The most unforgettable Met Gala themes

The best Met Gala themes have been cemented into fashion history for producing some of the most poignant and memorable red carpet moments of all time. An event held annually on the first Monday in May, the Met Gala celebrates fashion and design, and is considered to be the fashion industry's equivalent to the Oscars.

Launched as a fundraising evening for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in 1948, the event has grown from a glamorous charity dinner to become the hottest ticket for every celebrity and fashion brand. With seats thought to cost around $50,000, when that invite lands - you’ll know you've made it.

Each year the Met Gala has a different theme echoing that of the exhibitions whose opening it celebrates. Themes vary each year and have ranged from individual designers, including a retrospective of 25 years of Yves Saint Laurent's career that covered standout pieces such as Le Smoking, which made tuxedos for women the height of style, to stylistic eras as well as individual countries unique cultural fashion. While guests had always dressed in resplendent finery, it wasn’t until 1995 when famed editor Anna Wintour took over the chairperson role that the idea of attendees embracing the theme with their own outfits began to emerge. While once attendees simply selected the best dresses from their favorite designers, the explosion of social media since the early Noughties has seen the idea of the themed event mushroom, with ever more extravagant outfits gracing the red carpet.

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BY ANTONIA KRASKOWSKI