20 Celebs Who Tried Too Hard To Dress For The Met Gala And Failed In Spectacular Fashion
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The Met Gala has become synonymous with bizarre and ridiculous fashion. Where else have we seen celebrities walk the red carpet dressed as a chandelier, or a cat? Or wearing a horse’s head as a corset? Carrying a handful of cut-off dreadlocks as their partner for the night?
Kim Kardashian has almost broken the internet a few times with her Met Gala looks. Last year, she came under fire for her insanely tight and admittedly painful corset, which she accessorised with a ragged cardigan. In 2022, it was the original Marilyn Monroe gown that had tongues wagging. Many are waiting to see what controversy she and others will stir up this year.
The 2025 with gala takes place on Monday, May 5. And many of the rich and famous are busy putting the final touches on their outfits for the fashion event of the year. While they do that, Bored Panda has gone on a trip down memory lane and put together a list of some of the most WTF outfits we’ve ever seen throughout the history of the event. Don’t forget to upvote your favorites, and leave your thoughts in the comments.
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.
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. McDormandknown 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.
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.
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.
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.
Taja 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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.”
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 VogueMcCartney 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.”
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.
Emma Corrin brought their signature quirky-cool aesthetic to the 2022 Met Gala, channeling “King of the Dudes” Evander Berry Wall—a 19th-century New York socialite known for his flamboyant style. The standout piece? A dramatically tall, modernized bowler hat, paired with an oversized Miu Miu jacket and sleek patent booties for a striking silhouette. True to form, Corrin balanced avant-garde whimsy with sharp tailoring, proving why they’re a red-carpet standout.
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.'”
Evan Mock, the Gossip Girl reboot star, made a rebellious first impression at the 2021 Met Gala in a deconstructed Thom Browne ensemble that blended prep-school polish with punk irreverence. The look featured a spiked mask, a dress jacket studded with safety pins, and long shorts—all paired with intentionally mismatched socks and chunky silver jewelry. The outfit, though meticulously designed, exuded a deliberately disheveled energy, mirroring the event’s “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” theme through a Gen-Z lens.
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.
