Met Gala themes through the years: A list of past Costume Institute exhibitions and dress codes for celebrity guests

The 2023 Met Gala honored the work of legendary and controversial fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. Throughout his career, he made his mark on brands like Fendi, Balmain, and Chloé, but most famously served as Chanel's creative director for over 35 years.

So, in 2023, the Met Gala's dress code was "in honor of Karl."

Some celebrities wore designs from the fashion houses he had a history with, while others sported Lagerfeld's signature pieces. His favored black-and-white color palette, the fingerless gloves he wore, and the pearl embellishments he brought to Chanel were all over the red carpet.

And some stars took things a step further. Jared Leto, for example, dressed in a furry suit to look like Lagerfeld's beloved cat Choupette.

The 2022 Met Gala was all about the history of American fashion.

Museum curator Andrew Bolton has previously said that the theme was meant to "provide context" to the similarly America-focused 2021 event and complete the two-part gala hosted to make up for the missed event in 2020.

As for the year's dress code, attendees were told to dress in "gilded glamour, white tie" — a callback to the more-is-more era of high fashion popular between 1870 to 1890, also known as the Gilded Age.

Stars like Blake Lively nailed the theme in sparkling gowns representing New York City, while Kim Kardashian famously wore one of Marilyn Monroe's most iconic gowns.

After being canceled in 2020, the Met Gala returned with a two-part event split between 2021 and 2022.

The 2021 Met Gala was themed to highlight modern American fashion designers and celebrate the overall fashion community across the states. According to Vogue, the dress code was "American Independence."

But not all celebrities wore US-based brands.

Rihanna arrived fashionably late in a dramatic gown from Spanish fashion house Balenciaga, and Kendall Jenner donned a see-through, crystal creation from the Parisian label Givenchy. ASAP Rocky, however, had a colorful moment in a quilt from ERL, a brand based in California.

Thanks to an out-of-the-box theme, 2019 was a memorable year for the Met Gala. Inspired by Susan Sontag's 1964 essay, "Notes on 'Camp,'" the event aimed to showcase surreal fashion, exaggerated looks, and playful pieces.

No official dress code was reported then, but Wintour described the camp theme as "an expression of everything that is artificial."

And many attendees took that to heart. Lady Gaga famously made four extreme outfit changes on the red carpet, Katy Perry dressed as a cheeseburger, and Zendaya embodied Cinderella in a light-up gown.

Few could forget the 2018 Met Gala, which embraced the influence of religious art and Christianity on high fashion.

So, the Costume Institute aimed to highlight the moments when fashion and religion merged. Those invited to the event were told to follow a dress code of "Sunday Best."

Rihanna nailed the aesthetic with a Pope-inspired ensemble from Margiela, Ariana Grande wore a gown that mirrored the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, and Katy Perry sported massive angel wings.

The 2017 Met Gala focused on the avant-garde work of Rei Kawakubo, the Japanese fashion designer who founded Comme des Garçons in 1969.

And attendees delivered on its "avant-garde black tie" dress code.

Zendaya donned a stunning floral-print ball gown from Dolce & Gabbana, Priyanka Chopra sported a giant trench coat, and Rihanna wore a petal-covered minidress from Kawakubo's honored brand Comme des Garçon.

When the Metropolitan Museum hosted the Met Gala in 2016, it aimed to show the dichotomy between handmade and machine-made fashion.

That year's dress code was "tech white tie," and celebrities showed up in style.

Taylor Swift wore one of the most fashion-forward looks of her career — a silver Louis Vuitton number — and Beyoncé stunned in skin-tight latex.

In 2015, the Met Gala theme was a take on Chinese culture and fashion that has been "understood and misunderstood" by those in the West throughout history.

Attendees received no dress code direction beyond the theme's description that year, but there were some similarities among celebrity ensembles.

Red was one of the most popular colors of the night, worn by Wintour, Jennifer Lopez, and Zendaya. Chinese designers also took center stage — like Guo Pei, who designed Rihanna's now-iconic yellow gown — and sparkles were everywhere.

But the night's theme did bring some controversy, with many arguing that some attendees' outfits displayed racist stereotypes.

Honoring an under-appreciated fashion icon was the goal of the 2014 Met Gala.

The event called attention to the work of English-American couture designer Charles James, who was loved among fashion students in the mid-1900s and deeply appreciated as a craftsman of feminine couture gowns.

So, to bring his style to the Met Gala red carpet, that year's dress code was titled "White Tie and Decoration."

Lupita Nyong'o put her twist on his style with a Josephine Baker-inspired dress, Swift wore a baby-pink Oscar de la Renta gown, and Beyoncé and Jay-Z had one of their most glamorous couple-style moments to date.

The traditionally glamorous Met Gala went punk in 2013, paying homage to the music, movement, and aesthetic of the genre as it was in the '70s.

Though no specific dress code was reported at the time, the year's theme seemed to be direction enough for celebrity guests.

Miley Cyrus attended in a fishnet Marc Jacobs gown and spikey hairstyle, while Anne Hathaway wore one of the most daring looks of her career: a see-through Valentino dress.

Rather than magnifying one fashion house, the 2012 Met Gala chose two: Schiaparelli and Prada.

The theme highlighted the similarities between the brand's Italian designers — Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada — while honoring their respective work and the time periods they rose to fame.

It's unclear what dress code was in place that year, and attendees wore a mix of designer looks on the red carpet. But of course, some used their outfits to celebrate the brands of the night further.

Gwyneth Paltrow, for example, attended with Prada and sported one of the brand's tops as a minidress.

In 2011, the Met Gala celebrated the work and accomplishments of Alexander McQueen, the famed British fashion designer who died in 2010.

Specifically, the ball and its accompanying exhibit aimed to showcase the avant-garde, dramatic, extravagant, and sublime aspects of his designs.

Those descriptors also likely helped celebrity guests choose their outfits for the night.

Naomi Campbell wore a striking McQueen piece, and other stars like Jennifer Lopez sported vibrant ball gowns from designers like Gucci.

A decade before the America-themed Met Galas of 2021 and 2022, the Costume Institute celebrated American women — specifically those who lived between 1890 and 1940 and shaped modern women.

A dress code wasn't publicly announced, but American stars were all over the red carpet in stunning fashion.

Blake Lively wore a floral Marchesa minidress, Anne Hathaway looked like a princess in Valentino, and Jennifer Lopez stunned in a Zuhair Murad ball gown.

The 2009 Met Gala focused on 20th-century fashion designers and the models who inspired them to create boundary-pushing, industry-changing designs.

It's unclear what dress code was provided to guests, but many creatives attended alongside their muses. Marc Jacobs, for example, walked the Metropolitan Museum stairs with Kate Moss, who wore a backless, silver minidress he created.

But there was also some drama that year. Azzedine Alaïa and multiple muses (including Naomi Campbell) reportedly backed out of attending the 2009 gala after learning that he was not included in the yearly exhibition.

Other muses of Alaïa attended but did not wear his designs.

As the Metropolitan Museum shared in a press release at the time, the 2008 Met Gala showcased the "symbolic and metaphorical associations" between superheroes, fantasy worlds, and fashion.

No dress code was widely shared that year, but it was clear that some attendees were inspired by the bright colors of comic books.

Look no further than Katie Holmes — she wore a bright-red Giorgio Armani dress, blue pumps, and rosy blush — and Wintour, who told reporters that the X-Men character Storm inspired her 3D Chanel gown.

French fashion designer Paul Poiret changed women's fashion forever with the flowing, wide-set pieces he created during the time of restrictive corsets.

That's why the Costume Institute honored him at the 2007 Met Gala and seemingly encouraged guests to dress in his signature styles.

Actors, designers, and other attendees graced the red carpet in long trains, shapeless gowns, and lampshade silhouettes that mirrored his work. Vera Wang was one of them, wearing an unfitted, straight-shaped gown in a gray shade.

The Metropolitan Museum said its 2006 gala and exhibition aimed to look at "ideals, stereotypes, and representations" of British fashion among historical pieces and modern garments.

And those on the red carpet nailed the theme, though it's unclear what dress code was provided.

John Galliano and Charlize Theron embraced British royalty stereotypes in rich colors and sparkling fabrics, Emmy Rossum wore a military-style jacket over her gown, and Sarah Jessica Parker donned McQueen, a British designer she attended the ball with.

Chanel centered the 2005 Met Gala and Costume Institute exhibit, both of which celebrated the work of the fashion house's history.

Guests weren't required to wear Chanel, and no dress code was reported that year.

But Wintour, Lagerfeld, and cochair Nicole Kidman sported various styles from the French brand.

The 2004 Met Gala and Costume Institute exhibition weren't just about clothes. As the Metropolitan Museum shared at the time, it analyzed the relationship between fashion, "art, furniture, and the broader decorative arts between 1750 and 1789."

Attendees seemed particularly inspired by the 18th century, with many wearing old-school hairstyles, pastel shades, luxurious fabrics, and classic silhouettes.

Eva Mendes, for example, wore a pink-and-blue Zac Posen gown that was modern but also paid homage to styles from the mid-to-late 1700s.

More than 20 years ago, the 2003 Met Gala celebrated "classical dress" and the style of goddesses throughout history, as the Metropolitan Museum previously shared in a press release.

The museum didn't share if attendees were instructed to dress like goddesses themselves, but many stars like Iman did.

She walked alongside her husband, David Bowie, in a white halter gown with a plunging neckline, backless bodice, and matching shawl. The dress, plus her floral hairpiece, made an outfit worthy of being displayed in the exhibit.

Rather than highlighting a designer or aesthetic, the 2001 Met Gala focused on the style of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

And the guest list also reflected American politics — most notably with Hillary Clinton walking the Metropolitan Museum steps in a cheetah-print ball gown.

A formal dress code was not publicly announced.

Rock stars took over the Metropolitan Museum during the 1999 Met Gala. The night's festivities celebrated iconic musicians, the history of rock 'n' roll, and the genre's impact on fashion.

So, it was only fitting that iconic musicians like Whitney Houston were in attendance. She wore a see-through blouse, a sparkling duster jacket, and black pants.

Other celebrities took a more playful approach, like Steven Tyler's daughter, Liv Tyler, who wore a T-shirt that said "Rock Royalty."

Cubist art took center stage in 1998, with the Met Gala exhibit spotlighting how cubism had infiltrated fashion.

But there was seemingly no dress code, and most attendees didn't wear geometric looks on the red carpet.

Instead, celebrities like Martha Stewart sported classic gowns, countless sparkles, and traditional tuxedos.

Like many Met Galas after it, the 1997 event honored a specific designer: Gianni Versace.

Of course, attendees weren't required to wear his work, but many honored the late designer.

Salma Hayek was one of them, wearing a daring black gown with a thigh-high slit and a matching plunge down the side of its bodice.

Princess Diana was one of the celebrities in attendance to celebrate the work of French fashion designer Christian Dior at the 1996 Met Gala.

She wore a gown designed by John Galliano, who had just started working with the fashion house and carried a navy blue Dior purse.

Others at the event wore a mix of satin and velvet ensembles.