The Most Outrageous Met Gala Looks of All Time
From severed heads to chandelier skirts, we round up the most eccentric Met Gala costumes in history.
When life imitates art, it's a surefire sign that the Met Gala season is upon us. As bizarre as it is bold, the star-studded event has brought about multiple internet frenzies over the years for its craziest, most avant-garde costumes worn by A-list celebrities.
Founded by renowned American publicist Eleanor Lambert in 1948—who is also credited with founding New York Fashion Week, The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and The International Best Dressed List—the annual Met Gala is celebrated for its most outrageous red carpet looks that correspond to the exhibit's theme of that year. With guests donned in custom, runway, or archival pieces by the world's most established designers, the event upholds the title of "The Oscars of the East Coast."
Looks from the past that have been the subject of adoration and social media frenzy include Kendall and Kylie Jenner's ultra-glamourous feathered looks for the 2019 theme "Camp: Notes on Fashion” and Rihanna's pope-inspired look for the "Heavenly Bodies" theme.
Last year's theme was titled “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” which paid tribute to Karl Lagerfeld's creative contributions to fashion. The looks honored Lagerfeld's signature motifs from his Chanel days in a flamboyant way, as stars like Jenna Ortega and Cardi B. highlighted the classic black suits Lagerfeld would include in many of his collections. However, rather than honoring his work, some celebrities took a different approach, as we saw from Doja Cat, who emulated the physical elegance of Lagerfeld's cat Choupette.
The year prior, there was a theme dedicated to American fashion. “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” asked its attendees to look back at loved and revered styles from America's fashionable past and emulate its spirit via a look. Some took an Old Hollywood route, with Kim Kardashian controversially wearing an original Bob Mackie dress previously worn by Marilyn Monroe. Others opted to honor America's bold and influential designers, as Kylie Jenner did when wearing Off-White in memory of the famed designer who passed away in 2021, Virgil Abloh.
While we wait for 2024's Met Gala, L'OFFICIEL breaks down the fashion fête's most flamboyant costumes from years past.
