Standing out at the Met Gala is nearly impossible, considering it’s a sea of beautiful people in impeccably tailored clothing. While everyone wants to look crazy cool, many attendees end up serving looks that say costume over couture.
Katy Perry comes to mind as she’s dressed like a literal cheeseburger and fully functioning chandelier at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in years past. If you’re wondering why (I know I am), she’s doing it for YOU.
In the same vein, Jared Leto rolled up to 2023’s “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” themed Met dressed up as the late Karl Lagerfeld’s cat, Choupette. The white fur cat costume was kind of cute, but not for a grown man at the biggest fashion benefit of the year. It gave me the same ick as when I think about who is underneath the character costumes in Times Square. Sorry, Jar.
The craziest looks in Met history aren’t all bad. Many outfits are deemed insane because of the amount of artistry that went into their creation.
Blake Lively’s crimson and gold custom Versace dress for 2018’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” took 600 hours to make. Considering she paired it with $2 million worth of jewelry, it’s no surprise she called it her “favorite dress ever.” The mermaid-shaped gown was so large that Blake had to commute to the Met in a party bus to accommodate the size.
No one can spend money like a celebrity getting ready for the Met Gala, and the price tag of Blake’s Versace gown isn’t anything unusual.
Are you team theatrics or prefer when attendees keep it simple? See the craziest Met looks below and decide for yourself.
Craziest Met Gala Looks Of All Time
Lady Gaga, 2019
Gaga took the theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion” to a whole new level when she decided (the night before!) to do performance art on the red carpet. Starting in a hot pink Brandon Maxwell gown featuring a matching bow on her head, she revealed three additional outfits, ending the choreographed performance in a black bra and underwear. Her entrance took 16 minutes and has gone down as one of the best Met moments in history.
Lil Nas X, 2023
Lil Nas covered himself in silver body paint, crystals and pearls for “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” and finished the look with briefs and platform boots. How good did it feel to wash that off at the end of the night?!
Kim Kardashian, 2021
Kim did the least Kim Kardashian thing ever and arrived at “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” completely hidden in a black Balenciaga gown and head cover. Kim has since said she “fought against” covering her face, but in the end, dedication to the art won.
Rihanna, 2017
This is a perfect example of someone doing couture correctly. Ri’s Rei Kawakubo dress looked like it belonged in the gallery as a piece of art. The designer served as the theme for 2017, which made it all the more impactful.
Katy Perry, 2019
From a firework to a chandelier, she’s just gotta ignite the light. In Katy’s defense, the theme was “Camp: Notes on Fashion” and I’m still talking about this Jeremy Scott dress.
Jared Leto, 2019
This man came dressed as a literal cat, and I’m still choosing a different look to add to this list. He brought his own head as his date, which was a 3-D printed model by Gucci that cost $11,000.
Doja Cat, 2023
Doja was another attendee who honored Karl Lagerfeld’s beloved cat with cat face prosthetics on the red carpet. It’s a shame her stunning hooded Oscar de la Renta dress went basically unnoticed thanks to her purr-fectly distracting face accessories.
Cara Delevingne, 2022
The model went topless for “The Garden of Time” in Dior Haute Couture. She arrived in a red jacket and took it off to reveal she was covered in gold body paint.
Billy Porter, 2019
The actor went full “Sun God” for the Met. He wore 10-foot wings and entered by lounging on a bed carried by six men. Icon shit.
Marc Jacobs, 2012
The designer wore a Commes des Garçons black lace tunic for “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations.” This man walked so Harry Styles could run and we should be forever grateful. 10 out of 10, no notes.
