PAUSE Editor Picks: The Best Met Gala Looks of All Time

The Met Gala serves as a powerful catalyst for creativity and innovation in modern-day fashion and has done so since 1948 – when it was a midnight supper you could attend for fifty bucks. The Met Gala is one of the biggest fashion events and influences the industry as a whole.

Since its inception, the star-studded event has become a cultural institution, setting the tone for fashion discourse and serving as a barometer for the changing landscape of style, art, and expression.

The themes, designers, stylists, and attendees are challenged to interpret, reinterpret, and push fashion’s boundaries in order to reflect the zeitgeist.

With less than 24 hours left until its 2024 edition, PAUSE Magazine looks back at its most iconic moments. Here’s our editors’ take on the best Met Gala looks ever.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

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PHOTO CREDIT: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

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PHOTO CREDIT: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

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PHOTO CREDIT: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum

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Met Gala 2006: Alexander McQueen in Alexander McQueen.

As far as Met Gala’s go, the Met Gala of 2006 undoubtedly delivered one of the most iconic fashion moments, courtesy of Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker’s daring interpretation of the theme “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion.” Ever unafraid, McQueen’s creation epitomised fashion and style audacity, blending elements of tradition with a rebellious edge.

His well documented attention to detail was evident in every aspect of the ensemble, from the incredibly tailored silhouette to the daring embellishments that pushed the boundaries of menswear. With this groundbreaking look, McQueen not only celebrated traditional Scottish style (a nod to his Scottish heritage which was extremely important to him) but also challenged conventional notions of masculinity, leaving an indelible mark on the fashion landscape that we’ve seen maintained by the likes of ASAP Rocky’s 2023 Gucci Met Gala look and continues to resonate to this day.

Harkening back on the most memorable Met Gala moments, McQueen’s 2006 masterpiece undoubtedly ranks among the very best, a testament to the enduring legacy of a visionary in the world of fashion.

PHOTO CREDIT: Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

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Met Gala 2019: Frank Ocean in Prada.

For all we know, pre-pandemic Frank Ocean had a crystal ball telling him what menswear would look like in 2024. In a move that initially sparked disinterest across social media, Ocean’s Prada Gabardine Anorak paired with a professional white dress shirt and tie quickly became a talking point at the 2019 Met Gala. His take on “Notes on Camp” included a pair of rigid-cut trousers with a straight-leg finish, buoyantly sitting above a pair of soft-sole Chelsea boots.

The simplicity of the look in comparison to the grandiose outfits that followed is what makes this one of the best Met Gala looks in the modern day. From a man whose music supersedes soul and emotion, it was refreshing to watch him strut in such a fundamentally relaxed outfit. Each piece has seen itself restructure menswear today, whether it’s pairing dress shoes with streetwear-influenced denim, bringing back the shirt and tie in a casual setting, or the macro trend of pairing what our dads used to wear with garments engineered for today’s fashion climate. It may not turn your head if you catch it on the street, but it most definitely served as a cornerstone for menswear at the gala.

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images via Vogue.

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Met Gala 2013: Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs.

It’s no surprise that I instinctively went straight to 2013’s “Punk: Chaos to Couture” when asked to get nostalgic about the Met Gala. Like every single year, there were too many misses to recall (I guess Hollywood isn’t the most punk place on earth), but if anyone was going to understand the assignment, it was obviously going to be Miley.

As making headlines and rattling feathers became somewhat expected of her as she entered her ‘Bangerz’ era, the year’s theme of rebellion couldn’t have come at a better time to prove that she had well and truly left her former life as Hannah Montana behind. Dressed by Marc Jacobs in a risqué floor-length fishnet dress with bleached spikes that would put an electrocuted man to shame, the Morticia Addams-inspired look was so simply executed yet exuded so much attitude.

It’s a left shout but I guess that’s the divisiveness that punk is all about.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for The Huffington Post

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Met Gala 2018: Solange Knowles in Iris van Herpen.

‘Heavenly Bodies’ was undeniably one of the best themes in Met Gala history, producing some of the most iconic celebrity fashion moments to date. But out of all them and even after all these years, Solange’s outfit is the one that lives rent-free in my head. The story behind the singer’s choice of attire is equally as interesting.

The day before the 2018 red-carpet event, the younger Knowles sister posted a poll of five different options on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the caption “dead ass about to let y’all pick my Met Gala look cuz i can’t handle the anxiety rn . . . which saint shall I draw energy from and pull up to the function as?” The winner was a black, high-shine, sculptural dress from Iris van Herpen’s Fall 2012 couture collection.

Topping off the ensemble with a do-rag and a woven halo headpiece was a stroke of genius – 5 out of 5 stars.

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images / Dia Dipasupil