It’s back.
The Met Gala is tonight and as fashion’s biggest night approaches for the first time in over two years, we finally get to see a new wave of the world’s top designers and their signature, statement looks.
This year’s theme is In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, and is part of a two part show focusing on how American fashion has so vastly changed over the past number of years, and to honour the 75th anniversary of the Costume Institute.
And as it kicks off in New York City this evening, we’ve decided to take a look back at some of the best looks from the past five galas, excluding 2020’s About Time: Fashion and Duration theme that was cancelled due to the pandemic.
This year’s gala is set to be a lot more intimate, but don’t worry, we’re still in for a treat when it comes to red carpet designs and an overhaul of fashion on the most famous celebrities.
Camp: Notes on Fashion in 2019
This year was simply breathtaking, most people seemed to truly understand the theme and a lot of celebrities really outdid themselves.
Billy Porter blew everyone away in this outfit designed by The Blonds, and inspired by Ancient Egypt. The wings however proved ineffective as he had some absolute Adonises carrying him to the red carpet.
Cardi B is as eccentric as they come, but it worked perfectly for this theme. This Thom Browne look consisted of 30,000 feathers, took 2,000 hours to make by 35 people.
Kendall and Kylie Jenner knew what they were doing with this, with showgirl inspired Versace looks. These feather looks really stood out amongst a lot of others that night.
Lady Gaga’s is the most memorable of 2019, with four Brandon Maxwell looks, starting with a puffy pink dress, she took it off to reveal a black gown, then another tight pink dress ending in some lingerie and statement Gaga platforms.
Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination in 2018
This was another theme a lot of people really seemed to do well, to odes to ancient art to biblical references, and it was absolutely stunning to see.
Rihanna kills it every time, but this Pope like gown by John Galliano, the bishop’s hat really topped it off.
Blake Lively will always make these lists, and her take on this theme was an angelic train dress by Versace, no one does it better than her.
Ariana Grande looked like a renaissance painting in this Vera Wang gown, like it had come straight off the Sistine Chapel.
Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between in 2017
This was by far the most hard to read and difficult theme there ever was, with avant-garde being the go to designs.
Rihanna, of course, nailed it again in this Comme de Garçons design and brought modern art into the fashion world.
Zendaya went down the same route for her Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda gown with parrot print covering it, it really was something nobody expected.
Janelle Monae went for a more tonal look with this Ralph and Russo feathered ball gown and contrasting neck piece.
Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology in 2016
This theme was slightly more difficult for people to get the hang of without opting for shimmer and shine, and while most people went down that route, some were more unique with it.
Men typically wear a suit jacket that’s a little bit different to the Met, but Zayn Malik’s robotic arms in 2016 really took a new spin on what technology and fashion meant, and who better to design it than Versace?
Nicole Kidman brought astrology into the mix, new technology once upon a time with this Alexander McQueen caped dress.
Taylor Swift stole the show this year, looking like a real robot meets gladiator in this Louis Vuitton mini dress.
China: Through the Looking Glass in 2015
Lady Gaga makes yet another appearance, showing off this Alexander Wang for Balenciaga kimono gown giving an ode to traditional Chinese outfits.
Beyonce took everyone’s breath away when she stepped out in this Givenchy beaded sheer dress that literally looked like a piece of glass covering her.
Once again, Rihanna makes the list in this Guo Pei fur gown, and it supposedly weighed a whopping 22kg.
