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    By Mecca Pryor ·Updated May 1, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

    The Met Gala has always been more than a red carpet moment. Rather, it’s a living archive of fashion at its most daring—where > Diana Ross’s ruffled entrance in 1981, to Naomi Campbell and Lil’ Kim’s iconic Versace moments in the ’90s, the gala has long been a space where Black >Beyoncé in Givenchy and Rihanna in Guo Pei in 2015, both delivering instantly canonized moments that blurred the line between fashion and performance. The 2018 carpet pushed even further, with Solange in Iris van Herpen, Jodie Turner-Smith, Colman Domingo, Kaytranada, and Tyler Mitchell. 

    Scroll ahead to see our favorite Met Gala looks of all time.

    Diana Ross, 1981 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK CITY – DECEMBER 7:Diana Ross attends Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala “The 18th Century Woman” on December 7, 1981 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) Naomi Campbell, Versace 1995 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNaomi Campbell and guest during 1995 Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) Lil Kim, Versace 1999 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeLil’ Kim (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) Iman, Calvin Klein 2003 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK – APRIL 28:(US TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Musician David Bowie and wife model Iman arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala sponsored by Gucci April 28, 2003 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) Andre Leon Talley, Yves Saint Laurent, 2004 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK – APRIL 26:Actress Renee Zellweger wearing a Carolina Herrera beige silk taffeta strapless gown with a Judith Leiber purse and Manolo Blahnik shoes and US Vogue’s Editor at Large Andre Leon Talley attend the “Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century” Costume Institute benefit gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art April 26, 2004 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) Chanel Iman, Zac Posen, 2009 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK CITY, NY – MAY 4: Chanel Iman attends THE COSTUME INSTITUTE GALA: “The Model As Muse” with Honorary Chair MARC JACOBS – ARRIVALS at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) Beyoncé, Givenchy 2015 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NY – MAY 11:Beyonce attends the “China: Through The Looking Glass” Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City.(Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Variety) Rihanna, Guo Pei 2015 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NY – MAY 04:Recording artist Rihanna attends the ‘China: Through The Looking Glass’ Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City.(Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) Solange, Iris Van Harpen 2018 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NY – MAY 07:Solange Knowles attends Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala athe Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.(Photo by Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images) Zendaya, Versace 2018 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NY – MAY 07: Zendaya attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City.(Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) Chadwick Boseman, Versace, 2018  The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NY – MAY 07:Chadwick Boseman attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City.(Photo by Frazer Harrison/FilmMagic)

    Virgil Abloh, Off White 2018 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NY – MAY 07:Virgil Abloh attends “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & the Catholic Imagination”, the 2018 Costume Institute Benefit at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City.(Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images) Zoe Kravitz, Saint Laurent 2021 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Zoe Kravitz attends the 2021 Met Gala benefit “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage) Pharrell Williams, Chanel, 2021 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: (L-R) Helen Lasichanh and Pharrell Williams attend The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) Anok Yai, Prabal Gurung, 2023

     

    The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 01: Anok Yai attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage) Tyla, Balmain 2024 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Tyla attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Jodie Turner-Smith, Burberry 2025 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Jodie Turner-Smith attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Colman Domingo, Valentino 2025 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Colman Domingo, Met Gala Co-Chair, attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Kaytranada, McQueen 2025 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Kaytranada attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG25/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Tyler Mitchell, Grace Wales Bonner 2025 The Best Met Gala Looks Of All TimeNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Tyler Mitchell attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

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