As the first Monday of May approaches, I thought now would be an amazing time to go through the history of the Met Gala to assemble the best and...not-so-best looks.
The theme in 1995 was "Haute Couture."
Haute Couture — French for "high fashion" — usually consists of hours and hours of custom work on a garment. It's one of a kind and is essentially a walking piece of art.
Honorable mention goes to Clarissa Broffman:
Look at ALL OF THOSE EMBROIDERED FLOWERS! My goodness. I can't even imagine how long this took to make.
Best dressed goes to Naomi Campbell:
All. Those. Sparkles. In Naomi's case, all that glitters is gold.
Not my fave goes to Kate Moss:
Don't get me wrong! The dress is gorgeous! It just doesn't scream "Haute Couture." It's more like, "Cher, get in here!" "Yes, Daddy?" "What is that?" "A dress." "According to who?" "Calvin Klein."
The theme in 1996 was Christian Dior, and in 1997 it was Gianni Versace. I *personally* feel like I can judge an outfit based on whether it fits the theme, but if the theme is a designer, then I will politely skip these years because I am not tryna catch no atelier smoke!
The theme in 1998 was "Cubism and Fashion."
According to The Met, "Cubism (an art style that emphasized the flat, two-dimensional surface of the picture plane, rejecting the traditional techniques of perspective...and time-honored theories that art should imitate nature) and Fashion demonstrates for the first time how the fundamental traits of Cubist art were translated into fashion during the critical years from 1908 into the early 1920s and how Cubism has continued to influence designers even to the present."
There aren't many photos I am able to access because it was so long ago, but I didn't wanna leave you hanging, so here's a pic of Sigourney Weaver looking fabulous:
The theme in 1999 was "Rock Style."
Pretty self-explanatory if you ask me!
Honorable mention goes to Amber Valletta:
I can see Freddy Mercury wearing something like this as he performs "Bohemian Rhapsody" in heaven.
Best dressed goes to Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney:
Liv (daughter of Aerosmith's Steve Tyler) and Stella (daughter of The Beatles' Paul McCartney) were QUITE LITERALLY BORN TO ROCK THIS THEME!
Not my fave goes to Elizabeth Hurley:
Although daring, it doesn't scream Rock 'n' Roll.
There was no theme in 2000, but the theme in 2001 was "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years."
Jackie O.'s fashun during JFK's presidency was nothing short of iconic. I will forever daydream about her pink Chanel suit.
Honorable mention goes to Renée Zellweger:
Renée looks fresh and elegant.
Best dressed goes to Caroline Kennedy:
Like mother, like daughter!
Not my fave goes to 3LW:
It's like...ladies. HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD OF JACKIE KENNEDY? This is more your brand, not hers.
There was no theme in 2002, but in 2003 the theme was "Goddess: The Classical Mode."
According to The Met, "Artists and designers have looked to the three major types of classical dress — the chiton, peplos, and himation — and have incorporated from Greco–Roman sources attributes such as the laurel and breastplate as well as various details, notably the Greek-key motif that is familiar as an architectural element from ancient Greek times to recent revivals."
Honorable mention goes to Iman:
A vision in ivory.
Best dressed goes to Nicole Kidman:
LITERALLY a Greek goddess. Aphrodite, who?
Not my fave goes to Westlife:
They should be grateful that Anna Wintour didn't kick them out ON SIGHT!
The theme in 2004 was "Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century."
According to The Met, "Dangerous Liaisons takes its theme from this era, when trifling in love propelled the energies of elite men and women, providing almost daily stimulating encounters, and when, as has been written, 'morality lost but society gained.'"
Honorable mention goes to Jennifer Lopez:
Dark! Daring! Dangerous!
Best dressed goes to Amber Valletta:
Head-to-toe perfection! Let her eat cake!
Not my fave goes to Jimmy Fallon:
The only "dangerous" thing about this outfit is the black-and-brown color combination.
The theme in 2005 was "The House of Chanel" — which we're going to skip because I do not want to be haunted by the ghost of Coco herself. The theme in 2006, however, was "AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion."
According to The Met, "AngloMania...examines aspects of English culture that continue to capture the imaginations of Europeans and Americans, among them the class system, sport, royalty, pageantry, eccentricity, the gentleman, and the country garden."
Honorable mention goes to, of course, Sarah Jessica Parker:
The look that started SJP's epic Met Gala journey.
Best dressed goes to Emmy Rossum:
I love the nod to British history, yet, it doesn't read as derivative!
Not my fave goes to Marcia Gay Harden:
The silhouette is fine...but the fabrication is not a choice I would make.
The theme in 2007 was "Poiret: The King of Fashion" which we're gonna pass — again, not a ghost enemy I wanna make! However, the theme in 2008 was "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy."
Marvel meets modern fashion is the best way to sum up this theme!
Honorable mention goes to Lake Bell:
The lightning bolt motif reminds me of comic book graphics and I truly love to see it!
Best dressed goes to Katie Holmes:
The bright red dress and electric blue shoes is giving Superman a run for his money.
Not my fave goes to Eva Longoria:
The through-line for almost all of my least fave looks is not the outfit itself — aside from Jimmy Fallon, that was offensive — but how much the outfit doesn't fit the theme.
The theme in 2009 was "The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion."
According to The Met, "Model as Muse explores the relationship between fashion and models at the forefront of style and femininity."
Honorable mention goes to Rihanna:
Baby's first Met / the beginning of her career as a muse to fashion designers everywhere!
Best dressed goes to Kate Moss:
I mean, Kate Moss was one of the biggest muses of the '90s! Of course she's winning best dressed this year.
Not my fave goes to Madonna:
My mom told me if I have nothing nice to say, I shouldn't say anything at all. So...yeah.
The theme in 2010 was "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity."
According to The Met, "It explores developing perceptions of the modern American woman from 1890 to 1940 and how they have affected the way American women are seen today."
Honorable mention goes to Anna Hathaway:
Mia Thermopolis is all grown up!!!
Best dressed goes to Doutzen Kroes:
Doutzen is Dutch and Cinderella is a story written by some of the most famous German writers in history. Talk about Nationalism!
Not my fave goes to Katy Perry:
It pains me to put Katy on the "not faves" list, but I have to stay true to my convictions!
The themes in 2011 and 2012 were Alexander McQueen and Schiaparelli and Prada, respectfully...aka imma pass. The theme in 2013 was "Punk: Chaos to Couture."
If Taking Back Sunday was fashion, it would be all the outfits from this Met Gala.
Honorable mention goes to Madonna:
If ever there was a theme made for Madonna, it was this one.
Best dressed goes to Sarah Jessica Parker:
The plaid thigh-high boots, the daring slit, the mohawk head piece? Chef's kiss.
Not my fave goes to Kim Kardashian:
You can only go up from here!
The theme in 2014 was Charles James, a designer I do not want to offend and don't know enough about. The theme in 2015 was "China: Through the Looking Glass."
This was a look at China and the Eastern's influence on America and Western fashion.
Honorable mention goes to Beyoncé:
I am...unwell.
Best dressed goes to Rihanna (duh):
There were a lot of contestants for best dressed! Zendaya, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, even Kim Kardashian! But, of course, I had to bestow the Queen of The Met with this honor.
Not my fave goes to Elizabeth Banks:
Wear this to the Emmys, Liz, not the Met.
The theme in 2016 was "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology."
This theme took a look at technology's influence on fashion.
Honorable mention goes to Katy Perry:
I feel like not a lot of people talk about Katy's "Manus X Machina" look. This was STUNNIN, LUV!
Best dressed goes to Zayn and Gigi Hadid:
Not enough couples coordinate at the Met! Everything about Gigi and Zayn's look gave cohesion, but not matchy-matchy.
Not my fave goes to Amy Schumer:
😬🥴🙃
The theme in 2017 was Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons, two designers I have the utmost respect for and therefore cannot critique. But, I will leave you with my obvious choice for best dressed:
The theme in 2018 was "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."
This theme took a look at religion's influence on fashion.
Honorable mention goes to Blake Lively...
...and Zendaya...
...and Chadwick Boseman (RIP).
This is my article so I can have three honorable mentions if I want to!
Best dressed goes to Rihanna (DUH):
"Father, son, house of Rihanna."
Not my fave goes to Elon Musk and Grimes:
It's giving...the OPPOSITE of Gigi and Zayn.
The theme in 2019 was "Camp: Notes on Fashion."
According to Vogue, Camp is "sensibility marked by performance, excess, and a kind of winking bad taste."
Honorable mention goes to Michael Urie:
One of the few men to FULLY COMMIT!
Best dressed goes to Zendaya and Law Roach:
Bye bye Disney, hello HBO Max!
Not my fave goes to James Charles:
Immediately no.
Due to the pandemic, we had to skip the 2020 Met Gala and the 2021 Met Gala was postponed to the fall. The theme was "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion."
The Gala was all about the history of American fashion — from designers, to historical figures, to fabrication!
Honorable mention goes to Lupita Nyong'o:
A couture gown — aka high fashion — made of denim — aka low fashion — is pure genius.
Best dressed goes to Kendall Jenner:
Listen, Imma give credit where credit is due! I love Kendall's nod to Audrey Hepburn.
Not my fave goes to Kim Kardashian:
This is actually what my sleep paralysis demon looks like. No joke.