A Glamorous Legacy: The Best Met Gala Looks of All Time

For the Met Gala 2006 theme Anglomania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion, Sarah Jessica Parker and Alexander McQueen arrived in one of the most harmoniously thematic looks of all time. Paying homage to McQueen’s Scottish heritage, the duo coordinated in striking tartan ensembles that blended historical references with a punk-inspired edge. Meanwhile, McQueen himself wore a tailored tartan suit with a traditional kilt—encapsulating his signature blend of heritage and provocation.

No Met Gala list is complete without Lady Gaga. For the Camp theme, the pop provocateur delivered not one, but four costume changes on the red carpet. Styled by Brandon Maxwell, Gaga arrived in a voluminous hot pink gown with an exaggerated train. She then proceeded to strip down—layer by layer—revealing a series of increasingly minimalist looks, ending with a black crystal-studded bra and underwear set paired with platform boots. It was part runway, part performance art, and all Gaga.

At the 2024 Met Gala themed Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, Elle Fanning channelled her character Aurora from Maleficent in a breathtaking Balmain creation. The ethereal, off-shoulder gown featured delicate ivory drapery, hand-embroidered crystal detailing, and a dreamy silhouette that seemed to float as she walked. With her hair in soft waves and minimal makeup, the look felt like a modern fairytale come to life—effortless, elegant, and impossibly graceful.