As the first Monday of May gets underway, celebrity stylists are quaking in their boots as they prepare for the Met Gala. The charity fundraiser for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art will be held this evening, even though the mood in New York is decidedly more subdued, as a host of A-listers snub the event over Jeff Bezos's sponsorship. But can couture save the day? As fans across the world wait to see how their favourite stars interpret the 'Fashion is Art' theme, we look back at some of the most bizarre, outrageous, and downright disastrous red carpet moments over the past decade. From horse head costumes to naked dresses, these are the Met Gala dresses that threatened to ruin its fashionable reputation.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow picked an uninspiring Valentino gown for the punk-themed gala in 2013. Her outfit was decidedly bland, but her comments about the Met Gala being 'unfun' spiced things up, with Gwyneth declaring she would never attend the 'crowded' event again. She has since attended the Met Gala five times.
Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne's China-inspired costume for the 2015 gala was branded a miss. She turned to Stella McCartney to design her cutout black jumpsuit when she walked the red carpet in 2015. She also recruited celebrity tattoo artist Keith 'Bang Bang' McCurdy to create her China-inspired body art, but the look ultimately fell flat.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker wore one of her own designs to the 2015 event. She has delivered several memorable Met Gala moments, but the self-designed, one-shouldered gown she wore to the 2015 instalment is a look best forgotten. However, the headpiece, designed by royal-approved milliner Philip Treacy, guaranteed the outfit internet infamy.
Madonna
Madonna's Givenchy gown for the 2016 edition of the Met Gala is one of the most controversial outfits seen on the red carpet in recent years. The bondage-themed Givenchy gown designed by Italian designer Riccardo Tisci left little to the imagination. The dress included details like lace panelling, black leather thigh boots, and black tape over her nipples. The theme for the 2016 edition was Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, but the Queen of Pop's interpretation missed the mark, according to commentators.
Pete Davidson
Pete Davidson's 2023 look, including a bucket hat, trench coat, and sunglasses, was widely panned. The 2023 Met Gala honoured Karl Lagerfeld's historic fashion legacy, but Pete Davidson seemingly missed the memo as he rocked up wearing a bucket hat and trench coat. The look was so bad, even his ex-girlfriend Kim Kardashian's daughter North West had notes. 'You're going to the Met Gala, Pete. Not the gas station,' she said during an episode of her family's reality TV show, The Kardashians.
Kylie Jenner
Fans branded Kylie Jenner's wedding dress Met Gala look for the 2022 all-American iteration a 'walking tragedy' at the time. It featured a dramatic, ruffled skirt and fitted bodice that she paired with a mesh t-shirt, veil, and backwards baseball cap for a look that felt more confused than couture.
Kim Petras
Kim Petras opted for a bold, horse-themed look from Collina Strada for the 2021 Met Gala. One of 2021's most bizarre looks, German singer Kim Petras's horse-themed look is often first across the worst-dressed finish line. Viewers felt the printed dress, paired with a 3-D horse head, was 'tacky and ostentatious' when she galloped down the red carpet in 2021.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry dressed as a life-sized chandelier for the 2019 event celebrating camp. Her 2019 look lit up the meme pages after the pop star, who has previously worn a hamburger outfit to the Met, transformed into a living, breathing chandelier.
Janelle Monae
Paying tribute to legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld, Janelle Monae chose a transforming black and white contrasting creation from Thom Browne for the 2023 Met Gala.
Jared Leto
Jared Leto was unanimously voted the worst offender of the 2023 Met Gala when he hit the red carpet as the designer's beloved cat, Choupette, the same year. The mascot-style suit even topped the Suicide Squad's camp outfit in 2019, when he posed on the red carpet while holding a replica of his decapitated head.
Halle Berry
Halle Berry's risque La Quan Smith gown was trying too hard, fans suggested. Last year, Halle Berry risked a serious wardrobe malfunction when she walked the red carpet in a custom sheer panelled dress from La Quan Smith. Fans were shocked when they noticed parts of the actress's groin were visible as they branded the risque look 'tasteless'. 'The jacket distracts and the dress didn't need to show her groin. It's just obviously trying to be outrageous,' one Reddit user wrote.
Venus Williams
Venus Williams teamed up with Lacoste for last year's outfit, but the tennis-themed look left fashion commentators scratching their heads. The sports icon teamed up with Lacoste for what many felt was a 'basic tennis outfit' complete with a pleated skirt and 'ill-fitting' t-shirt. One person wrote: 'This is a great concept. The execution though is a mess.'
