The most (and least) on-theme Met Gala looks of the past 12 years

Every year on the first Monday in May, the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts a star-studded fundraising gala, the red carpet of which is any year’s most high-profile intersection of entertainment and fashion. The event also serves as the grand opening of the Met’s Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibit, which revolves around a different theme or designer every year, and Met Gala attendees are encouraged to dress in such a way to pay homage to the topic. So which celebrities have followed the annual fashion assignment and which have flouted it? We’ve looked back at a dozen years of Met Ball style to find the most and least relevant outfits for every one of its themes, from punk to technology to superheroes.

Most on-theme: Lady Gaga

The stars piled on the excess for the Gala inspired by Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes on Camp,” but no one took performative fashion to quite the same heights as event co-chair and true camp counselor Lady Gaga. The star arrived in a voluminous pink coat (a popular shade for the night, matching the flamingo-colored carpet), then stripped down, in an elaborately choreographed 15-minute sequence, into a black gown, a pink sheath, and a black bra and panties (all by Brandon Maxwell, who also played a role in her little fashion show).

Also: Billy Porter and Elle Fanning

Like Gaga, Billy Porter (in a bodysuit by The Blonds) made his Met Gala entrance a full-blown, self-serious performance as an Ancient Egyptian sun god, carried in by six shirtless men. Yes. Elle Fanning took a different, deliciously tacky tack in a retro-fabulous Miu Miu ensemble dripping with charms, including off the tips of each of her long nails.

Least on-theme: Miley Cyrus and Gemma Chan

In defense of the 2019 attendees, true camp is hard to nail on purpose. Just plain over-the-top clothes it is not; it lies largely in the wearing, in a not-quite-self-aware gap between intention and reception. Still! Nobody’s off the hook! Miley Cyrus’ structural Saint Laurent might have appeared camp-adjacent on a different person, but we’re talking about Miley here, who wore it with such ease it was just chic (the enemy of camp!). Gemma Chan (in Tom Ford) tried to go Vegas-showgirl, but there’s no undermining her regal poise, not even with a bejeweled headpiece — which, come to think of it, would have been appropriate the year before, so let’s move right along…

Most on-theme (Pope Edition): Rihanna and Chadwick Boseman

The stars crushed it at the 2018 Met Gala, so we’re going to have to break down a few different varieties of “Heavenly Bodies.” The holiest of the bunch had to be regular theme queen Rihanna (in Maison Margiela) and Wakandan royalty Chadwick Boseman (in Atelier Versace), both of whom looked positively papal in embellished white ensembles.

Most on-theme (Angel Edition): Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Katy Perry

Katy Perry and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley made for a contrasting pair of seraphim in 2018: The singer accessorized her Versace minidress with an enormous pair of glittering wings while the former Victoria’s Secret angel opted for a more understated interpretation, topping off her ethereal caped Ralph Lauren gown with a delicate halo.

Most on-theme (Joan of Arc Edition): Priyanka Chopra and Zendaya

The Maid of Orleans got her fair share of representation on the Met Gala carpet in 2018, but none did better than Priyanka Chopra, who looked magnificently medieval in a velvet Ralph Lauren gown with a gilded hood, or Zendaya, who gleamed in Versace’s glam take on chainmail.

Most on-theme (Textile Edition): Stella Maxwell and Ariana Grande

And then there were the stars who wove the theme right into the very fabric of their wardrobe. Stella Maxwell (in Moschino) clothed herself in a glittering collage of Virgin Marys, and Michelangelo himself would weep in ecstasy (probably?) if he were to see Ariana Grande (in Vera Wang) draped in the image of his Sistine Chapel fresco.

Least on-theme: Kendall Jenner and Scarlett Johansson

Kendall Jenner’s dreamy white Off-White suit looked like it was sewn from the clouds, sure, and Scarlett Johansson wore Marchesa in a deep red shade that was just a little darker than actual Cardinal (which would have granted her some points). But when there are knights and popes and real-life angels roaming the carpet, we just aren’t that impressed by some possibly, slightly, tangentially referential colors.

Most on-theme: Rihanna and Tracee Ellis Ross

The 2017 Gala was devoted to the Japanese label Comme des Garçons and its founder, designer Rei Kawakubo. In short: avant-garde. Tracee Ellis Ross and regular Met Gala MVP Rihanna were as on-theme as could be, wearing the designer herself.

Also: Katy Perry

Katy Perry didn't wear actual Comme des Garçons, but got into the avant-garde spirit in this undoubtedly hard-to-wear piece from Maison Margiela by John Galliano.

Least on-theme: Selena Gomez and Gisele Bündchen

Selena Gomez (in Coach) and Gisele Bündchen (in Stella McCartney) both looked so pretty in these lovely understated dresses! But pretty isn't exactly the point for Kawakubo, and understated certainly isn't.

Most on-theme: Claire Danes and Karolina Kurkova

The red carpet went largely metallic in 2016 for “Manus x Machina,” but Claire Danes (in Zac Posen) and Karolina Kurkova (in Marchesa) took the theme to the next level in these classic dresses outfitted with LED lights, the latter of which was designed in collaboration with a computer. Additional shoutout to Zayn, who wore cyborg arms.

Also: Beyoncé

In embellished latex from Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, Beyoncé was not quite as heavily on-theme as the literally glowing attendees. However, the internet crowned her queen of the Met Gala that year, and what’s more “Manus x Machina” than the Internet’s approval?

Least on-theme: Blake Lively and Sarah Jessica Parker

The Burberry dress worn by a pregnant Blake Lively was very sweet, but made not even the slightest reference to the theme. Meanwhile, Sarah Jessica Parker's Hamilton-inspired Monse suit acknowledged the "Manus" almost in defiance of the "Machina." (The Sex and the City star would go on to defend the ensemble by explaining, "We wanted it to be about the technology of thought, of application, of fabrication." But come on! Some of these dresses lit up!)

Most on-theme: Rihanna

Yes, Sarah Jessica Parker wore what appeared to be a flaming headdress. But Rihanna, who did extensive research into contemporary Chinese fashion and chose this fur-trimmed marigold gown from designer Guo Pei — some of whose work was included in the Costume Institute’s exhibit — takes the crown as one of the greatest, most relevant Met Gala outfits of all time. All time!

Least on-theme: Madonna

When Katy Perry had "Witness" embroidered across her red veil in 2017, at least the outfit was sufficiently avant-garde. Madonna promoted her album Rebel Heart across her Moschino dress in 2015 without any nod to Chinese fashion.

Most on-theme: Sarah Jessica Parker

In 2014, the Gala was all about Charles James, who was an inspiration to Dior and his iconic "New Look" (and was also reportedly an inspiration for Phantom Thread's Reynolds Woodcock). In short: Think '50s glamour. Sarah Jessica Parker stole the show in this Oscar de la Renta creation which directly referenced James' "Petal Dress."

Also: Taylor Swift and Liu Wen

To get those '50s silhouettes in 2014, Taylor Swift joined SJP and many others by turning to Oscar de la Renta, where she found this perfect pale pink dress with a train. Zac Posen's immaculate tailoring made multiple appearances on the carpet as well, including with this stunning teal ballgown on Liu Wen.

Least on-theme: Lupita Nyong'o and Cara Delevingne

Lupita Nyong'o (in Prada here) and Cara Delevingne (in Stella McCartney) both have great style! Just not very midcentury!

Most on-theme: Miley Cyrus, Rooney Mara, and Sienna Miller

Miley Cyrus (in Marc Jacobs), Rooney Mara (in Givenchy), and Sienna Miller (in Burberry) didn't mess around when it came to 2013's punk theme.

Also: Kim Kardashian

First of all, this Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci gown is actually pretty punk. Second, say what you want about Kim Kardashian, her "couch dress," and her very presence at the 2013 Met Gala, but there’s nothing more punk than causing a commotion, and there’s no denying this look accomplished that much.

Least on-theme: Gwyneth Paltrow

Speaking of what constitutes punk, in this case, are dress codes so inherently establishment that to adhere to them would be not-punk, regardless of the dress code’s specific parameters? So with that in mind, is dressing un-punk-ishly the most punk thing to do at a punk-themed party? Was Gwyneth Paltrow's girlish pink Valentino Haute Couture the most theme-appropriate choice at the 2013 Met Gala? The mind reels.

Most on-theme: Chloë Sevigny and Kirsten Dunst

The 2012 exhibit imagined an “impossible conversation” between Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada, who made their names in the 1920s–30s and 1980s–90s, respectively, but resembled each other in some of their ideas about and approaches to women’s fashion. How on earth does a celebrity dress for such a theme? A lot wore Prada. Chloë Sevigny, however, wore Miu Miu, which Miuccia Prada founded as a subsidiary of her grandfather’s design house; Kirsten Dunst gave a nod to Schiaparelli’s embellished jackets as well as both designers’ affinity for uniform-inspired style with this throwback look from Rodarte.

Why bother naming theme-abstainers when the exhibit is so inside-baseball to begin with? On to 2011…

Most on-theme: Daphne Guinness and Ashley Olsen

This legendary Costume Institute exhibit, staged the year after the iconic designer died, shattered attendance records (until “China: Through the Looking Glass”), and the Gala was attended by many of McQueen’s still-grieving friends. The most on-theme, naturally, were those who wore the late designer’s savagely beautiful pieces, including Daphne Guinness. But stars could still honor the artist's provocative aesthetic in another label, as Ashley Olsen proved in vintage Dior couture.

Least on-theme: Claire Danes and Dianna Agron

The number one way to not look McQueen-y? Plain column dresses like Claire Danes’ Calvin Klein Collection or Dianna Agron’s Michael Kors.

Most on-theme: Kerry Washington, Jessica Biel, and Emmy Rossum

Kerry Washington, Jessica Biel, and Emmy Rossum kept a patriotic palette in dresses from American labels Thakoon, Ralph Lauren, and Kenneth Cole, respectively.

Least on-theme: Anne Hathaway and Kristen Stewart

This was an easy theme, ladies. You didn’t have to wear stars and stripes (though Diane Von Furstenberg did). This was just about Fashion That Is American. And yet Anne Hathaway and Kristen Stewart, among a surprising number of others, wore (admittedly beautiful) dresses from European houses (in this case, Valentino and Chanel, respectively). You had one job! Save your French fashion for the Oscars!

Most on-theme: Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, and Kate Moss

In 2009, the theme was essentially “The Met Gala, but make it fashion.” In other words: A total style free-for-all. Some went costume-y, some went avant-garde, some were just plain old glam. When the theme is models, the only real edge a red-carpet dresser might have would be being an actual model. So cheers to a pregnant Heidi Klum in J. Mendel, Tyra Banks in Badgley Mischka, and Kate the Great in Marc Jacobs, queens of the party.

Once again, we’ll forgo naming theme-ignorers, because it’s pretty impossible to wear an item of clothing that could not conceivably be worn by a model. So let’s throw it back to superpowered 2008…

Most on-theme: Kate Bosworth, Amber Valletta, and Victoria Beckham

Bring on the capes! Amber Valletta hit the carpet in a gold Versace gown of which Edna Mode would probably not approve, while Kate Bosworth interpreted the theme in comic book-colored Chanel. Victoria Beckham brought the posh and the spice in a high-collared coat by Giorgio Armani with major supervillain vibes.

Least on-theme: Beyoncé

Obviously Beyoncé looks beautiful in this ethereal pink Armani Privé. But when we think about what she might have done with this prompt, considering how much she’s experimented with fashion and theme dressing in recent years, we mourn the SuperBey catsuit that this missed opportunity might have otherwise given us.