The MET Gala has once again descended upon New York with an air of anticipation and fervor. Soon enough, the luminaries of fashion, film, and music will gather in the halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, transforming its iconic steps into the ultimate runway for a night of opulence and style—an evening where the boundaries between art and fashion blur, and where every ensemble is a masterpiece.
The exhibition theme this year, ‘Sleeping Beauty: Reawakening Fashion,’ sets the stage for an exploration of timeless elegance. It’s a celebration of clothing and fashion so fragile that it can never be worn again. Meanwhile, guests will be dressing to the theme of ‘The Garden of Time’, drawing inspiration from the J.G. Ballad short story of the same name.
Since its inception in 1948, the Met Gala has been a treasure trove of countless memorable red carpet moments over seven decades—boasting some of the most iconic outfits of all time. However, the Met Gala only introduced the idea of a theme in 1971. Each theme is chosen carefully, determining what story Costume Institute’s chief curator Andrew Bolton aims to tell.
For instance, In 2018, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” showcased hundreds of holy items from the Vatican. Meanwhile, “China: Through the Looking Glass” paid homage to China’s influence on Western fashion and design.
Below, let’s embark on a journey through the most memorable themes in Met Gala history.
1974: Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design
The theme in 1974 celebrated the glorification of heroes and heroines in Hollywood and the glamour of old Hollywood—feathers, diamonds, sparkles were all the rage.
Cher invented the famous naked dress trend at the 1974 gala, which she attended with designer Bob Mackie. Meanwhile, Bianca Jagger in her sequined red Halston gown reflected the glamour of old Hollywood.
1985: Costumes of Royal India
The 1985 exhibition paid homage to the rich fabrics of India and its cultural grandeur. Over 140 court costumes, generously lent by the former ruling families of Indian states, adorned the exhibition halls. As the stars wore elaborate royal costumes, the clothes included woven textiles, layers skirts embroidered with gold and silver metal threads, and hand-painted muslins. The room was full of saris, kurtas, tunic, and long skirts.
Once again, Cher’s iconic sheer bodysuit by designer Bob Mackie, paired with a low-waist skirt, went down in history that night. Although it deviated from the exhibition’s theme, it ensured its place in fashion.
1995: Haute Couture
The 1995 Met Gala embraced the timeless allure of classic Haute Couture (literally, “elegant dressmaking”). As guests graced the red carpet, glittering dresses and suites took over the event. Kate Moss was pictured at the gala wearing an effortless lemon coloured backless gown designed by Calvin Klein.
1996: Christian Dior
In the illustrious setting of the 1996 Met Gala, Dior shined as the designer was honoured for his indelible contributions to the fashion world. However, it was Princess Diana’s unforgettable presence that stole the spotlight that evening.
At her only appearance at the Met, Diana wore a stunning Dior navy blue satin slip-dress with a statement pearl and sapphire choker.
1999: Rock Style
In 1999, the Met Gala theme spotlighted the eclectic grunge aesthetics of the decades, showcasing a mix of custom t-shirts, fur, and an intriguing blend of hardcore and princess-inspired styles. However, Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney stuck to the theme literally as they wore matching one-shoulder tops that read ‘rock royalty’—embodying the rebellious spirit of the era with their style.
2003: Goddess—The Classical Mode
For 2003, the theme focused on classical themes and goddesses. Most guests showed up adorned in white—almost looking like brides. However, Kim Cattress from Sex and the City wore a shimmering sheer classic black dress in 2003—a solid power move.
2004: Dangerous Liaisons—Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century
In 2004, the institute took inspiration from the reign of Louis XV and Louis XVI when fashion and furniture merged the ideals of beauty and pleasure through their forms and embellishments. The theme looked at the overall relationship between fashion and furniture, with guests wearing glamorous gowns. Models Amber Valetta and Linda Evangalista even showed up in corsets and wigs.
2013: Punk—Chaos to Couture
The Met’s spring exhibition examined punk’s impact on high fashion from the movement’s birth in the early 1970s through its continuing influence then. From the ‘do-it-yourself’ ethos to punk’s originators to the perfection defined by couture, the guests wore a perfect mix of the theme at the red carpet. Miley Cyrus nailed the punk theme in her floor-length mesh gown with her spiky blonde hair.
2015: China—Through the Looking Glass
The 2015 gala celebrated China’s influence on Western fashion and was a collaborative endeavor between the museum’s Department of Asian Art and the Costume Institute. Showcasing iconic ensembles from esteemed fashion houses like Chanel, Alexander Mcqueen, and Christian Dior Haute Couture, the event underscored the rich tapestry of cultural exchange and artistic inspiration between East and West. Rihanna stole the show with her stunning yellow robe by Chinese designer Guo Pei, which took two years to make.
2016: Manus x Machina—Fashion in an Age of Technology
The 2016 Met Gala celebrated the age of technology and explored how fashion designers are reconciling the hand-made and the machine-made in the creation of haute couture and avant-garde ready-to-wear. It also explored the emergence of a distinction between the hand (manus) and the machine (machina) at the onset of mass production. The stars came through in stunning pieces as Claire Danes literally lit up in the ball in a glowing gown, and Emma Watson wore a five-piece Calvin Klein set made from recycled plastic bottles.
2018: Heavenly Bodies—Fashion and Catholic Imagination
The 2018 exhibition featured a dialogue between fashion and medieval art from the Met collection to examine the ongoing engagement with the devotional practices and traditions of Catholicism. The Institute displayed rare artifacts from the Vatican and required guests to dress following a heavenly and religious dress code. Once again, many guests rose to the occasion with Rihanna dressing as the pope in a papal Galliano dress, Gigi Hadid showing up in a stunning Versace butterfly gown, and Katy Perry dressing as an angel (with wings).
2019: Camp—Notes on Fashion
At the 2019 event, guests embraced the theme of camp, drawing inspiration from American writer Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay ‘Notes on Camp’. In one of the most audacious themes in Met Gala history, celebrities dazzled with their extravagant interpretations. Zendaya channeled a modern-day Cinderella in her Tommy Hilfiger gown, while Lady Gaga and Billy Porter went above with their looks. Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner also stunned in twinning feathered Versace dresses.
2022: In America—An Anthology of Fashion
In 2022, the Met Gala paid homage to American movie stars and the overlooked heroes of American fashion, under the thematic umbrella of “Gilded Glamour”. The event celebrated opulence while highlighting fashion’s role in American history. Kim Kadarshian honoured Marilyn Monre by wearing one of the most famous dresses the movie star has ever worn. Native American model Quannah Chasinghore wore a tulle blue gown by Prabal Gurung and custom indigenous jewelry. However, Blake Lively stole the show (and everyone’s hearts) in her Atelier Versace gown inspired by the Statue of Liberty and the process of oxidation it has undergone.
2023: ‘Karl Lagerfeld—A Line of Beauty’
The 2023 Met Gala honoured Karl Lagerfeld, who died in 2019, with hundreds of his close friends and collaborators on the red carpet wearing some of his most iconic designs and celebrating his life’s work.
