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Did you know the Met Gala has been around since 1973? Sure, the outfits seem bigger and bolder now, and the event's name has been altered ever-so-slightly (it used to be the Costume Institute Gala and also the Costume Institute Benefit), but the goal has remained the same: to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, and also mark the opening of its latest exhibit. Each year, celebrities are invited alongside designers and asked to dress for the exhibit's theme. Unsurprisingly, those creative dress codes have led to many memorable fashion moments, so choosing the best Met Gala looks ever — ever! — isn't an easy task.
And yet...
InStyle has combed through the archives to pick out the gowns, suits, skirts, and more we feel can't be — and haven't been! — forgotten. From the whimsical to the wild, the voluminous to the va-va-voom, check out the best Met Gala looks in history, ahead.
2022, In America: An Anthology of Fashion
John Shearer / Getty Images
Blake Lively in Atelier Versace.
2022, In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images
Alicia Keys in Ralph Lauren.
2022, In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Mike Coppola / Getty Images
Nicola Coughlan in Richard Quinn.
2022, In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Jodie Turner-Smith in Gucci.
2021, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion
Billie Eilish in Oscar de la Renta.
2021, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion
Jennifer Lopez in Ralph Lauren.
2021, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion
Lupita Nyong'o in Versace Jeans Couture.
2021, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion
Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga.
2019, Camp: Notes on Fashion
Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
2019, Camp: Notes on Fashion
Kacey Musgraves in Moschino.
2019, Camp: Notes on Fashion
Serena Williams in Versace and sneakers by Off-White.
2019, Camp: Notes on Fashion
Elle Fanning in Miu Miu.
2019, Camp: Notes on Fashion
Harry Styles in Gucci.
2019, Camp: Notes on Fashion
Billy Porter in The Blonds.
2019, Camp: Notes on Fashion
Kendall and Kylie Jenner in Versace.
2019, Camp: Notes on Fashion
Janelle Monae in Christian Siriano.
2019, Camp: Notes on Fashion
Zendaya in Tommy Hilfiger.
2019, Camp: Notes on Fashion
Kim Kardashian in Mugler.
2018, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
Rihanna in John Galliano.
2018, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
Zendaya in Versace.
2018, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
Amal Clooney in Richard Quinn.
2018, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
Blake Lively in Versace.
2018, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
Cardi B in Moschino.
2018, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
Solange in Iris van Herpen.
2018, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
Katy Perry in Versace.
2017, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between
Rihanna in Comme des Garçons.
2017, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between
Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren.
2017, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between
Kendall Jenner in La Perla.
2017, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between
Cara Delevingne in Chanel.
2016, Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology
Lady Gaga in Versace.
2016, Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology
Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton.
2016, Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology
Claire Danes in Zac Posen.
2016, Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology
Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein.
2016, Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology
Taylor Swift in Louis Vuitton.
2016, Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology
Solange in David LaPort.
2016, Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology
Beyoncé in Givenchy.
2015, China: Through the Looking Glass
Amal Clooney in John Galliano.
2015, China: Through the Looking Glass
Kim Kardashian in Roberto Cavalli.
2015, China: Through the Looking Glass
Solange in Giles.
2015, China: Through the Looking Glass
Rihanna in Guo Pei.
2015, China: Through the Looking Glass
Jennifer Lopez in Versace.
2015, China: Through the Looking Glass
Anne Hathaway in Ralph Lauren.
2015, China: Through the Looking Glass
Beyoncé in Givenchy.
2014, Charles James: Beyond Fashion
Sarah Jessica Parker in Oscar de la Renta.
2014, Charles James: Beyond Fashion
Emma Stone In Thakoon.
2014, Charles James: Beyond Fashion
Taylor Swift in Oscar de la Renta.
2014, Charles James: Beyond Fashion
Blake Lively in Gucci.
2013, PUNK: Chaos To Couture
Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs.
2013, PUNK: Chaos To Couture
Ashley Olsen in Dior Couture.
2013, PUNK: Chaos To Couture
Kerry Washington in Vera Wang.
2013, PUNK: Chaos To Couture
Cara Delevigne in Burberry.
2013, PUNK: Chaos To Couture
Sienna Miller in Burberry.
2013, PUNK: Chaos To Couture
Madonna in Givenchy.
2013, PUNK: Chaos To Couture
Beyoncé in Givenchy.
2013, PUNK: Chaos To Couture
Rooney Mara in Givenchy.
2012, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations
Cameron Diaz in Stella McCartney.
2012, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations
Carey Mulligan in Prada.
2012, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations
Christina Ricci in Thakoon.
2012, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations
Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen.
2012, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations
Emma Stone in Lanvin.
2012, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations
Beyonce in Givenchy.
2011, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
Jennifer Lopez in Gucci.
2011, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
Gwyneth Paltrow in Stella McCartney.
2010, American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity
Sarah Jessica Parker in Halston.
2010, American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity
Anne Hathaway in Valentino.
2010, American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity
Taylor Swift in Ralph Lauren.
2010, American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity
Diane Kruger in Calvin Klein.
2010, American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity
Doutzen Kroes in Zac Posen
2009, The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion
Ashley Olsen in The Row.
2009, The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion
Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs.
2008, Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy
Christina Ricci in Givenchy.
2008, Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy
Victoria Beckham in Giorgio Armani.
2007, Poiret: King Of Fashion
Cameron Diaz in Dior.
2007, Poiret: King Of Fashion
Cate Blanchett in Balenciaga.
2006, AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion
Emmy Rossum in Ralph Lauren.
2006, AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion
Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen.
2005, The House of Chanel
Karolina Kurkova in Viktor & Rolf.
2004, Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century
Scarlett Johansson in Calvin Klein.
2003, Goddess: The Classical Mode
Kirsten Dunst in Marc Jacobs and a Missoni hat.
2003, Goddess: The Classical Mode
Kim Cattrall in Roberto Cavalli.
2003, Goddess: The Classical Mode
Iman in Calvin Klein.
2003, Goddess: The Classical Mode
Nicole Kidman in Gucci.
2003, Goddess: The Classical Mode
Selma Blair in Behnaz Sarafpour.
1999, Rock Style
Amber Valletta in Versace.
1999, Rock Style
Jennifer Love Hewitt.
1999, Rock Style
Liv Tyler in Stella McCartney.
1998, Cubism and Fashion
Claudia Schiffer.
1998, Cubism and Fashion
Liv Tyler
1997, Gianni Versace
Elizabeth Hurley in Versace.
1997, Gianni Versace
Salma Hayek in Versace.
1995, Haute Couture
Princess Diana in Dior.
1995, Haute Couture
Naomi Campbell in Versace.
1995, Haute Couture
Kate Moss in Calvin Klein.
1995, Haute Couture
Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein.
1982, La Belle Époque
Raquel Welch in Thierry Mugler.
1981, The Eighteenth-Century Woman
Iman in Calvin Klein.
1981, The Eighteenth-Century Woman
Diana Ross.
1979, Fashions of the Habsburg Era: Austria-Hungary
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in Valentino.
1974, Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design
Bianca Jagger in Halston.
100 of 100
1974, Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design
Cher in Bob Mackie.
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