To anyone who has ever cared deeply about fashion and lives for the Met Gala every year, I understand how upsetting it is knowing that fashion’s biggest night has been cancelled for 2020. Although it brings me pain to even have to type the words, it’s time to face the reality, cry (a lot) and move on—And what better way to push past the sadness than revel in some of the best Met Gala looks of all time? By immersing ourselves in iconic ensembles from the 1990s up to 2019, maybe we can slowly start to forget (or at least come to terms with the fact) that the 2020 Met Gala has been postponed indefinitely. After all, who can be sad staring at Rihanna and Sarah Jessica Parker looking hot as hell throughout the years?
The Met Gala 2020 theme was slated to be “About Time: Fashion and Duration,” inspired by the 1992 film Orlando, which is based on the Virginia Woolf novel of the same name. While we won’t get to see the style interpretations of this theme—or get to see Emma Stone, Meryl Streep, Nicolas Ghesquière and Lin-Manuel Miranda co-chair—we can still admire looks from the past that are easily some of the best outfits of all time. I know it’s not quite the same, but perhaps there are some Met Gala looks you’ve never seen before, making this an all-new experience. Whatever makes the pain subside, friends!
Below, you’ll find 51 of the most unique, gorgeous and jaw-dropping Met Gala looks of all time. From Madonna’s iconic corset outfit and Rihanna’s puffy-sleeve tuxedo in 2009 to Billy Porter’s gold-winged look and Harry Style’s see-through shirt in 2019, there are so many swoon-worthy and inspiring ensembles to behold. Consider this the best of the best, and your front row seat to all things Met Gala through the years.
1. Rihanna, Met Gala 2015
Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/Shutterstock.
2. Madonna, Met Gala 2009
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock.
3. Lizzo Wearing Marc Jacobs, Met Gala 2019
Michael Buckner/Variety/Shutterstock.
4. Florence Welch, Met Gala 2012
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock.
5. Lady Gaga, Met Gala 2019
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety/Shutterstock.
6. Christina Ricci, Met Gala 2011
Charles Sykes/Shutterstock.
7. Karolina Kurkova, Met Gala 2005
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock.
8. Katie Holmes, Met Gala 2008
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock.
9. Kristen Stewart Wearing Stella McCartney, Met Gala 2013
Broadimage/Shutterstock.
10. Claire Danes, Met Gala 2005
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock.
11. Chloe Sevigny, Met Gala 1998
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock.
12. Mary Kate Olsen, Met Gala 2009
Kristin Callahan/Shutterstock.
13. Leighton Meester, Met Gala 2009
Charles Sykes/Shutterstock.
14. Rihanna, Met Gala 2009
Charles Sykes/Shutterstock .
15. Liv Tyler, Met Gala 2009
Henry Lamb/BEI/Shutterstock.
16. Billy Porter Wearing The Blonds, Met Gala 2019
Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/Shutterstock.
17. Naomi Campbell, Met Gala 2011
Charles Sykes/Shutterstock.
18. Kate Moss Wearing Marc Jacobs, Met Gala 2009
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock.
19. Sarah Jessica Parker Wearing Alexander McQueen, Met Gala 2011
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Stuart Ramson/AP/Shutterstock.
20. Janelle Monae, Met Gala 2011
Charles Sykes/Shutterstock.
21. Serena Williams, Met Gala 2011
Charles Sykes/Shutterstock.
22. Lana Del Ray, Met Gala 2012
Michael Bowles/Shutterstock.
23. Sarah Jessica Parker, Met Gala 2014
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/Shutterstock.
24. Janelle Monae Wearing Tadashi Shoji, Met Gala 2014
Broadimage/Shutterstock.
25. Beyonce Knowles, Met Gala 2012
Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/Shutterstock.
26. Miley Cyrus Wearing Marc Jacobs, Met Gala 2013
Broadimage/Shutterstock.
27. Sarah Jessica Parker Wearing Giles Deacon, Met Gala 2013
Broadimage/Shutterstock.
28. Kim Kardashian West Wearing Riccardo Tisci, Met Gala 2013
Broadimage/Shutterstock.
29. Katy Perry, Met Gala 2010
Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Shutterstock .
30. Madonna Wearing Givenchy, Met Gala 2013
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock.
31. Brie Larson Wearing Prada, Met Gala 2014
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock.
32. Katy Perry, Met Gala 2015
Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/Shutterstock.
33. Rihanna, Met Gala 2014
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock.
34. Rita Ora, Met Gala 2014
Henry Lamb/BEI/Shutterstock.
35. Solange Knowles, Met Gala 2015
Broadimage/Shutterstock.
36. Sarah Jessica Parker, Met Gala 2015
Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/Shutterstock.
37. Zendaya, Met Gala 2019
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock .
38. Lupita Nyong’o, Met Gala 2014
Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/Shutterstock.
39. Rosario Dawson, Met Gala 2010
Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Shutterstock .
40. Diana Ross, Met Gala 2003
Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Shutterstock .
41. Harry Styles & Jared Leto, Met Gala 2019
Matt Baron/Shutterstock.
42. Anna Wintour, Met Gala 2004
Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Shutterstock.
43. Claire Danes Wearing Prada, Met Gala 2007
Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Shutterstock.
44. Kylie Jenner & Kendall Jenner, Met Gala 2019
Broadimage/Shutterstock.
45. Chanel Iman, Met Gala 2008
Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Shutterstock.
46. Beyonce Knowles, Met Gala 2015
Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/Shutterstock.
47. Kirsten Dunst Wearing Yves Saint Laurent, Met Gala 2007
Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Shutterstock.
48. Beyonce Knowles, Met Gala 2011
Justin Lane/EPA/Shutterstock.
49. Ezra Miller Wearing Burberry, Met Gala 2019
David Fisher/Shutterstock.
50. Lena Waithe, Met Gala 2018
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock.
51. Rihanna, Met Gala 2017
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images.