How celebrities' red-carpet fashion has dramatically changed since their very first Met Gala

Anneta KonstantinidesSep 11, 2021, 17:44 IST

Rihanna is among the stars who've had a dramatic Met Gala transformation.CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images/Kevin Mazur/MG18/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Met Gala fashion has dramatically changed through the decades.
Many celebrities have gone from wearing simple evening gowns to going all out with bold fashion.
Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Blake Lively have all had especially dramatic transformations.

Katy Perry sported a sleek blue dress for her first Met Gala in 2009.

Katy Perry attends "The Model as Muse" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2009, in New York City. CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

But Perry lit up the red carpet with her most recent Met Gala look in 2019, dressing as a chandelier.

Katy Perry at the 2019 Met Gala. Sean Anni

Zendaya made her Met Gala debut with a dramatic red skirt full of volume in 2015.

Zendaya attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015, in New York City. Jamie McCarthy/FilmMagic

Zendaya glowed on the red carpet - literally - with her Cinderella-inspired dress in 2019.

Zendaya at the 2019 Met Gala. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Rihanna wore a relatively simple white dress to her first Met Gala in 2007.

Rihanna attends the Met Gala in honor of "Poiret: King of Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2007 in New York City. CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

But Rihanna has since become the queen of the Met Gala thanks to her dramatic looks, including this 2018 outfit that was inspired by the pope.

Rihanna attends the Met Gala for "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" in May 2018. Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images

Sarah Jessica Parker rocked tartan for her first Met Gala back in 2006.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Alexander McQueen at the "Anglomania" Met Gala in May 2006. Evan Agostini/Getty Images Entertainment

Parker pulled out all the stops for her 2018 Met Gala appearance, sporting a gold brocade dress with a flowing train.

Sarah Jessica Parker at the 2018 Met Gala. Charles Sykes/AP Photos

Kim Kardashian's first Met Gala dress became a huge meme on the internet.

Kim Kardashian attended the 2013 Met Gala while pregnant alongside Kanye West. Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Kim Kardashian was dripping in crystals as she arrived at the 2019 Met Gala.

Kim Kardashian at the 2019 Met Gala. Karwai Tang/Getty Images

Kendall Jenner opted for a simple and sleek cream gown for her first Met Gala in 2014.

Kendall Jenner attends the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City. Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images

But Jenner wasn't afraid to turn heads with her most recent Met Gala ensemble in 2019.

Kendall Jenner at the 2019 Met Gala. Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage

Blake Lively didn't make much of a splash at her first Met Gala in 2008.

Blake Lively attends the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" on May 5, 2008, in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

But Lively has since become a Met Gala favorite, most recently wowing fans with this embellished red-and-gold gown in 2018.

Blake Lively at the 2018 Met Gala. Jackson Lee/Getty Images

Beyoncé wore a strapless satin gown for her first Met Gala appearance in 2008.

Beyoncé arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala for "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" on May 5, 2008, in New York City. Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Beyoncé became a Met Gala icon with her famous naked dress in 2015. She then opted for a latex ensemble for her most recent appearance the following year.

Beyoncé at the 2016 Met Gala. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Solange looked like a geometric dream at her first Met Gala in 2011.

Solange Knowles attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011, in New York City. Larry Busacca/Getty Images

But Solange stuck to one very bold pattern for her most recent Met Gala in 2019.

Solange Knowles attends the Met Gala for "Camp: Notes on Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019, in New York City. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Lady Gaga wore a kimono-inspired ensemble for her first Met Gala red carpet in 2015.

Lady Gaga attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015, in New York City. Jamie McCarthy/FilmMagic

Lady Gaga made one of the most iconic Met Gala entrances of all time when she arrived on the red carpet in 2019.

Lady Gaga arriving for the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019, in New York. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Miley Cyrus took the punk theme seriously for her Met Gala debut in 2013.

Miley Cyrus at the 2013 Met Gala. Larry Busacca/Getty Images

And Cyrus kept the punk vibes going with this sparkling green-and-black ensemble at the 2019 Met Gala.

Miley Cyrus at the 2019 Met Gala. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Jennifer Lopez went for a romantic look at her first Met Gala in 2004 with a lacy and ruffled black dress.

Jennifer Lopez with Stefano Gabbana (left) and Domenico Dolce (right) at the Met Gala in 2004. Evan Agostini/Getty Images

But Lopez went full glam for her most recent Met Gala appearance in 2019, opting for a plunging Versace dress that was dripping in jewels.

Jennifer Lopez at the 2019 Met Gala. Getty/Neilson Barnard

Emily Ratajkowski made her first Met Gala appearance in a long-sleeved cream dress with a bold print in 2015.

Emily Ratajkowski attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015, in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Ratajkowski wore the ultimate naked dress for the 2019 Met Gala, sporting a custom barely-there Dundas gown.

Emily Ratajkowski at the 2019 Met Gala. John Shearer/Getty Images

Many thought Ratajkowski's dress was inspired by the naked dress that Cher wore to her first Met Gala in 1974.

Cher at the 1974 Met Gala. Ron Galella/Getty Images

Cher kept things a little more casual when she performed at the 2019 Met Gala.

Cher performs onstage during the 2019 Met Gala for "Camp: Notes on Fashion" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019, in New York City. Kevin Mazur/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Cara Delevingne wore an elegant black gown with a plunging neckline for her first Met Gala in 2011.

Cara Delevingne and Douglas Booth attend the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011. Larry Busacca/Getty Images

But Delevigne wasn't afraid of wearing color - and lots of it - at her most recent Met Gala appearance in 2019.

Cara Delevigne at the 2019 Met Gala. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Anne Hathaway sported a metallic purple dress for her first Met Gala red carpet in 2009.

Anne Hathaway attends the Met Gala for "The Model As Muse" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2009, in New York City. CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Hathaway opted for a bold red dress with plenty of volume for the Met Gala in 2018.

Anne Hathaway attends the Met Gala 2018. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Zoe Kravitz channeled Old Hollywood glamour with a mint-green velvet dress for her first Met Gala in 2008.

Zoe Kravitz arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" on May 5, 2008, in New York City. Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Kravitz sported a gown with a daring heart-shaped cutout for her most recent Met Gala appearance in 2019.

Zoe Kravitz attends the Met Gala for "Camp: Notes on Fashion" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019, in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Madonna looked fresh as a daisy at her first Met Gala in 1997.

Madonna, Donatella Versace, and Elton John at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Costume Institute's exhibition of the fashions of Gianni Versace in December 1997. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Madonna was regal in an all-black ensemble for her most recent Met Gala appearance in 2018.

Madonna attends the 2018 Met Gala. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Janelle Monáe sported a classic black-and-white ensemble - her signature colors - for her first Met Gala in 2011.

Janelle Monáe attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011, in New York City. Larry Busacca/Getty Images

But Monáe added some bold color to her most recent Met Gala look in 2019.

Janelle Monáe brought art to life at the 2019 Met Gala. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Naomi Campbell wore a multicolored, printed minidress to her first Met Gala in 1990.

Naomi Campbell and fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo attend the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on December 3, 1990. Rose Hartman/Getty Images

Campbell was all about the drama at her most recent Met Gala appearance, wearing pink from head to toe in 2019.

Naomi Campbell at the 2019 Met Gala. Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage/Getty Images

Gigi Hadid wore a slinky red gown for her first Met Gala appearance in 2015.

Gigi Hadid at the 2015 Met Gala. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor / Getty Images

Hadid brought high-fashion to the red carpet for the 2019 Met Gala with this shimmering and feathered catsuit.

Gigi Hadid at the 2019 Met Gala. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Bella Hadid wore a short black dress for her first Met Gala red carpet in 2015.

Bella Hadid at the 2015 Met Gala. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Hadid wore another black dress for her most recent Met Gala in 2019, but this ensemble featured way more bling.

Bella Hadid and Jeremy Scott at the 2019 Met Gala. John Shearer/Getty Images

Lupita Nyong'o made a splash with a feathered and mesh dress on her first Met Gala red carpet.

Lupita Nyong'o at the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Met Gala in May 2014. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Entertainment

Nyong'o wasn't afraid to bring the drama - or the color - with a rainbow gown covered in stars at the 2019 Met Gala.

Lupita Nyong'o attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute gala for "Camp: Notes on Fashion" on May 6, 2019, in New York. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Rita Ora looked chic in a white gown with glittering gold fringe for her first Met Gala in 2013.

Rita Ora attends the Costume Institute Gala for the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013, in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Ora sported a glittering gold gown for her most recent Met Gala red carpet in 2019.

Rita Ora attends the Met Gala for "Camp: Notes On Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019, in New York City. Karwai Tang/WireImage

Nicki Minaj kept things simple for her first Met Gala red carpet in 2013 with a navy-blue gown.

Nicki Minaj attends the Costume Institute Gala for the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013, in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Minaj was a pink dream at her most recent Met Gala appearance in 2019.

Nicki Minaj at the 2019 Met Gala. John Shearer/Getty Images

Celine Dion wore an intricate black gown with a daring thigh-high split for her first Met Gala in 2017.

Celine Dion attends the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between" Costume Institute Gala on May 1, 2017, in New York City. Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Dion stole the show at the 2019 Met Gala with an outfit that would've made any Vegas showgirl proud.

Celine Dion at the 2019 Met Gala. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Anna Wintour attended her first Met Gala in 1989, shortly after becoming the editor-in-chief of Vogue.

Anna Wintour attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Exhibition on December 4, 1989, in New York City. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Wintour looked pretty in pink with her playful ensemble for the 2019 Met Gala.

Wintour's dress was designed by the late Karl Lagerfeld. Getty/Dia Dipasupil

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