20 Memorable Met Gala Moments, From Mirror Selfies To Katy Perry’s Burger Costume

Even unseasoned Met followers would recognise the radiant Guo Pei dress that Rihanna wore in 2015. Thanks, in part, to the many memes it inspired afterwards.

The semi-sheer, feather-trim Bob Mackie look that Cher wore to the Met in 1974 is widely considered the first “naked dress”. The singer was later photographed wearing the look on the cover of Time magazine which, according to Mackie, “created a lot of hubbub,” as he previously told Vogue. “Some cities even banned it from being sold – it’s funny considering how some stars can barely keep their clothes on today.”

J Lo and Ben Affleck’s mask kiss, as seen at the 2021 event, was not only a sign of the times, but an interaction that affirmed their budding, second-round romance.

In 2019, Zendaya lit up the pink carpet in a Cinderella-inspired Tommy Hilfiger ballgown, complete with LED lights built into the voluminous skirt. Her stylist, Law Roach, was by her side in a matching blue suit, holding a wand.

The actor interpreted last year’s “Gilded Glamour” dress code with a transformative gown by Atelier Versace, inspired by landmarks in New York City. Halfway up the staircase, she untied a bow at the back of her dress to reveal a cascading copper and blue skirt, prompting a paparazzi frenzy on the sidelines.

The late, great designer Lee Alexander McQueen chose Sarah Jessica Parker as his plus-one in 2006. The pair arrived in matching tartan looks that tapped into the Anglomania mood of the Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion theme.

The late royal attended the Met Gala only once, in 1996, wearing a midnight-blue, lace-trim dress by John Galliano – a reimagined version of a look that appeared in his first collection for Christian Dior (that year’s theme honoured the French designer’s work).

Madonna was well prepared for the 2017 event in camouflage Moschino, equipped with a hip flask that she sipped throughout. Its contents? Rosé or “summer water”, according to the singer.

Onlookers couldn’t miss Billy Porter’s arrival in 2019. The star levitated on a velvet litter carried by six attendants, and afterwards stepped off to reveal the gilded wings of his “Sun God” costume, designed by The Blonds.

In 2017, Jaden Smith arrived wearing a Louis Vuitton suit, clutching his own bleached dreadlocks. He quipped: “I couldn’t bring my sister as a date, so I brought my hair.”

Billie Eilish called upon the team at Oscar de la Renta to create the tulle Old Hollywood gown that she wore in 2021, but on one condition: the brand would stop using fur. “I am so beyond thrilled that Fernando and Laura and the rest of the Oscar de la Renta team heard me on this issue, and have made a change that not only makes an impact for the greater good for animals but also for our planet and environment, too,” she said. “I’m honoured to have been a catalyst and to have been heard on this matter. I urge all designers to do the same.”

One way to make everyone look twice: carry a replica, life-sized version of your own head as an accessory, as Jared Leto did in 2019 (courtesy of Gucci).

The ultimate memento of attending the Met? A bathroom selfie, taken surrounded by a group of stars posing in the mirror.

After walking the red carpet in a dazzling Moschino chandelier, Met Gala theme queen Katy Perry changed into another physically awkward costume in 2019: a hamburger, which was the antithesis of the naked dresses worn by fellow celebrities on the night.

Lil Nas X wore not one, but three Versace outfits to the Met in 2021 – his first time at the event. He arrived in an intricately-embroidered robe, which he took off to show the gold armour beneath, and undressed again to reveal a skin-tight embellished catsuit.

And the award for the longest train goes to…Cardi B, who graced the steps in a sweeping oxblood gown by Thom Browne that took over 2,000 hours to create, made from tulle and silk organza filled with down.

Frank Ocean brought a robotic neon-green baby as his date to the Met in 2021, and told Keke Palmer – who was on the mic for Vogue – that his look was inspired by “movie magic”.

Kim Kardashian caused controversy last year when she arrived in the sparkling Jean-Louis dress Marilyn Monroe famously wore to sing “Happy Birthday” to President John F Kennedy in 1962. She lost 16 pounds before attending, and spent 14 hours dyeing her hair to reach the platinum blonde she debuted on the night.

Rapper 2 Chainz paused on the staircase in 2018 to propose to his partner Kesha Ward (he reportedly first popped the question in 2013), prompting joyous applause from the crowd. The couple married in the August that same year.

Lady Gaga fully embraced her role as co-host in 2019 and wore four separate looks before even entering the venue. First: a fuchsia Brandon Maxwell gown, unzipped to show the second look, a black gown. Third, came a Barbie-pink column gown, which she stripped off to show the fourth and final look: black crystal-embellished underwear fishnet tights and platform boots.