As we enter the first weeks of May, we’re coming up on the biggest night in fashion. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Met Gala is scheduled to take place this year on Monday, May 4. It’s no secret that this prestigious party has given us some of the most iconic looks in fashion history, so while we’re counting down the hours until the red carpet, let’s go over some of the 10 best looks from the last 10 years.
10. Taylor Swift, 2016
Adorning custom Louis Vuitton and the soon-to-be iconic “Bleachella” hairstyle, Swift turned heads with this metallic look. In 2016, Swift served as a Met Gala co-chair, along with fellow chair members Idris Elba, Johnathan Ive, and Anna Wintour.
Swift has yet to appear on the Met red carpet since, and fans are buzzing. Will 2026 be the year she finally returns with another iconic look?
9. Doja Cat, 2023
Doja Cat shocked the internet and truly lived up to her name in 2023 in this Oscar De La Renta gown. The look honored the theme Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty by paying homage to Lagerfeld’s beloved cat, Choupette. Trimmed literally head-to-toe in silver and white beading, she gave a new meaning to “cat suit.”
8. Ariana Grande, 2018
The 2018 Met Gala is revered on the internet as one of the most iconic years to date, with the theme Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. So many celebrities gave us jaw-dropping looks, and Ariana Grande was no exception.
Wearing a silk Vera Wang ballgown with printed images from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Grande’s first Met Gala appearance truly showed us that fashion is art.
7. Olivia Rodrigo, 2022
Four years ago, the internet was blessed with one of the greatest Olivia Rodrigo red carpet looks of all time. Sparkling in this custom Versace mesh gown and killer platform heels, Rodrigo honored the Gilded Glamour dress code while staying true to her brand. I think we can all agree that purple is definitely this pop princess’s color.
6. Megan Thee Stallion, 2022
Another spectacular look from the 2022 red carpet, courtesy of Hot Girl Meg herself. Dressed in Moschino, Megan took the Guilded Glamour dress code and served up a golden goddess. The stunning golden-feathered shawl makes you wonder: Could this woman be any more angelic?
5. Rihanna, 2018
Rihanna showed up to the 2018 Met Gala red carpet serving Pope realness, and the fashion world hasn’t been the same since. As honorary co-chair, the singer did not come to play in this Maison Marigela look. Embroidered with thousands of pearls, she truly shone like a diamond from hat-to-toe.
4. Emma Chamberlain, 2024
The internet’s It Girl returned for her third year as Vogue’s special red carpet correspondent in this breathtaking Jean Paul Gaultier look. Chamberlain took a dark approach to the Garden of Time dress code, and according to an interview she did with Vogue, the look took a whopping 640 hours to create.
3. Chappell Roan, 2025
Chappell Roan took the Tailored to You dress code and served just that in this ’70s-inspired glam-rock suit. This look was an upcycled patchwork-of-art designed by award-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell, known for his work on Wicked and Hamilton. The pop icon gave us Pink Pony Club realness in her iconic first Met appearance.
2. Zendaya, 2018
Yet another look from the Heavenly Bodies theme, Zendaya put a modern twist on historic figure Joan of Arc, honoring the patron saint in a sequined Versace armor gown and fiery red bob. One of the best looks of the night and one of the most iconic Met Gala looks in the event’s history.
1. Zendaya, 2019
I know what you’re thinking, but yes, two of Zendaya’s looks back-to-back is necessary. The 2019 Met Gala theme was Camp: Notes on Fashion, and Zendaya absolutely stunned in this homage to Cinderella. With an astonishing Tommy Hilfiger gown transformed by the magic of her stylist and fairy godmother Law Roach (who was dressed as such), this ensemble was too iconic for it not to take first place on this list.
The Met Gala continues to be the most renowned fashion event of the year, churning out hundreds of iconic outfits, internet-breaking moments, and legendary looks. Who are you most excited to see stun on the red carpet this year?