Ever since she graced the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for her first Met Gala in 2013, Kim Kardashian always delivered head-turning looks. She’s become one-to-watch at the annual fête, always putting on a sartorial spectacle.
She may have just been ex-husband Kanye West‘s plus-one in 2013, but today, Kardashian works with esteemed designers to pull off a one-of-a-kind design every year. She’s worked with Riccardo Tisci during his tenure at Givenchy, Alber Elbaz during his reign at Lanvin, Olivier Rousteing of Balmain, Demna of Balenciaga, Donatella Versace as well as Thierry Mugler.
Kardashian’s looks haven’t come without controversy. She became meme-fodder after her pregnant appearance in a full-floral Givenchy gown, criticized for not adhering to the theme in her simplistic white Vivienne Westwood gown during the “Rei Kawakubo/ Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between” exhibition and of course, she faced backlash for taking Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 Swarovski crystal-embellished Jean Louis gown out of preservation last year. Despite the chatter, Kardashian’s walk up the Met staircase is always a highlight of the night.
To refresh your memory, GRAZIA USA gathered all of Kardashian’s Met Gala looks through the years.
2023: Kim Kardashian in Schiaparelli
Despite rumors that the Kardashian-Jenner family would be banned from this year’s Gala, Kardashian attended the grand affair with her youngest sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner. The exhibition titled “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” came with the dress code, “in honor of Karl.”
Kardashian wore a custom Schiaparelli look made entirely of pearls, designed by creative director Daniel Roseberry. “I wanted pearls,” she said on the red carpet. “I thought, ‘What is more Karl [than] the iconic Chanel pearls?” A perennial design staple of the late, great designer, Kardashian’s ensemble included a draped top and skirt made from over 16,000 crystals and over 50,000 freshwater pearls with a whitewashed faille stole and a blush satin molded corset. Kardashian continued, “I wanted to be dripping in pearls. I told my daughter to grab them all, they’re real pearls.” Recounting how a few began to pop off en route, Kardashian advised her eldest daughter North West to put the loose pearls in her purse to save.
Styled by Danielle Levi, Kardashian accessorized with pearl drop earrings, an ornate bejeweled choker and an articulated ring, crafted from crystals and baroque pearls.
2022: Kim Kardashian in vintage Jean Louis
Does, “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” ring a bell? Kim Kardashian slipped into Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 Swarovski-covered shimmering Jean Louis dress for the 2022 Met Gala, 60 years after the actress wore the gown to serenade President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden for his 45th birthday. Originally sketched by Bob Mackie, who was working under Louis at the time, the gown was purchased by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in 2016. The dress choice caused quite a bit of controversy, opening a debate as to whether it’s ethical to take historical garments out of preservation.
2021: Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga
Kardashian celebrated the “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” exhibition in 2021 in a fully-cloaked Balenciaga creation by Demna. Shrouded in anonymity, the look spoke to how recognizable Kardashian‘s figure is. At the time, the SKIMS mogul took to Instagram to beg the question, “What’s more American than a T-shirt head to toe?!”
2019: Kim Kardashian in Mugler
Displaying her dramatic hourglass figure with the help of a waist-cinching corset from the incomparable Mr. Pearl for 2019’s “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” Kardashian appeared dripping in crystals in a Thierry Mugler custom creation inspired by actress Sophia Loren emerging from the water in the 1957 film Boy on a Dolphin.
2018: Kim Kardashian in Versace
Kardashian attended the 2018 Met Gala, celebrating the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” exhibit in an ethereal gold chain metal Versace gown, embellished with cross insignia.
2017: Kim Kardashian in Vivienne Westwood
For her first Met Gala sans Kanye, Kardashian wore an angelic off-the-shoulder white Vivienne Westwood gown with a corseted bodice for the “Rei Kawakubo/ Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between” exhibit.
2016: Kim Kardashian in Balmain
For the 2016 Met Gala, Kardashian sported a robotic-inspired Balmain dress, fully embellished with silver beading in honor of the “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age of Technology” exhibit.
2015: Kim Kardashian in Roberto Cavalli
Drawing inspiration from Cher’s 1974 Met Gala Bob Mackie dress, Kardashian adorned a similar confection designed by Peter Dundas for Roberto Cavalli to celebrate the “China: Through the Looking Glass” exhibit.
2014: Kim Kardashian in Lanvin
Embodying Old Hollywood, Kardashian wore a strapless satin navy gown with a thigh-high slit by Lanvin’s former creative director, the late Alber Elbaz.
2013: Kim Kardashian in Givenchy
The SKKN by KIM founder attended her very first Met Gala in 2013 with ex-husband Kanye West while she was pregnant with their first child, North. Kardashian adorned a floral gown designed by Riccardo Tisci for the French fashion house Givenchy to celebrate the exhibit, “PUNK: Chaos to Couture.” The reality star has spoken at length about how she felt no one really wanted her there, and that she was simply West’s plus-one. Three covers of American Vogue later, Kardashian has proven herself to be a staple of the event.
