On the first Monday in May, your favourite celebrities transform into for the in Manhattan. They don’t merely stroll the , they ascend the steps of the Metropolitan Museum, wearing striking couture, and showcasing their original takes on the exhibition’s theme for everyone to see.

Unlike an awards show or movie premiere, the aim is not just to dazzle for a fleeting moment. It’s about crafting a look that can resonate for years to come. And many have succeeded in doing just that.

The dress code for this year is ‘Tailored for You,’ aligning with the upcoming exhibition at the museum, titled "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," which is running from May 10 to October 26, 2025. This exhibition will explore how clothing and style shape the evolution of Black identities across the Atlantic diaspora, with a particular focus on menswear.

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So, while we patiently wait to see who conquers the red carpet this year, it’s only fair to reflect on the best-dressed looks throughout the years.

From Sarah Jessica Parker and Alexander McQueen in matching kilts to Tyla in a dress that moulded to her body, that made her look like she effortlessly rolled in sand before taking to the red carpet. Here are seven of the best looks to appear on the Met Gala red carpet.

Sarah Jessica Parker is a name synonymous with fashion for her iconic looks on cult classic series Sex and the City. But when she walked the red carpet with the late Alexander McQueen in 2006, the fashion stood still for a minute.

The theme that year was “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion”, and Sarah Jessica Parker invited British designer Alexander McQueen to attend the event with her. Ultimately, McQueen went on to design coordinating looks constructed from red and black plaid, paying homage to British fashion.

In 2018, Zendaya arrived at the Met Gala dressed as Joan of Arc, cementing her status as a fashion icon. The theme that year was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”, which inspired the actresses’ look to don the armour of one of Catholicism’s most famed icons: Saint Joan of Arc.

The chainmail gown, designed by Versace, featured an armoured neck and shoulder piece, a spiked belt and a stunning train which effortlessly followed behind as she walked. The outfit was styled by her long-time stylist, Law Roach.

Last year, South African singer and songwriter Tyla made her Met Gala debut, and she definitely didn’t disappoint. The singer donned a dress made out of sand by French fashion house Balmain in a nod to the theme “The Garden of Time”.

The strapless gown was moulded to her body and subtly flared out in an organza train. Crafted from three shades of sand and adorned with micro-crystal studs, the dress sparkled with every move Tyla made. Complementing the evening's theme, she also carried the Balmain hourglass clutch.

In 2023, was so late to the Met Gala that many began to wonder if she would even attend. But when she finally showed up at 10 pm, she reminded everyone of the true meaning of being ‘fashionably late’. The singer arrived wearing a dramatic, white Valentino gown adorned with over 500 petals and a billowing train.

She capped off the outfit with white fingerless gloves, a favourite accessory of Karl Lagerfeld, paired with white cat-eye sunglasses and mega-long false lashes, and, of course, the boldest red lip you've ever seen. The theme that year was "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," a tribute to the late designer who helmed the fashion houses of Chanel and Fendi for many years.

In 2019, Cardi B made a spectacular return to the Met Gala, and she definitely came to impress. The theme for the evening was “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” and Cardi fully embraced it by stepping onto the red carpet in a massive quilted and feathered gown designed by Thom Brown.

While the stunning dress stole the spotlight, the rapper had a 10-person team to assist her as she ascended the stairs. The striking red gown, which took over 2,000 hours to craft, featured 30,000 burnt and dyed feathers, securing Cardi B's place in Met Gala red-carpet history.

Rihanna made Met Gala history again in 2018 when she arrived at the Met Gala dressed as the Pope. The theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," which also featured Zendaya dressed as Saint Joan of Arc, showcased Rihanna in a custom outfit by Maison Margiela.

The strapless hand-beaded dress was embellished with a hundred pearls and featured a matching sculptural jacket. Accessorising with a pearl anklet and a bejewelled crucifix necklace. Each piece of the outfit was crafted in an elaborate Seaform jacquard, requiring over 250 hours to sew and an additional 500 hours to hand-embroider.

Blake Lively showed up to the Met Gala and stole the show in 2022. The blonde beauty wore a custom Versace gown, inspired by New York City. The theme that year was “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” and Lively, one of the evening's hosts, underwent a significant dress transformation that perfectly reflected the theme.

The star initially walked up the stairs in a shimmering rose-gold gown with an extravagant bow, inspired by the Empire State Building. However, halfway up the stairs, she untied the bow to reveal a cascading blue train, inspired by the constellation décor at Grand Central Station. In contrast, her seven-tier crown symbolised the Statue of Liberty, which has seven rays.