Met Gala themes over the years: From Haute Couture to Karl Lagerfeld
Since 1973, each Met gala has followed a theme. Let’s take a look back at some of the more unusual ones.
The 2025 MET Gala has finally arrived and the annual fundraising event, with the distinction of being “Fashion’s biggest night out” will take place tonight at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Monday May 5, 2025. Organized by Vogue magazine, the gala brings together the world’s top designers, promising young creatives, models, A-list celebs and industry dignitaries.
Since 1973, each gala has followed a theme. Last year’s theme was ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ and in 2025 the theme is
A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, LeBron James and Colman Domingo have influenced the fashion industry as they have their respective fields. Vogue Business breaks down their impact. https://t.co/ifLwJ79Ov1
— Vogue Business (@voguebusiness) May 5, 2025
The theme of the night serves as the dress code and the gala is a major star-studded event. Themes can range from a vague idea or category to a tribute to a specific style icon. The official dress code this year is ‘The Garden of Time’ - inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story of the same title, which Vogue interprets as floral prints, basically anything flowery - including real flowers.
The theme for the 2020 Met Gala is "About Time: Fashion and Duration" and the co-chairs are Nicolas Ghesquiéra, Lin-Manuel Mirande, Meryl Streep, Emma Stone, and Anna Wintour.
— Coulture Magazine (@coulturemag) November 8, 2019
This will be iconic.
📸: Surreal, David Bailey, 1980 pic.twitter.com/skxdF64VvB
With the big night less than a week away, while the designers add the finishing touches to their looks let’s take a look back at previous Met Gala Themes.
Met Gala themes: 1973 to present
1973: The World of Balenciaga
The first Met Gala theme featured a retrospective of legendary Basque designer Cristóbal Balenciaga who had passed away the previous year. Acclaimed for his precision, technique and perfectionism, the Spanish designer was regarded as a master couturier by his contemporaries with Coco Chanel saying he was “The only couturier in the truest sense of the word”.
1974: Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design
Heroes and heroines... Hollywood and the age of the silver screen was the theme in 1974. The Met Gala explored the larger than life history of Hollywood fashion.
1975: American Women of Style
Organized by Diana Vreeland, the 1975 exhibition celebrated imagination, originality, energy, freedom - the ingredients of style and the vision of 10 American women designers from the 19th Century to the present.
1976: The Glory of Russian Costume
Garments, accessories and photographs from across Russia was the centerpiece of the 1976 Met Gala installation. Russian traditional dress began developing in the ninth century and many examples were acquired and put on display.
1977: Vanity Fair: A Treasure Trove
Costume institute consultant Diana Vreeland put together an exhibition which explored Hollywood and society plucked from fashion bible Vanity Fair‘s private collection.
1978: Diaghilev: Costumes and Designs of the Ballets Russes
Russian ballet costumes were the star of the 1978 Met Gala installation. Looking back to when Diaghilev first presented Russian ballet to Paris in May 1909, astonishing audiences with the striking, colorful designs.
1979: Fashions of the Habsburg Era: Austria-Hungary
The 1979 Met Gala theme was a lesson in European history and fashion. The show presented more than 150 costumes, uniforms, and military and equestrian trappings dating from the eighteenth century in Austria and Hungary to the collapse of the Hapsburg Empire in 1918.
1980: The Manchu Dragon: Costumes of China, the Chi’ng Dynasty
“In the land of jade, everything seems possible - and in many ways, more vivid than life” Vreeland noted in her forward to the catalogue of the 1980 exhibition - an extensive era of intricate and opulent Chinese fashion.. The Chi’ng Dynasty period in China marked the Asian country’s last imperial dynasty.
1982: Le Belle Époque
The 1982 installation focused on the period in French and European history that began in the 1880s and ended with the start of WWI. Le Belle Époque emerged from the dream and grandiose plans of Napoleon III and Baron Haussmann for the transformation of Paris.
1983: Yves Saint Laurent 25 Years of Design
Yves Saint Laurent became the first living designer honored by the Met Gala with a retrospective celebrating his 25-year career.
MET Gala themes 1973-2024
- 1984: Man and the Horse
- 1985: Costumes of Royal India
- 1986: Dance
- 1987: In Style: Celebrating 50 Years of the Costume Institute
- 1988: From Queen to Empress: Victorian Dress 1837–1877
- 1989: The Age of Napoleon: Costume from Revolution to Empire, 1789–1815
- 1990: Théâtre de la Mode – Fashion Dolls: The Survival of Haute Couture
- 1992: Fashion and History: A Dialogue
- 1993: Diana Vreeland: Immoderate Style
- 1994: Orientalism: Vision of the East in Western Dress
- 1995: Haute Couture
- 1996: Christian Dior
- 1997: Gianni Versace
- 1998: Cubism and Fashion
- 1999: Rock Style
- 2001: Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years
- 2003: Goddess: The Classical Mode
- 2004: Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century
- 2005: The House of Chanel
- 2006: Anglomania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion
- 2007: Poiret: King of Fashion
- 2008: Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy
- 2009: The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion
- 2010: American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity
- 2011: Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
- 2012: Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations
- 2013: Punk: Chaos to Couture
- 2014: Charles James: Beyond Fashion
- 2015: China: Through the Looking Glass
- 2016: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology
- 2017: Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between
- 2018: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
- 2019: Camp: Notes on Fashion
- 2020: About Time: Fashion and Duration
- 2021: In America: A Lexicon of Fashion
- 2022: Gilded Glamour
- 2023: Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
- 2024: Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion
- 2025: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style
2022: “Gilded Glamour”
Last year’s Met Gala theme paid homemade to the Gilded Age in New York. This was also the year that Kim Kardashian wore one of Marilyn Monroe’s preserved dresses on loan from Ripley’s Believe It or Not’s collection.
Kim Kardashian wears Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ dress for the 2022 #MetGala. pic.twitter.com/IQRqbwB5I4
— Pop Base (@PopBase) May 3, 2022
2021: In America: A Lexicon of Fashion
In 2021, The Met Gala theme served to celebrate the evolution of American style throughout history. Many attendees focused on wearing infamous American designers.
thinking about imaan hammam at the 2021 met gala wearing atelier versace spring/summer 2002 pic.twitter.com/0OLaiDiu0K
— ❦ (@thesoftestaura) April 25, 2023
Kendall’s 2021 met gala look by Givenchy inspired by Audrey custom dress made by Givenchy is everything!!! pic.twitter.com/MB3AxBvaOo
— bezh 💋 (@pYSLrada) April 21, 2023
2020: “About Time: Fashion and Duration”
Unfortunately, the Met Gala in 2020 was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, some stars showed off the outfits they would have worn if the gala had gone on.
2019: “Camp: Notes on Fashion”
The 2019 Met Gala sent viewers into a frenzy over confusion as to what ‘Camp’ truly meant. However, attendees came dressed in bright colors, big and bold silhouettes, and eccentric fabrics.
Amén a la Met Gala del 2019, Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion y los que nos dieron ellos con sus looks, de mis Met Gala top por siempre pic.twitter.com/kbXfRgIEbK
— MAYHEM (@RayferTuBebe) April 25, 2023
the time when lady gaga co-chair the met gala embodying the theme CAMP and delivered a 16-minute entrance and four looks and was named the greatest #metgala entrance of all time by vogue… no one has ever mothered like this https://t.co/nvtNrZYzlP
— pop culture gal (@allurequinn) May 1, 2023
2018: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”
the 2018 met gala was one for the books pic.twitter.com/aFYkoMsAMV
— 2000s (@PopCulture2000s) May 4, 2025
one of my favorite met gala looks — gigi hadid for met gala (2018) pic.twitter.com/mKGO3M1fSI
— kp (@earthlykisssed) April 4, 2025
the most iconic look she's ever worn, custom versace at the 2018 met gala! pic.twitter.com/E9zPk0Q4ZH
— ❧ (@miumiuseums) April 24, 2023
2017: “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between”
Met Gala 2017
— Noah (@NoahFentys) April 18, 2023
For “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between,” Rihanna chose a structured dress made of floral rosettes from the honorary design house itself. pic.twitter.com/0hV1Lp6Hi6
Zendaya's 2017 Met Gala look will always have a special place in my heart https://t.co/vHubTgblFR pic.twitter.com/u3xIwF0kL5
— val (@TheBatmanII) April 22, 2023
2016: “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”
Zayn malik at the 2016 met gala pic.twitter.com/gSAXAEBcIr
— Kiana (@heyzihere) April 25, 2023
forever thinking of how breathtakingly gorgeous amber heard looked in this ralph lauren gown at the 2016 met gala pic.twitter.com/uxxYcDWVUz
— corinne ☆ (@MIUCClAMUSE) April 22, 2023
2015: “China: Through the Looking Glass”
Rihanna at the Met Gala, 2015. pic.twitter.com/eCYEr2B1Ba
— ☈ (@RihannaServes) April 21, 2023
they owned 2015 met gala. pic.twitter.com/8ACTe8XY5J
— s∀sha ✧ (@gardenoflightt) December 17, 2024
2014: “Charles James: Beyond Fashion”
eleven years ago today, taylor swift and karlie kloss on the met gala red carpet
— gaylor throwbacks (@throwbackgaylor) May 5, 2025
may 5, 2014 pic.twitter.com/sK6VaAoxR8
Rihanna at the 2014 Met Gala pic.twitter.com/gHhvAhspVk
— ☈ (@RihannaServes) May 2, 2024
2013: “Punk: Chaos to Couture”
MET GALA 2013 PUNK: CHAOS TO COUTURE ✨ pic.twitter.com/AbAl2EhonT
— lone wolf (@lonewolfperry) September 21, 2020
2012: “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations”
Anna Wintour names Beyoncé’s 2012 met gala looks as one of her favourites pic.twitter.com/632bmjtdID
— ivy (@ivyonthemove) September 10, 2021
Our Favorite Beyoncé Fashion Moments: The Met Gala (2012) pic.twitter.com/34h7RBtmoi
— BEYONCÉ LEGION 𐚁 (@BeyLegion) June 10, 2016
2011: “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”
No thoughts, head empty. Just the 2011 Met Gala and Christina Ricci in this Zac Posen dress. pic.twitter.com/0CYQ87yVq6
— 𝐒𝐀𝐅.🝮 (@italybutoncrack) March 30, 2021
Met Gala 2011 ⭐️
— rimma 🌷 (@deluxshor) May 5, 2025
i moaned pic.twitter.com/jNcwu1dFok
2010: “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity”
André Leon Talley's Ralph Rucci cape he wore to the 2010 met gala is now immortalized in the exhibit ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kUSdniGkUy
— 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽 (@mooglare) May 3, 2022
taylor wearing ralph lauren at the met gala 2010. pic.twitter.com/UbrPHFEQUU
— 🦋 (@getawaybad) May 6, 2018
2001 to 2009
2009: “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion”
Rihanna in Dolce & Gabbana at the 2009 Met Gala. pic.twitter.com/2jQbTTU1w7
— FentyStats (@FentyStats) May 1, 2022
Shalom Harlow wearing Bob Mackie for the Met Gala 2009 pic.twitter.com/yBZzlLZGMW
— DvilCouture (@DvilCouture) January 9, 2023
2008: “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”
gisele attending the 2008 met gala “superheroes: fashion and fantasy” wearing versace fall 2008, modeled previously by carmen kass pic.twitter.com/8IbV7U36XC
— charles (@barnhillls) May 2, 2025
no WAY did taylor see scarlett at the met gala in 2008 and they looked like THIS? WHAT pic.twitter.com/u8C1L7V1lj
— rey-a ripley😈 (@riptidemerhea) March 6, 2022
2007: “Poiret: King of Fashion”
Jessica Stam wearing Dior spring 1998 at the 2007 Met Gala pic.twitter.com/6qDhZW5asy
— ꧁𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞꧂ (@esotericbondgrl) January 20, 2023
Lindsay Lohan at the Met Gala, 2007. #MetGala pic.twitter.com/t15msdznjP
— Lindsay Lohan Brasil (@LindsayDeeLohan) September 13, 2021
2006: “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion”
sjp and mcqueen at the anglomania met gala 2006 pic.twitter.com/uAsSI7QyOU
— thatadult (@rianphin) April 26, 2022
Gisele Wearing Christian Dior SS97 HC at the 2006 Met Gala pic.twitter.com/0jxFvmxso2
— bezh 💋 (@pYSLrada) January 6, 2023
2005: “The House of Chanel”
Lil’ Kim at the 2005 Met Gala
— Female Rap Room (@FemaleRapRoom) May 3, 2021
(with Marc Jacobs)
Theme: The House of Chanel pic.twitter.com/pIFpMfVkBV
Selma Blair wearing Chanel at the Met gala 2005 pic.twitter.com/cTe36SEQxE
— millah (@ARTFASHIONTHING) April 26, 2023
2004: “Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century”
Scarlet Johanssen at the met gala 2004 wearing a yellow silk gown from Calvin Klein (I am in love!) pic.twitter.com/m15wy6S7nq
— linda (@itgirlenergy) July 20, 2022
2003: “Goddess: The Classical Mode”
iman and david bowie at the MET gala, 2003 pic.twitter.com/VjiAFQl05X
— badria (@MUSENTHUSIAST) September 13, 2021
gisele wearing d&g at the 2003 met gala pic.twitter.com/3rJ8RaW2QC
— RINA. (@LAVIDAPRADA) March 28, 2021
2002: No theme
Céline Dion for the Met Gala 2002 ✨🕰 pic.twitter.com/MGyobv6Zjm
— 90sceline (@90sceline3) May 2, 2022
2001: “Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years”
jessica simpson at the 2001 met gala pic.twitter.com/CQAfFyIb9e
— dominic • fan account (@INTHISSKINS) April 27, 2023
crown princess marie chantal referencing a dress worn by jacqueline kennedy in cambodia in 1967 for the met gala in 2001. the theme was “jacqueline kennedy: the white house years”. pic.twitter.com/eqkGAxA1RH
— C 💒 (@churchofysl) June 19, 2022
How can I watch the 2025 Met Gala red carpet?
The Met Gala is always held on the first Monday in May, which is May 5, 2025. Ahead of the gala, which gets underway at 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, celebrities and others connected with the fashion world will be out on the red carpet, showing off their best sides, if not all sides, to the assorted cameras.
The whole event will be streamed live on Vogue’s official website (www.vogue.com), and you can also follow everything as it happens on their social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Vogue’s livestream will be hosted by singer/actor Teyana Taylor, actor/producer La La Anthony, and “Saturday Night Live” star Ego Nwodim. Entertainment channel E! provides another option of the gala live.
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