The Most Shocking Met Gala Outfits Over The Years

1. Katy Perry, 2019

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The theme of "Camp: Notes on Fashion" in 2019 was arguably the silliest of them all. But the outfit Katy Perry wore, created by Jeremy Scott, included a 3D chandelier that even lit up, and garnered headlines. We could see the light bulbs flickering inside everyone's heads!

2. Rihanna, 2015

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Rihanna's Guo Pei confection from 2015 divided fans and shocked first-hand viewers. The off-the-shoulder fur-trimmed robe had a huge filigree-embroidered train that inspired a ton of memes and was compared to everything from Big Bird to a pizza to an omelet.

3. Kendall Jenner, 2017

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The theme of the 2017 Met exhibition, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, honored the avant-garde. Kendall Jenner's completely transparent Le Perla outfit left nothing to the imagination, though. Fans and people worldwide kept talking about her dress months after the gala.

4. Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney, 1999

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There aren't many T-shirt looks at the Met Gala, but these DIY tops, which Stella McCartney revealed to Vogue that were made from Hanes tanks on the morning of the fashionable party, were kinda ideal for the event's "Rock Style" theme. Or not.

5. Sarah Jessica Parker, 2006

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Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker attended the 2006 Met Gala together. The two donned matching tartan designs to honor the year's exhibit topic, "AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion." Their matching outfits were pretty wild if you ask us!

6. Jared Leto, 2023

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Jared Leto, who is known for his spectacular Met Gala attires year after year, went above and beyond with the 2023 theme by dressing as Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette. The theme was (you guessed it!) Karl Lagerfeld. We assure you, you're seeing the Met Gala, not a season of The Masked Singer!

7. Kim Kardashian, 2013

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Kim Kardashian was the focal point of attention (and jokes) at the 2013 Met Gala. Kanye West's ex-wife wore a Givenchy gown to the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture"-themed event that many said resembled a floral couch, grandma's curtains, Homer Simpson's muumuu, and even "Mrs. Doubtfire."

8. Cara Delevingne, 2018

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You might not be able to tell this is Cara Delevingne. Trust us, it's her. The famed supermodel and actress was wearing a black outfit at the 2018 Gala that left very little to the imagination. In fact, it appears that she only left one thing to be guessed... her face.

9. Lil X Nas, 2023

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We already know that the rapper Lil Nas X has some of the most shocking outfits at the Met Gala and almost any other event he attends. This time, he transformed himself into Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette at the 2023 Met Gala, showing off his physique… like it is, without hesitation.

10. Cher, 1974

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At the "Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design" Met Gala in 1974, Cher set the bar for future red carpet fashion by becoming one of the first to flaunt her bare dress. The singer's nearly-nude Bob Mackie gown, which had a white feathery skirt and sleeves and was embellished with sequins, served as an inspiration for countless other styles in the decades that followed.

11. Solange, 2015

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This outfit by Solange Knowles at the 2015 Met Gala both amazed and perplexed fashion enthusiasts! The singer and performer chose one of the night's most iconic outfits, a Giles design with an extraterrestrial geometric pattern on its spherical outline. People thought the outfit was kinda confusing. What do you think?

12. Madonna, 2016

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Always one to push the boundaries, Madonna described her age-fighting Givenchy ensemble at the 2016 Met Gala as a political statement for women's rights. The singer argued on her Instagram later on that we still live in a time where people consider that women are not allowed to be adventurous, and this means we're yet to escape an ageist and sexist world.

13. Karolina Kurkova, 2005

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Karolina Kurkova's "I Love You"-emblazoned Viktor & Rolf gown from the 2005 Met Gala's "20th Century: Chanel"-themed night grabbed the attention of fashion reviewers all around the world, but not their hearts. The gown was deemed as kitch by many as a result.

14. Fredrik Robertsson, 2022

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The Swedish influencer, who some fans at the 2022 Met Gala event mistook for Jared Leto, grabbed all the attention with his eye-catching three-dimensional Iris van Herpen costume embellished with pin-like embellishments. The outfit looks pretty shocking, indeed.

15. Marc Jacobs, 2012

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Marc Jacobs attended the 2012 Met Gala wearing a see-through black lace shirtdress that revealed his white boxers, suggesting that men can wear naked dresses too. This was one of the few occasions a male has ventured to wear the nude dress look on the red carpet, and he absolutely shocked the world with it.

16. Amber Valletta, 2004

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Supermodel Amber Valletta came up in full Marie Antoinette cosplay, courtesy of John Galliano, taking the 2004 topic of "Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century" more seriously than anyone else. As Valletta later said, she was so badass to go for the outfit, especially during a time when people weren't used to seeing shocking outfits all day every day.

17. Jaden Smith, 2017

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Jaden Smith's 2017 Met Gala outfit, an all-black Louis Vuitton combination consisting of a trench coat, slim pants, and stiletto boots, didn't first strike as particularly shocking. But after getting a better look at what he held in his hand, it's clear that Jaden tops the list of people wearing the most bizarre accessories ever! He took his recently-cut hair and flaunted it on the carpet. So yes, that is his old hair.

18. Beyoncé, 2015

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Beyoncé has a history of stealing the show on the red carpet, so it came as no surprise when she arrived at the 2015 Met Gala wearing a garment covered with crystalized beading. She completed the appearance with the kind of furious side ponytail that she herself could only wear.

19. Julie Macklowe, 2017

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At the Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons-themed Met Gala event (which, you already know, was full of shocking attires), Julie Macklowe opted for a striking plaid look. The exact location of her arms in this dramatic and kinda weird outfit is still a mystery.

20. Lady Gaga, 2016

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The singer arrived at the "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology"-themed party without pants, keeping up with her signature look. The highest platform boots to ever grace the red carpet were the ideal accompaniment to her futuristic bodysuit and blazer.

21. Shailene Woodley, 2018

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Shailene Woodley wasn't the only person trying to channel Joan of Arc on the red carpet at the 2018 Met Gala, but her imitation was the worst. The celebrity wore a Ralph Lauren creation that apparently took more than 50 hours to make and had an over-the-knee boot-style bootie and a metallic leather mini dress designed to resemble the icon's armor. This outfit, coupled with her peculiar hairdo, put Shailene on several lists of worst-dressed people.

22. Helen Lasichanh, 2017

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We all know that the exhibition's theme in 2017 awarded us with the weirdest outfits ever worn at Met Gala. Helen Lasichanh, Pharrell Williams' wife, made a statement with her on-theme outfit. Still, the peculiar Comme des Garçons combination, which included a structured bright red jumpsuit combined with black open-toe flats, baffled even the fashion-forward throng.

23. Gwyneth Paltrow, 2012

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At the 2012 Met Gala, Gwyneth Paltrow took a significant fashion risk by wearing a shockingly short Prada halter dress. The Oscar winner displayed a bit of side boob (besides flashing her stems) in the backless silver dress that appeared more like an apron than couture.

24. Katy Perry, 2019

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The "Firework" singer has never worn a goofy outfit she didn't adore, and the Moschino fit with its chandelier-inspired design lit up the red carpet. However, once she was inside the museum, she cosplayed a cheeseburger in a second ridiculous attire. Talk about dramatic outfit changes!

25. Blake Lively, 2011

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The actress donned a sparkling, buff Chanel dress with Renaissance and classical influences. However, at first glance, it appeared as though her dress was about to come off of her. Moreover, her reddish hair looked kinda weird against the neutral nuance of the outfit. We can only guess that there were no “Find your color” experts back then.

26. Kim Kardashian, 2021

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The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star stunned the globe with her frightening faceless all-black suit for her red carpet arrival at the 2021 Met Gala. Demna Gvasalia, the creative director of Balenciaga, created the unique ensemble, but it turns out that Kim couldn't see through the fabric of her clothing. In case you were wondering how it was possible for her to walk like that.

27. Claire Danes, 2017

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The 2016 Met Gala saw Claire Danes enter in a pale blue ball gown befitting of a modern Disney princess. The Homeland actress' Zac Posen creation actually had tens of thousands of hand-sewn L.E.D. lights that lit up the dance floor. This fact alone made some people comment on the outfit.

28. Rihanna and ASAP Rocky, 2021

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Rihanna Navy went into a frenzy when the star graced the red carpet of the 2021 Met Gala with boyfriend A$AP Rocky. The singer always tops lists for her groundbreaking outfits, either outstanding or shocking. The two were meant to enter as one of the evening's final couples because they almost closed the carpet with their arrival.

29. Miley Cyrus, 2013

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While in her rebellious phrase that disturbed the globe, Miley Cyrus wore a long-sleeved Marc Jacobs gown that was actually entirely in line with the Met Gala's "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" theme. The spiked blonde hair that shocked the fans completed the outfit.

30. Emma Watson, 2016

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Watson sported a Calvin Klein skirt, fitting bodice, and slacks for the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" gala, but with a twist: Her entire outfit was created from repurposed plastic water bottles. However, out of the whole attire, the pants were the topic of the conversation.

31. Beyoncé, 2016

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Beyoncé is usually a queen of style - no matter if you like or loathe what she usually wears, there's no denying that she has a 'slay' mentality when it comes to style, and usually, she pulls off an outfit that works for her - that's why we love her! Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said about this outfit. The nude latex was very questionable when the critics rolled in, due to the strange bead accessories and mostly because a lot of people thought it looked like she was wearing skin... specifically, 'Becky's' skin, from the Lemonade album fame.

32. Kim and Kanye, 2016

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Kim Kardashian in particular has certainly had her fair share of lacklustre outfits on the Met Gala carpet, but during her time in a relationship with rapper Kanye, she of course hit the carpet with him in toe - either making or breaking his own fashion choices. The most shocking thing about this couple's coordinating outfit was that it actually worked! Their joint silver futuristic vibe, with Kim's dress and Kanye's jacket, definitely looked spectacular on the Met Gala carpet. It's just a shame they didn't deliver this level of fashion every single time!

33. Solange, 2016

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And here's Beyonce's sister, Solange, actually serving Lemonade. Yellow is definitely a difficult color to pull off for some people, and it's not so much that she doesn't suit yellow, it's more just... you know, the whole outfit. The bright lemon yellow frills paired with the matching illuminous yellow latex was a very bold choice, and certainly a memorable one, but unfortunately for Solange we live in an age of memes - and she very quickly became one with this outfit choice, with some saying that she looked like an offering of potato chips.

34. Zayn Malik, 2016

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Although one shocking fact about this photo is that famous model Gigi Hadid, who usually looks flawless and spectacular, actually looked a little bit... plain in this dress (she looked lovely, of course, it's just that it looks more prom dress than Met Gala dress), the real issue here was what her partner-at-the-time, Zayn Malik, had decided to come as. And what was that? We still don't know. Tin Man? Winter Soldier? Any Marvel villain? Either way, that silver prosthetic looking arm was definitely not it - and the internet was quick to agree.

35. Sarah Jessica Parker, 2015

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If you haven't already seen the memes about this one, go and search for them right now! You only need to look at it to know that there are many top quality ones about this particular outfit which Sarah Jessica Parker served (on a grill) at the 2015 Met Gala. With many people either comparing her to the flame emoji, or Jafah from Aladdin, at least you can't say it wasn't a memorable outfit! The headdress was custom made for for her for this outfit, but after this, she probably wished she customized it a little bit more... right off her head.

36. Nicki Minaj, 2016

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It's funny how the Met Gala sees people literally wearing sheer see-through material right down to what underwear they are - or aren't - wearing, but it was this tight black bondage-like dress from Nicki Minaj that really got people talking, simply because it showed a lot of boob up top. There's no denying that this was simultaneously a shocking and show-stopping look for Nicki, who we don't often see wearing black or something this plain (yes, it's plain compared to some stuff she's worn in the past! If you know you know).

37. Katy Perry, 2016

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Katy Perry definitely goes down for the most shocking variety of Met Gala outfits - whether you think they look good or not, or whether a massive burger was a wise choice, there's no denying that they get people talking. This outfit wasn't the most 'out there' design she's worn, like being dressed like a chandelier, but there was something about it that a lot of people thought was shockingly bad. It mostly had something to do with the hair do and the bleached eyebrows, with her dress also being kitted out in different gadgets.

38. Linda Evangelista, 2013

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As a model, Linda Evangelista usually looks amazing in pretty much anything she wears - apart from this, unfortunately. And seeing as the Met Gala carpet is really the time for models to shine and show off an amazing outfit, it seems like such a wasted opportunity to look like a big gloomy gray cloud! The worst thing is the dress was actually a light shade of lilac, but you couldn't even tell - it just looked gray. The theme of this year's gala was punk, and there's nothing about this dress that says punk, really... it just makes her look frumpy!

39. Lily Cole, 2013

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Lily Cole was another model on the Met Gala carpet the exact same year, with the exact same theme: PUNK, Chaos to Couture. She's also yet another model that shockingly failed to impress. There's so much you can do with punk when it comes to fashion, and it's more than just looking like you rolled out of bed and didn't give much thought to your outfit... which is exactly what Cole is giving us here with that bedhead and very strange, not-really-punky-dress. The platform shoes sort of work, but you can't see them much anyway!

40. Ashley Olsen, 2013

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These celebrities weren't doing very well for the punk-themed gala, were they? Apparently not many of them really knew what punk meant, but by the looks of things, most people thought it meant sort of see-through, puffy and frumpy material? Ashley Olsen offered up this dress, which not only showed off a kind of unattractive shade of tangerine orange, it also didn't do her shape any favors by just looking like a far-too-oversized oversized gown. The embroidery detailing does look pretty, but it still doesn't say punk!

41. Kanye West, 2016

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We did say that Kanye was up there with this outfit for shockingly good at the Met Gala, and we're not disputing that - but let's just talk about those contact lenses for a moment. They were a shocking fashion moment just in themselves, especially when you zoomed in. We sort of get why he did it, seeing as the theme was technology/futuristic, and they definitely made him look like he could be some sort of robot from the future, but that doesn't change the fact that they were a little unsettling - probably more so for the people who had to talk to him all night.

42. Amanda Seyfried, 2013

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Another celebrity who definitely didn't understand the brief about the punk theme! She's usually very impressive when it comes to her fashion on any sort of showbiz carpet, but this choice was shockingly bad - sort of when you see those old MySpace pictures of yourself back when you first dressed to go out in the club and were feeling a bit emo. The red coloring on her hair really looks good on her, but unfortunately her dress just isn't giving anything other than lacklustre confusion - and it's definitely not giving punk!

43. Kim Kardashian, 2022

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This look by Kim Kardashian goes down as one of the most shocking Met Gala choices, for one huge reason. It crosses the line between what's acceptable and what might not be when it comes to gowns that are considered historical artifacts! While some might say she looked great and she was paying homage to an icon - and a beautiful dress - the general consensus was that to wear Marilyn Monroe's dress (a woman with different proportions meaning Kim of course stretched it out to wear it) was pretty disrespectful.

44. Taylor Swift, 2016

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The theme for this particular Met Gala year was the age of technology, which, as we've seen, apparently just means 'silver' to every single celebrity, for some reason. While silver does of course make you think of shiny futuristic metal, it doesn't guarantee that your outfit is going to be a winner - case in point, Taylor Swift's silver dress for this year's Gala. She paired it off with bold lipstick and gladiator sandals (because what says technology more than black gladiator sandals). But the look left a lot to be desired from Swift's fans.

45. Zendaya, 2018

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Zendaya goes down in the Met Gala history books for this one - one of the most shocking outfits for all the right reasons! And nope, just because it's silver doesn't mean it was part of that technology theme, sorry - it was obviously part of the 'Heavenly Bodies' theme where she chose a Joan of Arc look which delivered in many incredible ways. Not to mention how heavy all that chainmail must have been for her to wear all night, if it was actually historically accurate... And trailing it all around in platform heels? Winner.

46. Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999

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We already had Gwyneth down for that weird apron dress, but here she is again during a much earlier Met Gala, where the theme was 'Rock Style', and Gwyneth turned up in... well, whatever this is. It wouldn't even work too well on the red carpet, nevermind the Met Gala! It looks far too much like summer beach party or girls night out. The color is great and all, but nothing about it really says rock... unless snake print is supposed to imply that. And it doesn't exactly look like she made any sort of effort with her hair, either.

47. Kim Kardashian, 2021

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Yes, we promise you that is Kim Kardashian under there! Just look at the proportions and you'll be able to tell. This outfit definitely shocked a great many fashion fans when it was first unveiled on the carpet in 2021, but we still to this day can't work out whether it was shockingly bad or shockingly good. Shockingly... different is probably the best way to describe it. Although it was nice to see a Kardashian putting less focus on makeup and lip fillers for a change, it would also have been nice if we could actually see the Kardashian in question.

48. Frank Ocean, 2021

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The most shocking thing about Frank Ocean's arrival (and outfit) to the 2021 Met Gala wasn't actually his own look, but rather the weird baby with a bright green face that he was carrying. Why? We have no idea. Some think he took the doll (we hope it's a doll) to promote his own brand, Homer. But creepy green baby aside, Ocean actually nailed the theme of "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" by wearing a velvet Prada throwback tracksuit, and that striking bright green hair do that showed how to do a good outfit right!

49. Hilary Clinton, 2001

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Did you even know Hilary Clinton once graced a Met Gala carpet? Well now you do. And there might be a reason that she didn't return to many after that... namely, that shockingly bad leopard print. We know this print can be fun and give off retro vibes when it's done right, but this wasn't it. The main problem was that the theme was a celebration of Jackie Kennedy's style, which was known for being very simple (like plain straight dress and pearl necklace). So we don't really know why Clinton thought a huge leopard print gown screamed 'Jackie'.

50. Lil Nas X, 2021

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If this particular year's Met Gala theme would have been technology or futuristic, then Lil Nas X would have nailed it, rocking up looking like a droid from Star Wars. But the problem was that this theme wasn't that - it was "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion". And then we have the huge cape on the floor that looks far too much like Rihanna's omelette dress for our liking! The rapper had actually already said that, even before they knew anything about the theme, he wanted to do something with 'armor' so it just goes to show it was more about what he wanted to wear rather than following the theme!