Iconic Met Gala themes through the years

Each year, the Met Gala sets the tone for fashion’s most daring night with a theme that challenges designers and celebrities to push creative boundaries. These themes, curated by the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, have ranged from the historical to the fantastical, offering a unique lens through which fashion is interpreted and celebrated.

One of the most memorable themes was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” in 2018. This theme inspired a breathtaking array of looks that blended religious iconography with haute couture. Rihanna stunned in a beaded papal-inspired ensemble by Maison Margiela, while Australian actress Cate Blanchett turned heads in a dramatic feathered gown that echoed ecclesiastical opulence.

In 2019, the theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion” encouraged attendees to embrace exaggeration and theatricality. This resulted in some of the most playful and over-the-top outfits in Met Gala history. Billy Porter arrived carried by six shirtless men, dressed as an Egyptian Sun God, while Lady Gaga performed a live costume change on the red carpet, revealing four different outfits in one entrance.

Another standout was 2021’s “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”, which celebrated American style and its diverse cultural influences. The theme prompted a wide range of interpretations—from denim-inspired gowns to tributes to classic Hollywood glamour. Australian model and actress Nicole Kidman paid homage to Old Hollywood with a sleek, vintage-inspired look that nodded to the golden age of American cinema.

Over the years, themes like “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” (2016) and “China: Through the Looking Glass” (2015) have also sparked conversations about the intersection of fashion, culture, and art. These themes not only influence the red carpet but also shape the broader fashion discourse, making the Met Gala a cultural touchstone as much as a style spectacle.

Unforgettable celebrity fashion moments

Few red carpets rival the Met Gala when it comes to jaw-dropping fashion moments that live on in pop culture memory. Each year, celebrities use the event as a canvas to express bold creativity, often collaborating with top designers to craft looks that are as much performance art as they are couture. These unforgettable appearances have helped define the Met Gala as a space where fashion is not just worn—it’s experienced.

One of the most talked-about moments came in 2019 when Lady Gaga arrived in a voluminous fuchsia gown by Brandon Maxwell, only to reveal three more outfits underneath in a dramatic striptease that blurred the line between fashion and theatre. Her performance on the red carpet was a masterclass in camp, perfectly aligned with that year’s theme, and set a new standard for red carpet showmanship.

Jared Leto also made headlines that same year by carrying a replica of his own head as an accessory, a surreal and slightly eerie nod to Gucci’s Fall 2018 runway. The look was both bizarre and brilliant, cementing Leto’s reputation as one of the Met Gala’s most unpredictable attendees.

In 2018, Rihanna once again stole the spotlight with her papal-inspired ensemble, complete with a mitre and intricately beaded robe. Designed by Maison Margiela, the outfit was a bold interpretation of the “Heavenly Bodies” theme and showcased Rihanna’s fearless approach to fashion. Her look was widely praised for its craftsmanship and cultural commentary, reinforcing her status as a Met Gala icon.

Australian stars have also made their mark. Margot Robbie’s 2016 appearance in a sleek white Calvin Klein gown with cut-out details was a minimalist standout amid a sea of metallics and embellishments. Meanwhile, Troye Sivan’s 2022 look—a crimson silk dress by Joseph Altuzarra—challenged traditional gender norms and was celebrated for its elegance and boldness.

Other unforgettable moments include Zendaya’s Cinderella transformation in 2019, complete with a light-up gown and a fairy godmother stylist waving a wand, and Kim Kardashian’s 2021 appearance in a head-to-toe black Balenciaga ensemble that obscured her entire face, sparking endless memes and debate about the meaning behind the look.

These moments are more than just fashion—they’re cultural statements, artistic expressions, and sometimes even political commentary. The Met Gala red carpet has become a stage where celebrities can take risks, challenge conventions, and leave a lasting impression on the world of style.

The evolution of red carpet extravagance

The Met Gala red carpet has undergone a dramatic transformation over the decades, evolving from a relatively modest charity event into a global spectacle of fashion innovation and theatrical flair. In its early years, the Gala was a more traditional affair, with attendees donning elegant gowns and tuxedos that aligned with the formal dress codes of high society. But as the event gained prominence and the themes became more daring, so too did the fashion choices of its guests.

By the 1990s and early 2000s, the red carpet began to reflect a shift toward more experimental and avant-garde fashion. Designers started using the Gala as a platform to showcase their most imaginative creations, and celebrities embraced the opportunity to make bold statements. The rise of social media in the 2010s further accelerated this evolution, turning the Met Gala into a viral moment where every outfit was dissected, praised, or critiqued in real time by millions around the world.

Extravagance became the norm rather than the exception. Outfits grew more sculptural, more conceptual, and often required entire teams to assemble. What was once a glamorous evening gown became a wearable art installation. Think of Cardi B’s 2019 Thom Browne gown, which featured a 10-foot train and took over 2,000 hours to create, or Katy Perry’s chandelier dress by Moschino, complete with working lights. These looks weren’t just fashion—they were feats of engineering and imagination.

Australian celebrities have also embraced this evolution. Nicole Kidman’s 2023 return to the Met Gala in the same blush pink Chanel gown she wore in a 2004 Chanel No. 5 ad was a masterstroke of nostalgia and sustainability, blending old Hollywood glamour with modern relevance. Meanwhile, model Adut Akech has consistently brought high fashion to the red carpet, wearing bold silhouettes and rich textures that highlight her status as a global style icon.

As the Met Gala continues to push the boundaries of what red carpet fashion can be, the event has become a barometer for the fashion industry’s most daring ideas. It’s no longer just about looking beautiful—it’s about telling a story, making a statement, and embracing the limitless possibilities of style. The red carpet has become a runway, a stage, and a canvas all at once, where extravagance is not only welcomed but expected.

Iconic celebrity transformations

Each year, the Met Gala red carpet becomes a stage for the most daring and transformative fashion moments in celebrity history. It’s not just about wearing couture—it’s about embodying a concept, a character, or even an entire era. These transformations are meticulously curated, often taking months of preparation, and they redefine what it means to make a statement in fashion.

One of the most unforgettable transformations came in 2019, when Lady Gaga arrived in a voluminous fuchsia Brandon Maxwell gown, only to reveal three more looks underneath in a live, theatrical strip-down on the carpet. From dramatic ballgown to lingerie, Gaga’s performance blurred the lines between fashion and performance art, setting a new standard for red carpet reveals.

Zendaya’s 2019 Cinderella moment, styled by Law Roach, was another masterclass in transformation. Wearing a custom Tommy Hilfiger gown that lit up with the wave of a wand, she channelled the Disney princess with a modern, tech-savvy twist. The look was complete with a glowing carriage purse and a puff of smoke as she ascended the stairs—pure fashion fantasy.

Jared Leto’s 2019 appearance, carrying a replica of his own head while dressed in a crimson Gucci gown, was both surreal and unforgettable. It was a bold commentary on identity and self-image, and a perfect example of how the Met Gala allows celebrities to push the boundaries of personal style.

In 2018, Rihanna stunned in a papal-inspired ensemble by Maison Margiela, complete with a beaded mitre and heavily embellished robe. The look was a divine interpretation of the “Heavenly Bodies” theme and showcased her fearless approach to fashion transformation—turning religious iconography into high fashion.

These moments are more than just outfits—they’re cultural touchpoints that influence trends, spark conversations, and inspire designers and stylists across the globe. For Australian fashion lovers, they serve as a reminder that style is not just about what you wear, but how boldly you wear it.

Most extravagant Met Gala looks

When it comes to extravagance, the Met Gala is the ultimate playground for fashion’s most audacious visions. It’s where couture meets theatre, and no idea is too grand. In 2022, Kim Kardashian made headlines by wearing the original Jean Louis gown famously worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang “Happy Birthday” to JFK in 1962. The crystal-covered nude dress, loaned from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, was a controversial choice—both for its historical significance and the extreme measures taken to fit into it. It was a moment that blurred the lines between fashion, celebrity, and cultural preservation.

Cardi B’s 2019 look, designed by Thom Browne, was a showstopper in every sense. The oxblood gown featured a dramatic train that spanned over ten feet, crafted from tulle and silk organza, and embellished with 30,000 burned and dyed coque feathers. The look reportedly took over 2,000 hours to create and required a team to carry the train up the Met steps. It was opulence personified, and a bold nod to the theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion.”

Billy Porter’s 2019 entrance was nothing short of legendary. Carried in on a litter by six shirtless men, he channelled an Egyptian Sun God in a custom gold ensemble by The Blonds. The look included a 24-karat gold headpiece, bejewelled catsuit, and massive wings that extended as he posed. It was a masterclass in theatricality and gender-fluid glamour, and it cemented Porter as a red carpet icon.

Blake Lively’s 2022 gown by Atelier Versace was a tribute to New York architecture and art. The copper-toned dress transformed on the carpet, revealing a patina-green train inspired by the oxidised Statue of Liberty. The intricate embroidery referenced the ceiling of Grand Central Station, and the entire look was a love letter to the city. It was not only visually stunning but also deeply thoughtful in its execution.

For Australian fashion enthusiasts, these extravagant looks are more than just red carpet moments—they’re a celebration of creativity without compromise. They remind us that fashion can be fearless, fantastical, and unapologetically bold. Whether it’s feathers, crystals, or a full-blown transformation, the Met Gala continues to set the bar for what’s possible in fashion.