Top 10 Celebs Who Always Bring it At The Met Gala
#10: Sarah Jessica Parker
SJP is a theme queen. Since her first Met Gala appearance in 1995 — where she wore a thrifted dress and did her own hair and makeup — she has leveled up her looks. Her dedication to interpreting the meaning of the evening stands out over the decades. The “Sex and the City” star has also become known for her statement headpieces. Her golden mohawk for 2013’s “Punk: From Chaos to Couture” theme and the ornate Nativity scene she wore in 2018 for “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” often stand out as favorites. Parker’s success at the Met comes down to her willingness to spend several months preparing for the big night.
#9: Beyoncé
Queen Bey also rules the Met Gala. Her run of Givenchy looks in the early-to-mid-2010s notably featured statement trains with matching boots, gleaming punk aesthetics, a bejeweled sheer dress, and a latex stunner. The superstar’s Met Gala attendances also tend to spark speculation from the public about her private life. Jay-Z’s absence from the carpet in 2016, less than a month after Beyoncé released “Lemonade,” made headlines. However, her fashion alone could – and should – dominate the evening. Despite her success on the Met carpet, Beyoncé took a break from attending after the 2016 ball. Still, we never tire of revisiting her striking looks.
#8: Lady Gaga
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Although Lady Gaga has made fewer appearances at the Met Gala than others on this list, she has developed a reputation for killing it on the carpet. She may have earned bonus points from fans for wearing four separate looks for the 2019 ball where the theme was “Camp: Notes on Fashion.” Gaga cemented her place in the Met history books by changing between the outfits on the carpet with theatrical flourishes and props. But that wasn’t the first time she slayed. The star’s first Met Gala red carpet walk was in 2015. She wore an Alexander Wang for Balenciaga ensemble, proving that she can always be counted on to bring the fashion drama.
#7: Janelle Monáe
After a few Met Gala appearances, it became clear to fans that Janelle Monáe understands the assignment. Her 2019 look by Christian Siriano perfectly captured the Camp theme. From the feathery eye bra to the four hats on top of her head, the ensemble turned heads on an already busy carpet. Then, in 2022, the singer and actress opted for different headgear in a gleaming hooded dress by Ralph Lauren. An icon even outside of fashion’s biggest night, Monáe’s Met Gala attitude is lighthearted yet meaningful, which comes through in both her style and interviews. Plus, she loves a good piece of statement headwear.
#6: Lupita Nyong'o
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Even if she was metaphorically late to the party, Lupita Nyong’o showed up ready to own the scene. From her initial carpet walk, the actress became a Met mainstay. For “Charles James: Beyond Fashion,” Nyong'o wore a glittering green Prada dress inspired by the French dancer Josephine Baker. From there, her proclivity for choosing bold colors and memorable hairstyling has made her the gem of multiple Mets. Her Versace ensembles for 2019’s “Camp: Notes on Fashion” and 2021’s “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” earned points from fans for their creativity, structure, and energy.
#5: Gigi Hadid
With each trip to the prestigious event, the supermodel reaches new levels. Gigi Hadid attended her first Met Gala in 2015, where she wore a relatively straightforward red DVF number. From there, she started taking more risks. The following year, she walked the carpet with then-boyfriend Zayn Malik, sporting matching metallics for “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology.” A few years later, she stepped out in Versace in a 2018 ode to stained glass windows. In 2022, Hadid donned her biggest outfit yet, sporting an oversized red puffer that captivated the carpet. And those are just some of her looks. The star’s willingness to switch up designers and push the envelope make her a Met Gala favorite.
#4: Kim Kardashian
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No matter what she wears, Kim Kardashian tends to make headlines. However, her looks at the Met often also cause a stir in the fashion world and beyond. For her first ball in 2013, a then-pregnant Kardashian wore a floral Givenchy dress. The reception was mixed, but at subsequent Mets, she would experiment further. In 2016, her metallic Balmain dress and bleached eyebrows turned heads. Some time later, she would reportedly convince Thierry Mugler to design his first dress in years. The nude latex look was literally dripping in crystals. Then, in back to back years, she kept the Internet buzzing with an all black Balenciaga number and her controversial decision to wear Marilyn Monroe’s dress by Bob Mackie.
#3: Zendaya
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Whether she’s donning armor or glowing like a literal Disney princess, Zendaya is guaranteed to make a statement at the Met Gala. From her first ball in 2015, she displayed her tendency to make bold creative choices with a look by Fausto Puglisi. In the years following, she’d rock metallics, parrot prints, and a shiny Joan of Arc-inspired dress by Versace. Her most memorable entrance to date, however, probably came in 2019. She walked the carpet as Cinderella with her longtime (now retired) stylist Law Roach, who worked Fairy Godmother magic to illuminate the gown. No matter the theme, you can be sure that Zendaya will deliver.
#2: Rihanna
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Every trip to the Met for Rihanna seems to result in her making fashion history. Although her first few gala looks are less well-remembered, the singer and business mogul hit her stride in 2014. That year, she opted for a Stella McCartney two-piece that was stunning in its simplicity. For the following ball, she went in the opposite direction with an enormous yellow cape by Guo Pei. Then, in 2017, Rihanna set the standard for maximalists by wearing a floral piece of art. The next year, she dressed as the most glamorous pope in history. Even in her all-black, beanie-topped ensemble in 2021, the star commanded everyone’s attention. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Jennifer Lopez J.Lo’s Outfit Choices Always Shine Katy Perry Hamburgers, Chandeliers, & Wings — The Singer Has Worn It All Amber Valletta The Met Gala Veteran Always Makes a Memorable Appearance Naomi Campbell The Supermodel Has a Decades-Long Record of Slaying the Met Cardi B The Rapper Isn’t Afraid of a Big, Thematic Experiment
#1: Blake Lively
Many have crowned her queen of the Met Gala, and for good reason. Blake Lively brings the drama to the carpet each year she attends — not to mention her streak of matching the carpet itself. Her 2014 Gucci gown and shimmering cape, 2016 delicate Burberry ensemble, and 2017 feathery mermaid number all stand out. She also notably crowned her 2018 look for “Heavenly Bodies” her favorite look of all time, and we can see why. The crimson and gold Versace gown had a marvelous large, ruched train and was paired with an amazing brass headpiece. Then, in 2022 Lively pulled out another show-stopping moment in Versace with a breathtaking transformation, signaling that her Met Gala dominance was still going strong.
