The Met Gala is always a major social event for celebrities that manage to snag a coveted invite. Ahead of this year’s gala, celebrating the iconic history of fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, it was announced that Anna Wintour was looking to slim down the exclusive list of guests. On the chopping block? Apparently a whole bunch of the Kardashians and Jenners.
Despite the rumors, Kim, at least, has been confirmed to be among the attendees. In fact, this year will mark Kim Kardashian’s 10th Met Gala, a full decade after she first debuted on the red carpet as Kanye West’s plus one.
In anticipation of this year’s Met, we take a look back at the best of the Kardashians’ and Jenners’ looks, from Kim’s Catholic Imagination to Kylie’s gilded first gala.
2013: Kim Kardashian in Givenchy
Theme: “Punk: Chaos to Couture”
It would be wrong not to start this list with Kim’s debut at the Met Gala. Despite the reception this look got when it first appeared, there’s no doubt this stand-out made Kim a must-see on the Met Gala carpet for years to come.
The gown, designed by Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy, is a mesmerizing floral pattern meant to congratulate Kim on her first pregnancy. “People can say what they want,” Tisci told Women’s Wear Daily. “To me, pregnancy is the most beautiful thing in the world, and when you celebrate something, you give people flowers. . . She was the most beautiful pregnant woman I dressed in my career.’
2015: Kendall Jenner in Calvin Klein
Theme: “China: Through The Looking Glass”
Crocheted with green crystals, this Calvin Klein gown has an almost chain-mail appearance, forming a dazzling, delicate bodice exposed at the sides. Kendall paired this look with clean and simple hair and makeup that highlight the drama of the gown.
Women’s creative director of Calvin Klein, Fransisco Costa designed Kendall’s dress around the color. “I wanted the color of the dress to resemble jade, which to me is very emblematic of China,” he said. Thousands of hand-dyed bugle beads were woven into a mesh fabric base to create a 3D pattern. “Once that was complete, the dress was covered with hand-sewn, smoke-colored crystals.”
2016: Kylie Jenner in Balmain
Theme: “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology“
Appearing in a sheer gown covered in embellished silver pinstripes, Kylie’s first Met Gala certainly stunned.
The crystals and beads form lines reminiscent of binary code, and are meshed with the more organic twists and turns at the shoulders and stomach. This creates the perfect representation of the year’s theme, demonstrating a collaboration between art and tech.
A simple smoky eye and a sleek bob rounded out the look, creating a show-stopping debut for Kylie.
2017: Kylie Jenner in Versace
Theme: “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between”
In just her second year at the Met Gala, Kylie stunned us all again with another nude illusion dress. This time, a sheer Versace gown in a soft peach nude, embellished with long, sparkling fringe, beads, and fans.
Paired with a platinum bob and clean-girl makeup look, Kylie managed to distinguish herself from the previous year’s look while remaining true to her overall aesthetic.
2019: Kim Kardashian in Thierry Mugler
Theme: “Camp: Notes on Fashion”
Absolutely dripping with glamour, Kim Kardashian blew us away with this skin-tight Mugler ensemble. Meant to look wet, this knee-length silicone and organza dress is covered with dozens of crystal droplets.
In his first design in 20 years, Thierry Mugler wanted Kim to look like she had just come out of the ocean. “This is about eight months in the making,” Kim said on the red carpet. “He envisioned me this California girl stepping out of the ocean, wet, dripping.”
2019: Kylie and Kendall Jenner in Versace
Theme: “Camp: Notes on Fashion”
Coordinating for the year, Kylie and Kendall Jenner appeared in complimentary Versace gowns that emulated a showgirl aesthetic. Perfect for the Camp theme, the gowns combined color, beading, and plenty of feathers to deliver a joyous celebration of fashion.
Kendall’s look was all about height and drama, as an aura of orange feathers framed her face and traveled down her arm.
Kylie’s lilac dream continued with her theme of nude illusion dresses, a delicate pattern of beading paired with statement-making purple feathered sleeves and hem. Her purple wig and sharp makeup brought everything together. She even loved the look so much, her daughter Stormi wore a recreated version for Halloween later that year.
2021: Kendall Jenner in Givenchy
Theme: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”
In an artful nod to the Cecil Beaton gown worn by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, Kendall’s sheer gown is a modern take iconic look. Utilizing the same style of beaded high collar and embellished shoulders, this Givenchy twist on the Beaton gown leaves behind the white silk and chiffon and opts for a completely sheer jewel-laden chiffon with nothing but a skin-tone bodysuit underneath.
The stunning look is a stand-out when paired with Kendall’s simple updo and clean makeup, leaving her looking light and airy despite the layers of crystal she’s wearing.
2021: Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga
Theme: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”
Designed by Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia, the all-black, masked look was all about power and creativity. Pushing the boundaries by covering her face, this morph-suit gown almost didn’t happen. Kim’s hesitancy was met with Gvasalia’s assurance that the statement it made would take the world by storm.
“People would know instantly it was Kim because of her silhouette,” he said. “They wouldn’t even need to see her face, you know? And I think that’s the whole power of her celebrity, that people wouldn’t need to see her face to know it’s her.”
2022: Kendall Jenner in Prada
Theme: “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”
This black two-piece Prada gown is all about drama. A sheer black crop top paired with an absolutely huge ball-gown skirt covered in architectural ruffle detail creates an avant garde show-stopper that demands attention.
The most eye-catching part of this look is definitely in the beauty, though. Kendall chose to bleach her brows for this look, lending a neo-gothic edge to the ensemble.
Meant to embody the gilded age of New York City, this piece perfectly encapsulates the high drama of the late Victorian era.
2022: Kim Kardashian in Bob Mackie
Theme: “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”
In perhaps her most controversial choice to date, Kim appeared in on the most famous dresses in America for the 2022 Met Gala. The gown Marylin Monroe wore to sing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President,” to then U.S. President John F Kennedy, is a thin and nearly sheer dress covered in over 6,000 crystals.
In order to prepare to fit into the gown, Kim went on a potentially dangerous weight loss journey to drop 16 pounds in three weeks. Ultimately, Kim only wore the gown for a few minutes, opting to switch for a replica for the actual gala.