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Each year, the Met Gala is to high-profile tastemakers what prom is to high-school seniors. Not only does it provide a legitimate excuse for getting dressed to the nines (according to a theme, of course), the annual soiree also celebrates and raises money for the Met Costume Institute’s fashion exhibition. Plus there’s the best Met Gala beauty looks that are routinely added to an esteemed “best-ever” list. And for those of us who are relegated to watching it all unfold from our Instagram feeds, it’s when our inner “Fashion Police” come out to play.
In its 70+-year history, the gala has delivered an abundance of beauty inspiration that runs the gamut of classic to avant-garde. This year’s “Camp: Notes on Fashion” theme promises to deliver more of the unexpected. But before it all unfolds next month, take a look back at some of our favorite hair and makeup moments. If any of these ladies plan to hit the red carpet in a few weeks, we know they’ll bring it…and then some.
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Beyoncé at the “China: Through the Looking Glass” 2015 Met Gala.
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Bianca Jagger at the 1981 Met Gala.
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Cara Delevingne at the “China: Through the Looking Glass” 2015 Met Gala.
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Cara Delevingne at the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between” 2017 Met Gala.
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Cher at the 1985 Met Gala.
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Christy Turlington at the 1992 Met Gala.
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Coco Rocha at the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” 2013 Met Gala.
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FKA Twigs at the “China: Through the Looking Glass” 2015 Met Gala.
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Gisele Bündchen at the 2010 Met Gala.
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Janelle Monáe at the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between” 2017 Met Gala.
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January Jones at the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” 2013 Met Gala.
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Jennifer Lopez at the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” 2013 Met Gala.
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.Joan Smalls at the “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” 2014 Met Gala.
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Katy Perry at the “China: Through the Looking Glass” 2015 Met Gala.
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Lily Aldridge at the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between” 2017 Met Gala.
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Lily Collins at the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between” 2017 Met Gala.
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Lupita Nyong’o at the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” 2016 Met Gala.
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Madonna at the “The Model as Muse” 2009 Met Gala.
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Nicole Richie at the “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” 2014 Met Gala.
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Reese Witherspoon at the “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” 2014 Met Gala.
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Rihanna at the “China: Through the Looking Glass” 2015 Met Gala.
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Rihanna at the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between” 2017 Met Gala.
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Rita Ora at the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between” 2017 Met Gala.
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Sarah Jessica Parker at the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” 2013 Met Gala.
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Solange at the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between” 2017 Met Gala.
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Zendaya at the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between” 2017 Met Gala.
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Zendaya at the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” 2016 Met Gala.
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Zoe Kravitz at the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between” 2017 Met Gala.
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Cardi B. at the 2019 “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” Met Gala.
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Cynthia Erivo at the 2019 “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” Met Gala.
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Kerry Washington at the 2019 “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” Met Gala.
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Kim Kardashian at the 2019 “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” Met Gala.
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Priyanka Chopra at the 2019 “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” Met Gala.
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Tessa Thompson at the 2019 “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” Met Gala.