Best-Dressed Celebrities At 2026 Met Gala

The Most Iconic Met Gala Dresses of All Time
Home & Yard
Gardening & Projects
DIY
Survival Skills
Tips & Hacks
Search for:
DIY & Woodworking
Gardening & Outdoor Projects
Home & Yard
Survival & Outdoor Skills
Tips & Hacks
About
Contact
Copyright
Privacy
Terms
High Fashion: These Are Some Of The Most Stunning Met Gala Dresses Of All Time
Lauren Kirkbride | More | 30 Apr 2026
Since 1948, the Met Gala has raised money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute by displaying unique outfits. It also allows designers and celebrities to show off their styles. Innovative dress styles incorporate feathers, letters, and more. From Jackie Kennedy to Sarah Jessica Parker, here are the most iconic Met Gala looks of all time.
Diana Ross's Feather Gown, 1981
James Baldwin/Pinterest and Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images
In 1981, singer and actress Diana Ross wore one of the most unique dresses that the Met Gala had ever seen. To honor the theme of "The Eighteenth-Century Woman," her gown resembled a traditional Mexican huipil. But it was made entirely out of feathers.
The feathers functioned as ruffles that decorated the dress from shoulder to toe. The top was strapless, and even her purse included feathers. Ross adored fashion and even made her own clothes, so this unique outfit suited her.
Coming up: a model who wore the words "I love you."
ADVERTISEMENT
Sarah Jessica Parker's Deconstructed Kilt, 2006
ADVERTISEMENT
Evan Agostini/Getty Images and Peter Kramer/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
The 2006 Met Gala honored the theme "AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion." Actress Sarah Jessica Parker took an unconventional approach in her kilt dress--or rather, half-kilt, half-dress.
ADVERTISEMENT
The gown was half plaid kilt and half base dress with black lace. With only one strap, the dress has a unique mish-mash look tied together with a black waist belt and a silver broach on the shoulder. It was created by Alexander McQueen, one of England's most successful designers who also accompanied her down the carpet.
ADVERTISEMENT
Céline Dion's Silver Showgirl Look, 2019
ADVERTISEMENT
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue and Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2019, the Met Gala's theme--titled "Camp: Notes on Fashion"--encouraged designers to experiment with the unnatural and exaggerated. None did this more than Oscar de la Renta, who designed the dress for Céline Dion. Magazines called it her "showgirl look."
ADVERTISEMENT
The silver gown was more a bodysuit that had tassles draping down Dion's arms and legs. A slit down one of her legs added some figure and dimension to it. On her head, Dion wore a 22-pound feathered headpiece, also made by de la Renta. She was an elevated version of a '20s flapper.
ADVERTISEMENT
Karolina Kurkova's "I Love You" Dress, 2005
ADVERTISEMENT
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2005, the Met Gala's theme was "The House of Chanel," honoring a French brand that influenced fashion as we know it. Czech-American model Karolina Kurkova decided to make a statement with a huge, trailing ballgown.
ADVERTISEMENT
The white dress, designed by Viktor & Rolf, had the red cursive letters for "I love you" written on it. With its satin skirt and one-shoulder bow, it looked like a wedding dress. Even the end of the skirt had some ruching to draw the eye down the gown.
If you want to see Naomi Watts's superhero outfit, keep reading.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ashley Olsen Wearing Statement Sleeves, 2011
ADVERTISEMENT
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2011, the Met Gala honored English designer Alexander McQueen. But Ashley Olsen made her own statement in an unconventional Dior dress. The gown caught everyone's eyes with its voluptuous, off-the-shoulder sleeves.
ADVERTISEMENT
The white sleeves were tied at the top and bottom, and they offered a stark contrast to the black gown. This gown was straightforward: floor-length and with a slit down one leg. All attention went to the sleeves. It was both brave and fascinating.
ADVERTISEMENT
Charlotte Gainsbourg In A Unique Short Dress, 2007
ADVERTISEMENT
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
Charlotte Gainsbourg, the English-French actress, singer, and songwriter, wore one of the most unique Met Gala dresses in 2007. The theme was "Poiret: King of Fashion," honoring the French fashion designer Paul Poiret.
ADVERTISEMENT
Designed by Balenciaga (who sponsored that year's Gala), the dress has a mixture of metallics, colors, and patterns. It ends at the knee in golden fringes, but it also has a turtle neck and sheer sleeves. Shimmery crystals, white, gold, and black alternate throughout the dress. No wonder guests wanted a better look!
ADVERTISEMENT
Jackie Kennedy's Black Valentino Gown, 1979
ADVERTISEMENT
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
In 1979, Jackie Kennedy attended her first Met Gala. The theme was "Fashions of the Habsburg Era: Austria-Hungary," and to match the Costume Exhibit, Kennedy wore a black Valentino gown.
ADVERTISEMENT
The dress was designed by Valentino Garavani himself, and it featured a ruffled skirt with off-the-shoulder sleeves. Kennedy carried a matching black clutch with the floor-length gown. From 1976 to 1977, she had been a co-chair of the Met, but this was her first time attending.
ADVERTISEMENT
Naomi Watts As A Star-Studded Superhero, 2008
ADVERTISEMENT
Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images and Randy Brooke/WireImage
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2008, the Met Gala saw many creative outfits with its theme, "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy." But the most stunning was actress Naomi Watts's white pleated gown, which combined Marilyn Monroe's style with Superwoman.
ADVERTISEMENT
Made by the French designer Thierry Mugler, the dress centers around a silver star on Watts's sternum. The pleats branch out from that broach. With its flattering halter top, floor-length waves, and off-the-shoulder straps, it is both simple and elegant. Met Gala dresses do not have to be completely over-the-top.
The most gorgeous Cinderella-style dress is coming soon.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kate Moss Going Silver, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT
BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2009, English supermodel Kate Moss was 35 years old. But that didn't stop her from wearing a stunning Marc Jacob gown. The theme was "The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion," and it encouraged designers to go wild, using previous Met Galas as their influence.
ADVERTISEMENT
The result was Moss's unusual silver dress. The short gown wrapped around her body, leaving an open back. Her shoulder had extra fabric draping off like a Greek Goddess. To top it off, she donned a matching turban by Stephen Jones .
ADVERTISEMENT
Doutzen Kroes's Cinderella Gown, 2010
ADVERTISEMENT
Kevin Mazur/WireImage and Dimitrios Kambouris/FilmMagic
ADVERTISEMENT
When she walked down the red carpet in 2010, Dutch model and actress Doutzen Kroes looked like a princess. Her blue ballgown was created by American designer Zac Posen, and it trailed down the stairs. It perfectly fit the theme, "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity."
ADVERTISEMENT
Kroes's dress had a long trail that fit its massive skirt. The torso was tight-fitted, and silver gems attached its sheer sleeves. With her sheer sleeves falling off the shoulder and Hollywood glamor hairstyle, Kroes looked like royalty.
To see a creative spin on 1920s flapper dresses, stay tuned.
ADVERTISEMENT
Beyoncé's See-Through Outfit, 2012
ADVERTISEMENT
Kevin Mazur/WireImage and Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic
ADVERTISEMENT
Beyoncé's 2012 gown sure set some trends. The theme honored Elsa Schiaparelli and Mario Prada, two Italian designers who broke fashion conventions to create new ones. Beyoncé did the same with her see-through dress.
ADVERTISEMENT
The black lace gown was designed by Givenchy. Beyoncé wore a nude slip dress underneath it so that it could be see-through. Along the legs, lace and gems transitioned to black and purple feathers. After…

Text scraped from the landing page for research purposes. © respective owners. This text is sourced from the advertiser's public landing page; for removal, contact dmca@luba.media.