That's right—the time has finally come. After a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, the Met Gala is back, and believe us when we say it's really back. While we typically find ourselves counting down the days in the lead-up to the first Monday in May, this year has us especially on our toes and not just because we've been missing the epic red carpet looks. The 2021 Met Gala, whose theme is In American: A Lexicon of Fashion, will be an "intimate gala" with a guest list that skews notably Gen Z, if the night's co-chairs Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman, Naomi Osaka, and Timothée Chalamet are any indication.
The looks you're about to bear witness to feature everything from over-the-top feathers and showstopping shimmer to sultry cutouts—many of them fresh off the spring/summer 2022 runways that just wrapped up in New York. They may be all we can talk about right now, but we just know they'll leave an impact on fashion dialogue for years to come. With plenty of breathtaking moments and epic celebrity sightings to enjoy, scroll down to see all the best red carpet looks from the 2021 Met Gala.
WHO: Rihanna
WEAR: Balenciaga; Bulgari and Thelma West jewelry; custom Maria Tash earrings
WHO: Billie Eilish
WEAR: Oscar de la Renta; Jimmy Choo shoes; Cartier jewelry
WHO: Amanda Gorman
WEAR: Vera Wang; Stuart Weitzman shoes; Chopard jewelry
WHO: Emma Chamberlain
WEAR: Louis Vuitton
WHO: Kendall Jenner
WEAR: Givenchy
WHO: Olivia Rodrigo
WEAR: Saint Laurent
WHO: Keke Palmer
WEAR: Sergio Hudson; Giuseppe Zanotti shoes; Ana Khouri jewelry
WHO: Timothée Chalamet
WEAR: Haider Ackermann jacket; Rick Owens pants; Converse shoes; Cartier pin and brooch
WHO: Yara Shahidi
WEAR: Custom Dior; Cartier jewelry
WHO: Zoë Kravitz
WEAR: Saint Laurent
WHO: Lily Rose-Depp
WEAR: Chanel
WHO: Iman
WEAR: Harris Reed
WHO: Saweetie
WEAR: Christian Cowan
WHO: Emily Ratajkowski
WEAR: Vera Wang
WHO: Jennifer Lopez
WEAR: Ralph Lauren; JLO Jennifer Lopez shoes
WHO: Addison Rae
WEAR: Vintage 2003 Gucci; De Beers Jewelry
WHO: Serena Williams
WEAR: Gucci
WHO: Gigi Hadid
WEAR: Prada
WHO: Naomi Osaka
WEAR: Louis Vuitton
WHO: Barbie Ferreira
WEAR: Jonathan Simkhai; Mudd Pearl head piece
WHO: Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz
WEAR: Both in Valentino
WHO: Gabrielle Union-Wade
WEAR: Iris Van Herpen dress; Jimmy Choo shoes; Messika jewelry
WHO: Hailey Bieber
WEAR: Saint Laurent
WHO: Megan Fox
WEAR: Dundas dress; Jimmy Choo shoes
WHO: Megan Thee Stallion
WEAR: Coach; Stuart Weitzman shoes; Fernando George jewelry
WHO: Storm Reid
WEAR: Prada
WHO: Eva Chen
WEAR: Christopher John Rogers; De Beers Jewelry
WHO: Tracee Ellis Ross
WEAR: Balenciaga dress and clutch; Tiffany and Co. jewelry
WHO: Kaia Gerber
WEAR: Oscar de la Renta dress; Christian Louboutin shoes
WHO: Ella Emhoff
WEAR: Adidas by Stella McCartney
WHO: Anna Wintour
WEAR: Oscar de la Renta
WHO: Kristen Stewart
WEAR: Chanel
WHO: Maisie Williams
WEAR: Reuben Selby dress; Nodaleto shoes; Cartier jewelry
WHO: Evan Mock
WEAR: Thom Browne; Lorraine Schwartz
WHO: Amandla Stenberg
WEAR: Thom Browne
WHO: Ilana Glazer
WEAR: Aliette
WHO: Nia Dennis
WEAR: Adidas by Stella McCartney dress; Ana Khouri jewelry
WHO: Simone Biles
WEAR: Area
WHO: Paloma Elsesser
WEAR: Zac Posen
WHO: Troye Sivan
WEAR: Altu dress; Rick Owens shoes; Cartier jewelry
WHO: Anok Yai
WEAR: Ana Khouri jewelry
WHO: Normani
WEAR: Valentino dress; Lorraine Schwartz jewelry
WHO: Dixie D'Amelio
WEAR: Valentino Haute Couture
WHO: Jennifer Hudson
WEAR: AZ Factory
WHO: Lil Nas X
WEAR: Versace
WHO: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Aurora James
WEAR: Brother Vellies (Ocasio-Cortez)
WHO: Lorde
WEAR: Bode
WHO: Kim Kardashian
WEAR: Balenciaga
WHO: Mary J. Blige
WEAR: Dundas
WHO: Kate Hudson
WEAR: Michael Kors; Giuseppe Zanotti shoes; Lorraine Schwartz jewelry
WHO: Sophia Roe
WEAR: Halston
WHO: Laura Harrier
WEAR: Altuzarra
WHO: Lupita Nyong'o
WEAR: Versace; De Beers jewelry
WHO: Karlie Kloss
WEAR: Carolina Herrera dress; Christian Louboutin shoes; De Beers jewelry
WHO: Hunter Schafer
WEAR: Prada
WHO: Joan Smalls
WEAR: Ralph Lauren
WHO: Precious Lee
WEAR: Area
WHO: Zoey Deutch
WEAR: Atelier Versace dress; Stuart Weitzman shoes
WHO: Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello
WEAR (Cabello): Jimmy Choo shoes
WHO: Virgil Abloh
WEAR: Louis Vuitton
WHO: Winnie Harlow
WEAR: Iris Van Herpen
WHO: Lily Alridge
WEAR: Ralph Lauren
WHO: Ciara
WEAR: Dundas dress; Stuart Weitzman shoes; Superbowl ring; Hoorsenbuhs rings
WHO: Emily Blunt
WEAR: Miu Miu; Messika jewelry
WHO: Justin Bieber
WEAR: Balenciaga; Jacquie Aiche hoops
WHO: Irina Shayk
WEAR: Moschino dress; Stuart Weitzman shoes
WHO: Kim Petras
WEAR: Collina Strada
WHO: Maluma
WEAR: Versace; ASLAN custom 14k gold glove
WHO: Dan Levy
WEAR: Loewe; Cartier jewelry
WHO: Pete Davidson
WEAR: Thom Browne; Silhouette sunglasses
WHO: Jordan Alexander
WEAR: Christopher John Rogers dress; Christina Louboutin shoes
WHO: Michaela Cole
WEAR: Balenciaga
WHO: Rita Ora
WEAR: Prada; De Beers Jewelry
WHO: Cynthia Erivo
WHO: Carey Mulligan
WEAR: Valentino Haute Couture
WHO: Tessa Thompson
WEAR: Iris Van Herpen
WHO: Diane Kruger
WEAR: Prabal Gurung dress; Jimmy Choo shoes; Tasaki jewelry
WHO: Hailee Steinfeld
WEAR: Iris Van Herpen dress; Jimmy Choo shoes
WHO: Kacey Musgraves
WEAR: Ralph Lauren
WHO: Eiza Gonzalez
WEAR: Versace dress; Bulgari jewelry
WHO: Chloe and Halle Bailey
WEAR: Rodarte
WHO: Taraji P. Henson
WEAR: Moschino; Stuart Weitzman shoes
WHO: MJ Rodriguez
WEAR: Thom Browne dress; Ana Khouri jewelry
WHO: Sienna Miller
WEAR: Gucci
WHO: Tyler Mitchell
WEAR: Bode
WHO: Grimes
WEAR: Iris Van Herpen
WHO: Rosalía
WEAR: Rick Owens
WHO: Madison Beer
WEAR: One/Of dress; Stuart Weitzman shoes; Lorraine Schwartz jewelry
WHO: Taylor Hill
WEAR: Atelier Versace
WHO: Mindy Kaling
WEAR: Tory Burch dress; Jimmy Choo shoes
WHO: Julia Garner
WEAR: Stella McCartney
WHO: Lili Reinhart
WEAR: Christian Siriano
WHO: Finneas
WEAR: Givenchy; Cartier jewelry
WHO: Chloe Fineman
WEAR: Tory Burch
WHO: Whoopi Goldberg
WEAR: Valentino
WHO: Debbie Harry
WEAR: Zac Posen
WHO: Lourdes Leon
WHO: Erykah Badu
WEAR: Thom Browne
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Lewis Hamilton Understood the Assignment at This Year's Met GalaRead all about the story behind his look.
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Kylie Jenner Just Wore a Wedding Dress–Worthy Gown at the Met GalaThis look is peak elegance.
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Kendall Jenner Just Became the First Person to Ever Wear This 1999 Givenchy GownAn Alexander McQueen original.
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Whoa, J.Lo Chose a *Completely* Sheer, Crystal-Covered Gown for the Met GalaHere are all 360 degrees of it.
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The Most Jaw-Dropping Met Gala Red Carpet Looks of 2024The best of the best.
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