Kim Kardashian's Met Gala Looks Through the Years

Kim Kardashian's Givenchy Dress at the 2013 Met Gala

For her Met Gala debut in 2013, Kardashian — who was pregnant with her first child, North West, at the time — walked the red carpet in a custom Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci dress created out of floral printed jersey with grommet details that attached the sleeves, turtleneck and perfectly matched gloves and shoes.

She was accompanied by then-boyfriend Kanye West, who kept things simple in a chic suit by Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci.

Kim Kardashian's Lanvin Dress at the 2014 Met Gala

The following year, Kardashian and West channeled old Hollywood glamour as they paid homage to designer Charles James. The rapper wore a black tux with coattails and the reality star donned a blue strapless Lanvin gown with a black waistband and thigh-high slit.

Kim Kardashian's Roberto Cavalli Dress at the 2015 Met Gala

In 2015, Kardashian rocked a sheer crystal-embroidered Roberto Cavalli gown with feather detailing, which she said was inspired by a huge pop icon.

"Tonight's inspiration! Cher at the 1st ever Met Gala," Kim wrote on Instagram, adding, "I just met her and told her this photo was my inspiration for my dress tonight! She is so beautiful! So happy I met her!!"

Kim Kardashian's Balmain Dress at the 2016 Met Gala

In 2016, Kardashian and West got people talking (and the memes flying fast and furious) with their matching silver looks, which were inspired by the theme, Manus x Machina.

While West wore ripped jeans, a studded jacket and colored contacts, Kardashian opted for a custom Balmain look, which she described as "a blingy sexy robot."

Kim Kardashian's Vivienne Westwood Dress at the 2017 Met Gala

For the 2017 Met Gala, Kardashian kept things very simple in an off-the-shoulder Vivienne Westwood Couture corset dress and very few adornments.

Having been robbed in Paris months earlier, Kardashian then told Ellen DeGeneres she didn't know if she could wear real jewelry again following the harrowing experience. For the Met Gala that year, she skipped statement diamonds altogether.

Kim Kardashian's Versace Dress at the 2018 Met Gala

Kardashian went full '90s glam as she slipped into a custom chainmail Versace dress featuring embroidered crosses, paying tribute to the theme, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.

She paired the look with double cross necklaces, super long extensions and Cleopatra-style makeup featuring a smoky blue cat eye and an over-lined lip.

Kim Kardashian's Mugler Dress at the 2019 Met Gala

Kardashian's custom Thierry Mugler dress — the designer's first new creation in 20 years — was created to embody the designer's vision of her as "this California girl stepping out of the ocean, wet, dripping." The outfit also featured a dramatic corset, which Kardashian explained to Vogue made it hard to breathe.

"I honestly had to practice. It's a proper corset by Mister Pearl. I never had one like this, it is insane," she told the publication. She later revealed the corset left her with indentations. "I have never felt pain like that in my life," she told the WSJ Magazine for a digital cover story in July 2019.

She completed her look with "wet" hair, glistening makeup and even water "droplets" on her nails.

Kim Kardashian's Dress at the 2019 Met Gala Afterparty

For the afterparty that evening, Kardashian went full mermaid, wearing a skin tight Thierry Mugler creation in keeping with the theme of the evening, "Camp: Notes on Fashion," from the plunging neckline to the silver fringe detailing.

She completed the look with matching go-go boots, latex gloves, a turquoise marble manicure, glittery eye shadow and a Cher-inspired silver fringe wig.

Kim Kardashian's Balenciaga Dress at the 2021 Met Gala

Kardashian stopped the show in a black Balenciaga look that covered up her entire body at the 2021 Met Gala. The custom ensemble featured a long-sleeve turtleneck bodysuit worn under an oversized T-shirt dress with a long pleated train. She completed the look with jersey boots, jersey gloves and a mask that covered her face and head (though she still wore a full face of makeup beneath it!).

Though the star said she initially resisted the idea of covering her famous face with a mask, designer Demna Gvasalia convinced her of his vision.

"This look on Kim is like a new subculture and fashion statement," a source told PEOPLE in February 2022. "No logo, no face, but everyone knows it's her. Kanye gave her the courage to push creativity and people's imagination through art. It's the ultimate confidence."

Kim Kardashian's Marilyn Monroe Jean-Louis Dress at the 2022 Met Gala

For the 2022 Met Gala with then-boyfriend Pete Davidson, the reality star wore an iconic Marilyn Monroe dress — the same one the movie star wore in 1962 when she wished President John F. Kennedy a happy birthday at Madison Square Garden.

Backlash to the outfit choice was swift, especially after she revealed that she lost 16 lbs. within three weeks in order to wear the dress.

"To me it was like, 'OK, Christian Bale can do it for a movie role and that is acceptable,'" she explained to The New York Times in November 2022. "Even Renée Zellweger gained weight for a role. It's all the same to me."

Beyond criticism for her severe diet, she also faced pushback for wearing the historically significant (and very fragile) garment in the first place. There were later allegations that the dress was damaged after she wore it, though Ripley's denied any damage to the gown.

Kim Kardashian's Schiaparelli Dress at the 2023 Met Gala

As the 2023 Met Gala honored the late Karl Lagerfeld, Kardashian fulfilled the theme with a custom Schiaparelli haute couture design by Daniel Roseberry. Her outfit — a draped skirt and top adorned with more than 50,000 freshwater pearls and 16,000 crystal pearls — took a dozen crafters 1,000 hours to prepare.

"I wanted pearls," she told Vogue at the time. "I thought, 'What is more Karl?' You know, the iconic Chanel pearls is what I always thought of. So we wanted to just be dripping in pearls."

While this look didn't stir much controversy, she faced brutal (yet harmless) criticism from her own daughter, North — who claimed that the pearls "look like it's from the dollar store" during an episode of The Kardashians.

Kim Kardashian's Margiela by John Galliano Dress at the 2024 Met Gala

Following the year's theme of “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” Kardashian stepped out in a sheer Margiela by John Galliano dress with a lace train featuring leaves and floral accents. 

However, the most internet-dividing element of her look was the silver, waist-cinching corset — which was rewoven with antique silver brocade, per the label. The garment was so restrictive that Kardashian required assistance from those around to walk up the Met staircase safely. 

In a 2024 behind-the-scenes fitting video for Vogue, Kardashian can be seen breathing through her mouth as she is laced into the corset. “It’s an art form, but I got it," she said. "I’ll feel so snatched, I won’t even be able to communicate to you how snatched I feel.”