Newsfeed
In the storied annals of fashion, few events have garnered as much attention as the Met Gala.
Beginning decades ago as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, the Met Gala has evolved to become one of the biggest spectacles on the world’s social calendar. And as the event has gotten bigger, so has the fashion. In fact, amidst all the rules of attending the exclusive event, playing it safe is a major faux paus.
Now held on the first Monday of every May, celebrities and notable figures of the fashion industry converge on the museum’s steps in the most extravagant fashion creations, with the public uniting to dish out their thoughts. After all, wherever there is fashion, there is controversy, particularly as invitees push the boundaries of convention to stand out.
Throughout the years, and across many themes, a pantheon of provocative outfits has stayed with us, continuing to ignite debate long after they’ve rolled up the red carpet. From Cara Delevingne’s ‘Peg the Patriarchy’ corset to Kim Kardashian’s floral Givenchy gown that launched a thousand memes, these ensembles have transcended mere garments to become major cultural touchstones in their own right.
As we prepare for the 2024 Met Gala, which is themed ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,’ we look back on some of the looks that have gone down in pop culture history. Whether it was the political statement they made or simply because they missed the mark, these are the most controversial looks to ever grace the Met Gala red carpet.
Princess Diana, 1996
The Met Gala attracts guests from the worlds of entertainment, fashion, philanthropy, and beyond, but royals have never been much for these glitzy Hollywood affairs. In 1996, though, Princess Diana drew global attention when she not only made an appearance but also opted for a more risqué look than usually required of royalty. Ditching the usual skirt suits and ball gowns, the late Princess of Wales opted instead for a camisole slip dress by John Galliano.
Taylor Swift, 2016
Taylor Swift‘s 2016 appearance at the Met Gala wasn’t inherently controversial, but her dramatic beauty transformation had tongues wagging.
Set to debut her edgier album, Reputation, the singer ditched her signature golden curls for a platinum, textured bob and eschewed a red lip in favour of a deep burgundy look.
Rihanna, 2018
The unofficial Queen of the Met Gala, Rihanna‘s red carpet track record is faultless. For the event’s 2018 theme, ‘Heavenly Bodies,’ though, she ruffled some feathers in the religious sphere.
Wearing a custom-made John Galliano gown that came complete with crosses and a papal-inspired headdress, some netizens accused the singer of blasphemy and making a mockery of Catholicism.
On the red carpet, Rihanna simply quipped that it would be a “sin” not to have worn it.
Selena Gomez, 2018
No one is immune to the tribulations of a quick tan. Unfortunately for Selena Gomez, who rarely, if ever, misses a beat with her glam, decided to lean into the ‘goddess’ vibes of her Coach dress with sunkissed skin. As many onlookers pointed out, she may have gone a touch too hard on the bronzer, though.
Years later, the Rare Beauty founder referred to the look as her most “memorable” beauty disaster.
“While I was getting ready for the Met Gala a few years ago, we put on a bit of tanning lotion and it looked beautiful, but as the night went on, it kept getting darker and darker,” she told Glamour UK. “When I sat down [at the event], I saw a photo of myself, and it looked completely orange, and here I am at this prestigious event. My first thought was, ‘I have to get out of here!’”
Hailey Bieber, 2019
The ‘exposed thong’ trend has come and gone a few times over the years, but for the Met Gala’s 2018 ‘Camp’ theme, Hailey Bieber took the look to new heights in Alexander Wang.
With a faux thong strap reaching high up around her waist, the jury was out on whether it was flattering or not.
Kim Kardashian, 2021
Never one to miss a selfie op, many were left scratching their heads when Kim Kardashian arrived at the 2021 Met Gala red carpet—themed ‘In America: A Lexicon of Fashion’—with her face and body entirely masked in an opaque ensemble by Balenciaga.
According to a source, she was inspired by her then-husband, Kanye West, who encouraged her to make a commentary about the nature of her celebrity.
“There’s no logo, no face, but everyone knows it’s her,” the source told Page Six. “Kanye gave her the courage to push creativity and people’s imagination through art. It’s the ultimate confidence.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 2021
The Met Gala often gets a bad rap for vaunting wealth in the face of global turmoil. So, for her first Met Gala, Democratic politician and activist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (better known as AOC) decided to make a political statement with her look.
Designed by Brother Vellies, the white strapless gown was affixed with the slogan, ‘Tax The Rich’ in large red lettering.
“We can never get too comfortable in our seats at the table once they’ve been given,” Aurora James, founder and creative director of Brother Vellies and the founder of the 15 Percent Pledge, told Vogue at the time. “We must always continue to push ourselves, push our colleagues, push the culture and push the country forward. Fashion is changing, America is changing. And as far as this theme goes, I think Alexandria and I are a great embodiment of the language fashion needs to consider adding to the general lexicon as we work towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and empowered future.”
Kim Kardashian, 2022
If you weren’t captivated by the drama of this look, allow us to take you back.
For part two of ‘In America’ in 2022, which was themed ‘Gilded Glamour’, Kim Kardashian reached deep into the archives of American fashion history with this bedazzled Bob Mackie dress originally worn by Marilyn Monroe to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to President John F. Kennedy in 1962. If you’re wondering how she obtained such a piece, it was actually taken out of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum collection and could only be worn for a few minutes before she changed into a replica for the rest of the evening.
The controversy began when reports circulated that the reality star tore the iconic dress while she was being stitched in and out of it, returning it in less-than-ideal condition. In response, many people were furious that she was able to loan the dress.
A representative from Riples Believe It Or Not! then went on the record to contest these claims, arguing that the dress has naturally worn over time.
