25 Of The Most Ridiculously Bizarre Met Gala Fashion Designs

The Met Gala was first established in 1948 as a high-end fundraiser for the Museum's Costume Institute. Initially, the event was exclusively for New York’s elite and wealthy, who were encouraged to dig deep in their pockets to support the cause of the organisers.  Eventually, ex-Vogue editor Diana Vreeland took over as consultant in 1972,  and the gala was opened to include celebs in the guest list who have transforming it into the lavish spectacle we are familiar with today. Since 2020, Vogue Magazine and New York's Metropolitan Museum have rebranded the event as a chance for celebs to flaunt fabulous fashion statements, whether it be whimsical, bizarre or downright ridiculous, all in the name of a good cause. The annual Met Gala 2025 takes place on Monday, May 5, and we look forward to seeing what controversial looks celebs bring to the red carpet this year as well. 

#1 Solange Knowles, 2018

Image source: Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Solange Knowles embraced fan participation for her 2018 Met Gala look, allowing Twitter users to select her outfit from a selection of five options. The chosen ensemble, a design by Iris van Herpen, was emulating the theme "Heavenly Bodies."

#2 Helen Lasichanh And Pharrell Williams, 2017

Image source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Helen Lasichanh's 2017 Met Gala ensemble, a Comme des Garçons creation, drew a lot of attention for its distinctive design. Pharrell Williams, accompanying her in ripped Comme des Garçons jeans, also garnered attention for his fashion choice but ultimately stuck to the theme.

#3 Lil Nas X, 2023

Image source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images, marieclaire.com At the 2023 Met Gala, Lil Nas X channeled Karl Lagerfeld's beloved cat, Choupette, for his ensemble. The costume, designed by Dior, featured a thong and intricate coverings of silver paint and gemstones, requiring 10 hours to complete.

#4 Frances McDormand, 2018

Image source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images, people.com The Oscar-winning actress made a striking entrance in a bold blue cape and an oversized headpiece that turned heads. The dramatic ensemble, designed by Valentino, was a standout at the "Heavenly Bodies" themed event. McDormand, known for her understated style, surprised everyone with this fashion-forward choice, proving she could command the red carpet just as well as the silver screen. The look was a perfect blend of high fashion and theatricality, fitting the gala's theme of fashion and religion.

#5 Doja Cat, 2023

Image source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Doja Cat's 2023 Met Gala costume, inspired by Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette, was a thoroughly immersive experience. The look extended beyond face prosthetics and claw nails, as she conducted interviews meowing as a cat, creating a memorable and playful homage to Lagerfeld's beloved feline companion.

#6 Jared Leto, 2023

Image source: Taylor Hill / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Jared Leto's choice to portray Karl Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette, as a literal costume at the 2023 Met Gala earned him particular attention. He notably kept the cat head on for an extended period, causing initial confusion among attendees.

#7 Rihanna, 2015

Image source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images, purewow.com Rihanna stole the show at the 2015 Met Gala in a voluminous, sunshine-yellow Guo Pei cape-gown that took over the red carpet—literally. The hand-embroidered, fur-trimmed masterpiece, which required a team to carry its 16-foot train, instantly became iconic, inspiring endless memes. While some critics dismissed it as excessive, Rihanna's commitment to the "China: Through the Looking Glass" theme was undeniable—and history proved her right. The look cemented her status as the Met Gala's ultimate risk-taker, blending cultural homage with jaw-dropping spectacle.

#8 Sarah Jessica Parker, 2015

Image source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images, indiatoday.in Sarah Jessica Parker made a bold statement at the 2015 Met Gala, embracing the China: Through the Looking Glass theme with a dramatic Philip Treacy headpiece. The fiery, sculptural design—resembling flames—became an instant talking point, sparking memes and social media buzz. While the avant-garde accessory drew mixed reactions, Parker’s commitment to the theme was undeniable. Paired with a custom H&M gown, the look balanced high fashion with theatricality, proving her fearless approach to red-carpet moments.

#9 Fredrik Robertsson, 2022

Image source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images, usmagazine.com Fredrik Robertsson made a striking entrance at the 2022 Met Gala in a futuristic Iris van Herpen jumpsuit. The sculptural design, adorned with intricate 3D pin-like embellishments, appeared almost alien in its precision—embodying the Dutch designer’s signature blend of technology and haute couture. The metallic, armor-like ensemble moved fluidly with Robertsson, creating a mesmerizing effect that blurred the line between fashion and art.

#10 Janelle Monáe, 2023

Image source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Janelle Monáe turned heads at the 2023 Met Gala with a show-stopping ensemble that was as theatrical as it was stylish. The multi-layered Thom Browne creation began as a structured black-and-white coat—only to be dramatically removed mid-carpet, revealing a sheer pannier dress and a bikini underneath. The look, a playful nod to the event's Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty theme, was a masterclass in surprise and subversion. Monáe cheekily described the outfit as "a perfect threesome of me, Thom, and Karl," blending Lagerfeld's signature elegance with Browne's avant-garde sensibilities.

#11 Julie Macklowe, 2017

Image source: Karwai Tang / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Julie Macklowe's 2017 Met Gala look, an armless Comme des Garçons creation, drew attention for its unconventional design. Macklowe humorously explained her choice, stating, "I've gone as a flying squirrel with no arms tonight...I feel like I need a beer-bong helmet since I don't have arms, so I can drink. I just hope someone who sits next to me will feed me."

#12 Grimes, 2021

Image source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Grimes fully leaned into her "neo-medieval ethereal" aesthetic at the 2021 Met Gala, channeling futuristic warrior vibes in an Iris van Herpen gown with armored detailing and a dramatic, face-obscuring hood. But the true showstopper? The towering, very real (though blunt) sword she wielded like a prophetic relic from a cyberpunk fairy tale.

#13 Madonna, 2016

Image source: Dimitrios Kambouris , hollywoodreporter.com Madonna made a striking appearance at the 2016 Met Gala, embracing the "Manus x Machina" theme with a daring Givenchy ensemble that blended high fashion with provocative design. The look featured a bondage-inspired thong bodysuit, lace draping, thigh-high leather boots, and intricate cutouts, creating a powerful visual statement. In a now-deleted Instagram post, the pop icon defended her choice, calling it a "political statement" on women's rights, writing, "When it comes to women's freedom, we are still in the dark ages."

#14 Jared Leto, 2019

Image source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Jared Leto's 2019 Met Gala arrival, which saw him carrying a lifelike replica of his own head, remains a memorable and unsettling moment. While aligning with the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme, the elaborate prop generated significant attention and awe. Leto's playful interactions with the prop, including tossing it to Shaun Mendes, further contributed to the unusual spectacle.

#15 Katy Perry, 2019

Image source: Pierre Suu / Getty Images, glamour.com Katy Perry's 2019 Met Gala look, inspired by the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme, was a literal chandelier creation by Moschino. The silver, bejeweled dress was topped with three tiers of light-up candles, with the final one weighing 40 pounds and positioned on her head. She told Time that her intention was to avoid sitting during the event, saying, "You don't sit down at the Met."

#16 Cara Delevingne, 2022

Image source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images, hollywoodreporter.com Cara Delevingne turned the 2022 Met Gala into a high-fashion striptease, arriving in a sleek red Dior Haute Couture suit—only to dramatically remove the blazer mid-carpet, revealing her bare torso adorned solely with gold body paint, pasties, and delicate butterfly-themed jewelry. The bold reveal, a nod to the "Gilded Glamour" theme, was both a sartorial spectacle and a statement on bodily autonomy. Delevingne later explained the look symbolized "the metamorphosis of a butterfly" and celebrated freedom of expression.

#17 Anna Wintour, 2004

Image source: WWD / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Even the most iconic fashion figures have their "what was I thinking?" moments—and Anna Wintour's 2004 Met Gala look is a prime example. The Vogue editor arrived in a pale green, bubble-hem, bedazzled coat-dress, layered over a matching gown, for the "Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century" theme. The ensemble, while undeniably bold, left many scratching their heads, as it seemed to straddle the line between avant-garde and... just plain confusing.

#18 Frank Ocean, 2021

Image source: Jeff Kravitz / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Frank Ocean's 2021 Met Gala appearance featured a striking, attention-grabbing element: a lifelike, moving, green robot baby, which he reportedly used to promote his luxury brand, Homer. The baby's uncanny resemblance to a real infant created a captivating and potentially unsettling visual that likely underscored the branding message.

#19 Kim Kardashian, 2021

Image source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Kim Kardashian initially hesitated about her 2021 Met Gala outfit, a Balenciaga design, but ultimately chose to embrace the theme. She went on to explain to Vogue that "[Balenciaga's creative director Demna Gvasalia] and the team were like, 'This is a costume gala. This is not a Vanity Fair party where everyone looks beautiful. There's a theme and you have to wear the mask. That is the look.'"

#20 Kim Petras, 2021

Image source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images Kim Petras made a striking statement at the 2023 Met Gala with a bold, equine-inspired look. The German singer's outfit featured a horse head as a corset, creating a dramatic and unconventional silhouette. The design, which was both avant-garde and visually arresting, aligned with the event's theme of pushing fashion boundaries.

#21 Liv Tyler & Stella McCartney, 1999

Image source: Mitchell Gerber / Getty Images, purewow.com At the 1999 Met Gala, Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney—both daughters of rock legends—made a statement in the simplest way possible: matching "Rock Royalty" T-shirts. The duo's casual look, a stark contrast to the gala's formal dress code, became an iconic moment of effortless cool. In a later interview with Vogue, McCartney downplayed the rebellious intent, saying, "I didn't come at it intentionally to be rebellious at all. I didn't know what people wore." Tyler added, "It wasn't really appropriate that we wore those shirts... It was very cool and rebellious of Stella."

#22 Jaden Smith, 2017

Image source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Jaden Smith turned heads at the 2017 Met Gala with a move that was as bold as it was bizarre: carrying his own shaved-off dreadlocks in his hand. The actor, who had recently cut his hair for a film role, explained the accessory with his signature philosophical flair: "Since I couldn't bring my sister as a date, I brought my old hair." The black Louis Vuitton suit was understated, but the prop—his own hair—made it unforgettable.

#23 Shailene Woodley, 2018

Image source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images, marieclaire.com Shailene Woodley’s 2018 Met Gala ensemble was a bold, if confusing, interpretation of the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme. The actress arrived in a structured, metallic gold and silver dress with a high neck and dramatic sleeves, which, while technically inspired by Joan of Arc, ended up looking more like a futuristic knight’s armor.

#24 Amber Valletta, 2004

Image source: Evan Agostini / Getty Images, purewow.com Amber Valletta fully committed to the “Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century” theme in 2004, arriving in a head-turning, Marie Antoinette-inspired ensemble complete with towering powdered wig, corseted gown, and all the rococo excess the era demanded. Reflecting on the look years later, Valletta told W: “Looking back on it, I think it’s so badass that I went for it... It was a time when people were just starting to get into the theme.”

#25 Solange Knowles, 2017

Image source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images, purewow.com Solange Knowles embraced the unconventional theme of the 2017 Met Gala, which honored Rei Kawakubo, with a Thom Browne ensemble. The unique outfit combined elements of a sleeping bag and a puffer jacket, accompanied by a long quilted train and ice skate-inspired shoes.