All the celebrities are getting ready to light up the room at the 2025 Met Gala, featuring the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” We can’t help but look back at the glamorous outfits and memorable moments of the annual fashion event created by Eleanor Lambert in 1948. From Princess Diana’s sole appearance to the gorgeous couples we forgot about, these snapshots of the prestigious affair from the 1980s through 2008 are a trip down memory lane.
Christina Ricci
GettyThe 2008 Met Gala theme was “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy,” and Christina Ricci exquisitely combined both aspects. She wore a Wonder Woman-inspired, super-cinched corset bodysuit covered by a sheer layer of cotton candy pink tulle and chiffon. Her red clutch perfectly matched her red bodysuit.
George Clooney & Julia Roberts
GettyGeorge Clooney and Julia Roberts were the 2008 Met Gala co-chairs, with Giorgio Armani as honorary chair. Roberts went the fantasy route, looking queenly and regal in her silver Giorgio Armani Privé gown and diamond drop earrings. She carried a diamond-encrusted white clutch, while Clooney looked dapper in his Armani tuxedo. Just a year after “Ocean’s Thirteen” came out, Clooney and Roberts were tighter than ever.
Diane Kruger & Joshua Jackson
GettyIt seems like a lifetime ago that Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson were a couple. The gorgeous duo was often seen as the king and queen of the Met Gala when they were together. They made their debut at the soiree in 2008. Kruger looked relaxed in a silver Alberta Ferretti cocktail dress with a sequin ornament on one shoulder. While her clutch matched the dress, her hot pink peek-a-boo Jimmy Choos added some flirty sass. Looking handsome in white and black, Jackson held tightly to his love’s hand.
Marc Anthony & Jennifer Lopez
GettyAttending with then-husband Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez decided to stick with an elegant, one-shouldered, teal, Alberta Ferretti dress. The dress didn’t seem to fit into the superhero category, and was much more subdued than the outfits she’s worn since. She accessorized the pleated, shiny gown with a cuff bracelet that matched the bodice’s beading and a sparkly clutch. Anthony wore a classic suit and silver tie to accompany Lopez.
Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise
GettyFour years before they split up, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise made their Met Gala debut at the “Superheroes”-themed bash. Holmes was stunning in a sleeveless, shiny, red, sequined Giorgio Armani dress. She accessorized with the tiniest clutch, several long necklaces, and vivid blue heels, giving off Superman vibes with the color scheme. Cruise was well-dressed in a black tuxedo with a white tie.
Stella McCartney, Kim Basinger, & Scarlett Johansson
GettyStella McCartney, Kim Basinger, and Scarlett Johansson had completely different approaches to “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion.” McCartney cut a striking figure in white pants, a button-down white vest, and a white jacket. To complete the look, she wore open-toed heels and pulled her hair up into a sleek bun.
Basinger looked like she couldn’t decide between a pantsuit and a gown. So, she compromised with a white button-down shirt, off-white satin, embroidered skirt, and a white belt to cinch it all together.
Johansson looks the most evening-ready of the three, wearing a midnight blue, sparkly, sequined gown. Cut low and secured with a slim belt, her dress made her stand out among her pals.
Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos
GettyActors and talk show hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have been married for thirty years and are still adorable. In 2007, the couple attended the Met Gala themed “Poiret: King of Fashion” and looked cozy in most of the snaps.
Ripa wore a coral-colored satin gown that was form-fitting down to her ankles and had a small train at the end. The dress featured a rope pattern that snaked across her middle, top, and single arm strap. She wore matching bracelets and kept her makeup fresh and simple. Consuelos looked smart in a black tuxedo and black tie.
Lindsay Lohan
GettyAt the 2006 Met Gala, Lindsay Lohan wore a strapless Marchesa gown. Lohan looked classically beautiful in the grey and white floral midi, with a chiffon overlay. She also wore a wide black belt with a chiffon floral embellishment on the back.
“I didn’t really know what I was gonna experience at going to the Met Gala and really being appreciated and welcomed to this event,” she said during Vogue’s “Life in Looks.” And I was just so excited to go there.”
Drew Barrymore, Stuart Townsend & Charlize Theron
GettyAt the 2006 Met Gala, it’s debatable whether Drew Barrymore’s black low-cut lace, strapless Oscar de la Renta gown met the criteria for “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion.” Nonetheless, she looks fantastic with her red lip and perfectly coiffed hair.
Charlize Theron fit the theme with a floor-length crimson satin ball gown with off-the-shoulder tulle and diamond embellishments. Her hair was styled in a pompadour updo. Her partner at the time, Stuart Townsend, wore a classic black tuxedo and black tie.
Victoria Beckham
GettyVictoria Beckham’s Met Gala looks have indeed become increasingly conservative since 2003’s Met Gala. That was the year she debuted a sparkly blue, lingerie-inspired slip dress by Dolce & Gabbana.
However, in 2006, the future fashion designer still showcased fun and flirty looks, and the Met Gala was no exception. Her strapless, bright red dress accentuated her waist before flaring out with layers of tulle. She wore simple drop earrings and a red and white necklace, and her red lips, toenails, and strappy heels completed the head-turning look.
Mary-Kate Olsen
GettyMary-Kate Olsen wore a black Badgley Mischka slip dress with long, lacy sleeves for her second Met Gala. She accessorized with diamond cuff bracelets and a white, furry handbag. She attended with her sister, Ashley.
“[The Olsens] are so easy to dress because they’re such fashionistas, so they know exactly what they like. It was also interesting that these young girls really liked to be covered up — long sleeves, very sophisticated,” Mark Badgley and James Mischka told Page Six.
“These were custom looks, so we went through fabrics together and they gave us an idea of what they liked,” they continued. “This was around the time that they were always photographed running around with their Starbucks, so it was fun to glam them up.”
Kirsten Dunst & Jake Gyllenhaal
GettyIn 2003, Kirsten Dunst and Jake Gyllenhaal were one of our favorite young couples. The two dated and lived together from 2002 until 2004, and halfway through their relationship, they went to the Met Gala together.
Dunst opted for a black strapless Mac Jacobs dress with lace fringe on the bottom, a layered necklace, and a blue Missoni beanie. Gyllenhall wore a classic black tuxedo jacket, but he went untraditional with a brown and white-dotted shirt and no tie. Although they look like a smitten young couple, they don’t appear to have put much thought into their ensembles other than “date night.” Still, Dunst looks adorable.
Tracy Pollan & Michael J. Fox
GettyIn 2003, Michael J. Fox and his wife of 14 years, Tracy Pollan, took a break from their (at the time) three-kid brood to attend the Met Gala. Fox looked debonair in a black tuxedo and black tie, while Pollan went for the goddess look in a floor-length white dress. Halter-style, Pollan’s look was simple elegance.
Princess Diana
JOHN STILLWELL/AFP via Getty ImagesPrincess Diana only attended one Met Gala. But, considering she was one of the most popular women and trendsetters of the 1990s, it’s no surprise that her look is considered iconic. She wore a lingerie-inspired navy blue slip dress with black lace detailing. Her accessories included a matching choker, earrings, and a square-shaped navy handbag.
In the documentary In Vogue: The 90s, designer John Galliano revealed that she had made the gown sexier by making an alternation on her own. “Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car. I couldn’t believe it. She’d ripped the corset out,” Galliano said. “She didn’t want to wear the corset.”
Cher
CherIn 1985, Cher attended the Met Gala, and that year’s theme was “Costumes of Royal India.” Cher, who attended with designer Bob Mackie, wore a “naked style” dress. However, the style was much more uncommon than it is now, and Cher received a lot of attention. The outfit consisted of a sheer, high-neck bodysuit, covered in strategically placed swirling sequins and beads. The black skirt was form-fitting and cut low in front. She paired the look with matching ear cuffs.
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Met Gala Throwback Photos: Vintage Edition