As the 2021 MET Gala is almost around the corner, we cannot help but let our brains overdrive in prediction as to how the attendees are going to interpret the current theme this time. After an unfortunate year, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the fashion ball the last year, the Costume Institute Gala is back again to give us a glimpse of new and improvised fashion looks. Like every year, some of the celebrities will appear in outfits that are going to be over-the-top iconic, while others will just doll up to play it safe. As we already know, the MET Gala is not really about flaunting a signature look. Rather, it is a rare opportunity to walk the line between being fanciful and dramatic. While we get to witness looks that become perfectly great celebrity style moments, MET Gala is primarily known for giving away looks that really stick into our minds, refusing to leave.
In case you are wondering, when will the MET Gala take here this year, it will be held on September 13, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as a more intimate version. So, ahead of the MET Gala 2021, we are going to celebrate some of the most iconic red carpet appearances that have remained forever memorable. From Cher to Princess Diana to Beyoncé, you can check all of them out here.
Bianca Jagger (1974)
Bianca Jagger appeared at the 1984 MET gala night, themed as, ‘Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design,’ in a stunning ruby red sheer gown with Mick Jagger.
Cher (1974)
Even among the ocean of outrageous red carpet looks, the outfit was worn by Cher at the 1974 MET Gala still stands out. The first ‘Naked Dress’ look designed by Bob Mackie turned out to be very impactful as the always ready to experiment singer cum actress pulled it off amazingly, and is still referenced in the fashion industry. The sheer, feathered, midriff-baring and sequined gown has been talked about and recreated by several celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Dua Lipa.
Christy Turlington (1992)
Model Christy Turlington appeared as a modern day Audrey Hepburn at the 1992 red carpet of MET Gala, wearing a floor-length fitted gown, styled with a bouffant updo and a pearl choker for the theme, ‘Fashion and History: A Dialogue’. She elegantly pulled off the entire look highlighting her enviable bone structure and features.
Naomi Campbell (1995)
Supermodel Naomi Campbell walked down the MET Gala Red carpet in 1995 wearing a sparkling Versace silver strapless dress with exposed seams and matching coloured pointed heels. With pastel eyeshadow, chunky highlights and nude lips, the nineties bombshell looked absolutely stunning, as her attire checked off almost every beauty trend of the coming decade.
Princess Diana (1996)
Princess Diana, the royal style icon made her first and the only Met Gala appearance in 1996, before passing away. She was dressed in a navy Dior slip dress taken from the debut haute couture collection of John Galliano to celebrate the theme of ‘Christian Dior’. The Princess of Wales paired the piece with a sapphire necklace and earrings.
Kate Moss (2009)
For the theme of ‘The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion,’ the then 35-year-old British supermodel, Kate Moss, made her MET gala Zebra carpet appearance in a shimmering champagne-coloured mini gown by Marc Jacobs and a matching turban by milliner Stephen Jones. This dress has been known as one of the designer’s major muses, a rendition of several others that have walked the carpet.
Rihanna (2015)
Delivering the performance of the night, the pop star arrived at MET Gala in a Guo Pei couture gown, for the theme of ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’. The year of 2015 is already famous for unveiling one of the most monumental exhibits at the MET gala, producing some of the highly memorable red carpet looks, and among them, Rihanna’s look was absolutely worthy of an event headliner. She was clad in an imperial yellow, fur-trimmed cape, with scrolls of flora embroidered on it, and of course, the dramatic train! She finally completed her look with a headdress complimenting the theme.
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Jennifer Lopez (2016)
With her jaw-dropping red sequined and super sheer gown with strategically placed embroidery by designer Donatella Versace, the diva proved how she can never fail to amaze everyone! She made her appearance at the fashion ball accompanying Versace, while the gown continued to put her assets on full display.
Beyoncé (2016)
The singer appeared on the red carpet for the last time at a MET Gala in 2016, a few moments after the release of her album titled, ‘Lemonade’. For the night, themed as ‘Manus X Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology,’ she styled herself in a custom blush-coloured latex gown designed by Givenchy, beautified with a sophisticated starburst of beadwork which created a drip-like appearance on the skin-tight dress. The puffy-sleeved gown trailing behind Beyoncé, no doubt, made her one of the best-dressed divas of the occasion.
Bella Hadid (2017)
In 2017, Bella Hadid ditched the usual gowns and went for one of the boldest red carpet statements yet, in her curve-hugging catsuit designed by her close friend, Alexander Wang. For the ‘Comme des Garçons’s Rei Kawakubo’ themed night, the then-21-year-old supermodel stole the show in the glistening bodysuit with sheer detailing and deep back scoop. The outfit covered her black pumps that ended up making it look like they have been attached to the suit.
Zendaya (2017)
Zendaya brought colour to the 2017 MET Gala as she came clad in a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda tropical parrot-printed ball gown. The star made sure to have vivid shades of lemon yellow, tangerine and blue on her dress, pulling off one of the most eye-catching looks of the night. She opted for a voluminous auburn hair and bright coral lips to go with her full skirt and lengthy train, adding on a pair of coordinating drop earrings and a yellow diamond ring. Although she defied the avant-garde theme of ‘Comme des Garçons,’ she definitely managed to enliven the red carpet with her bright presence.
Cardi B (2018)
Cardi B rocked her red carpet appearance at the 2018 MET Gala themed, ‘Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination’ in an impressive pearl-embellished thigh-high slit luxe gown by Jeremy Scott with a billowing satin overskirt layered at the waist. Her entire look, starting from the dress, choker, gloves and the headpiece were adorned in beads and ornate jewels. The superstar flaunted her baby bump on the red carpet and made our hearts smile.
Harry Styles (2019)
Harry Styles’ debut MET Gala appearance in 2019 in Gucci, at first glance, seemed to leave something to be desired alongside the more amplified looks of the night. However, after taking a deeper look, we realised how beautifully he nailed the theme, ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’. Dressed in a sheer lace top, with a pussy bow around the neck, boots with pointed heels, a single pearl earring and of course, painted nails. He presented the most beautiful version of himself: Lacy, racy, all-around killer!
Kylie and Kendall Jenner (2019)
In the 2019 fashion event, Kylie and Kendall Jenner had a twinning moment as they opted to look like the wicked stepsisters of Cinderella, coordinating in bright feathered dresses. While Kylie chose a lavender feathered naked dress by Atelier Versace with a same-colour wig, Kendall went with a Cher-inspired bright orange-coloured-feathered naked dress by Versace.
Kim Kardashian (2019)
Kim Kardashian walked in her most dramatic ensemble in 2019 for MET gala themed as ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’ in a tan-coloured body shaping latex dress from Thierry Mugler, who joined the Hollywood mogul after 20 years to create the outfit that resembled her Vogue cover of May 2019. Based on the California girl who has just come out of the ocean, Kim Kardashian not only nailed her ‘wet’ style, but also made it an iconic one!
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