Best Met Gala Looks Of The Last Decade

Let’s see who really wore it best.

POSTED 24.04.26 09:20 BY ANNMARY MAILYAN

Judging celebrity red carpet looks is my guilty pleasure. Whenever there’s a big event—like the Grammys or the Oscars—I’m already waiting to see what everyone shows up in. Sometimes it’s about getting outfit inspiration, sometimes it’s pure criticism, convincing myself that I could obviously style it better. All that, of course, while I’m sitting in an oversized old t-shirt and sweatpants.

And then there’s the Met Gala—arguably the most influential night in the fashion industry. It’s the perfect excuse to go all in and not worry about overdressing, cause in this case, the more, the better. Over the past 10 years, there have been so many stunning looks, and honestly, narrowing them down was quite a challenge. Still, here are some of my favorite Costume Institute Benefit outfits.

Dakota Fanning, 2016

While her sister Elle is known for her softer palette looks, Dakota leans toward darker tones and a gothic romance aesthetic. And, as we can see, it suits her perfectly. In 2016, she wore a Nini Ricci gown, which remains one of my favorites. It wasn’t the most dramatic look of the night, but it offered a subtle interpretation of the theme of the year, which was “Manus X Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, 2017

The theme of the Met Gala 2017 was “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between”, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen understood the assignment. Stepping aside from their usual dark minimalism, they went all in with layered, bohemian-style vintage pieces paired with statement accessories. If this doesn’t scream avant-garde, then I don’t know what does.

Blake Lively, 2018

If you ask me, the main character of the 2018 event was Blake Lively, taking up the whole space, both literally and figuratively. Her dress from Versace, paired with a halo headpiece, was perfect for the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme. I feel like she was born to wear royal-inspired dresses and deeper shades that look flattering with her fair features.

Saoirse Ronan, 2019

Not everyone can pull off dramatic and theatrical looks without it feeling like too much. But Saoirse Ronan absolutely nailed the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” theme. She wore a custom Gucci gown in bold red and green colors with armor-inspired shoulders and flame-like details. On someone else, it might feel overwhelming, but on Saoirse? It’s sensational.

Dua Lipa, 2023

The theme of the 2023 Met Gala was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”, honoring the life and creations of Lagerfeld. This was probably my favorite year, as it presented so many delicate and sophisticated looks. One of them was Dua Lipa, in a 1992 Chanel haute couture bridal gown. And it looks amazing on her, creating such a beautiful contrast with her dark hair and makeup. A modern Disney princess, if you ask me.

Jenna Ortega, 2023

I might be a little biased here because I absolutely love the combination of gothic and old romance in fashion. And Jenna Ortega, being the gothic icon that she is, truly delivered. Wearing a Thom Browne dress, she incorporated key Karl Lagerfeld details, such as a classic black and white palette, a bow collar, and a tweed fabric.

Gigi Hadid, 2024

The 2024 Met Gala leaned heavily into florals, and I loved it. The theme was actually called “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”, focusing on the historical garments. One of my favorite looks of that year was Gigi Hadid, who channeled a proper Old Hollywood aesthetic, something à la Marilyn Monroe. She wore a simple white Thom Browne gown with a corseted bodice and a dramatic skirt covered in 3D flowers. It reportedly took around 13,500 hours to create this dress, which is frankly insane.

Dove Cameron, 2024

Dove Cameron is one of those few people who can absolutely pull off both an edgy, grunge aesthetic with dark hair, smoky eyes, and black ensembles and soft, almost fairy-like styles. Her Victorian-inspired Diesel gown matched the “Garden of Times” dress code perfectly, designed to represent being frozen in time.

Jennie, 2025

And we’ve reached the Met Gala 2025, the theme of which was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”. Jennie was easily one of my favorite looks. She opted for a tuxedo-inspired Chanel ensemble and accessorized it with a two-tone hat, pearl chain detailing, and a camellia flower. I wish she wore this refined and vintage-inspired style more often, as it suits her truly well.

Laura Harrier, 2025

Last on the list we have Laura Harrier, who shined in a Zac Posen ensemble. I love how versatile and contrasted her outfit looks, featuring wide-leg silk pants, a structured waistcoat, and voluminous sheer sleeves. She managed to blend period fashion elegance with a modern twist. And she did it with such grace.

Check out my Fizzypicks for your next big event outfits.

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