappers dressed up Top Below is a metal Diorman thong and silver body paint, encrusted with pearls and crystals. However, he also added a minor tribute to Lagerfeld’s cat with silver whiskers.

Kim Kardashian, 2021

Kim Kardashian didn’t go short at the 2021 Met Gala when she walked the carpet at fashion’s biggest night in a black Balenciaga haute couture gown with a matching train and mask that kept viewers guessing as to who wore the ensemble. has happened In February 2022, Kardashian told her look “fight against” But was eventually convinced by the brand’s creative director and team.

Solange, 2015

For the Met show, Solange wore a futuristic Giles ensemble, reminiscent of a Chinese paper fan. It featured a galaxy print which she paired with black pumps and a chic ensemble.

Katy Perry, 2015

Katy Perry is another person who is seen on the gala carpet every year, often with memorable pairings. In 2017, Perry served as co-chair of the event and wore a red, embroidered woolen coat over a red tulle and chiffon dress with a satin ribbon embellishment and silk veil.

Marc Jacobs, 2012

Dressed by Marc Jacobs for the 2012 Met Gala, with a Commes des Garçons black lace tunic over white boxers, the designer explained at the time that he “didn’t want to wear a tuxedo and be boring,” adding, ” I think Miuccia Prada is such a celebration of the unconventional, and so it somehow felt appropriate.