Every Met Gala Theme: From 1948 to 2024
Something all fashion fans look forward to is obviously the Met Gala, and in a few days, the 2024 one will be in full swing.
For those who don’t know, the Met Gala, formally known as the Costume Institute Gala, is an annual fundraising event, and known as “fashion’s biggest night.” The night is linked to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City and celebrates the unveiling of a new fashion exhibit every year. Along with being a major fundraiser, it’s a major gala filled with celebrities, designers, A-listers, and more; almost all of whom abide by the gorgeous theme given every year.
(Nearly) every year, the Met Gala has a gorgeous theme, which ranges a lot, and then a dress code for the guests to follow.
Some themes honor time frames and designers, while others honor rather niche subjects such as punk fashion, rocker-chic fashion, and more; but all of them are such an amazing glimpse into the fashion world. And in 2024, there’s a new theme that fans are so excited for.
On May 6, 2024, celebs will arrive at the Met Gala for a first look at the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibition, which is all about showing off unique clothing from up to four centuries ago, some of which are too delicate to ever be worn again. To celebrate the new exhibition, the theme for the 2024 Met Gala is “The Garden of Time.”
Ahead of the 2024 Met Gala, check out all the themes from the first-ever gala in 1948.
See every Met Gala theme through the years!
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2024: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”
On May 6, 2024, stars will line up “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” which is all about showing off unique clothing from up to four centuries ago that are too delicate to ever be worn again. It’s all about giving life to vintage, old clothing and showing the beauty in it. The dress code is “The Garden of Time,” which is flowers, time, and vintage inspiration.
2023: “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”
For 2023, the Met Gala honored designer Karl Lagerfeld with “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” which was packed with Chanel and vintage clothing.
2022: “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”
And 2022 was a continuation of that with the theme, but it slightly changed with the title “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.” But this one focused more on the history and innovation of American fashion over the decades, and with the dress code being “Guilded Glamour,” it was to focus on the guilded, early 20th century styles to show how far we’ve come.
2021: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”
The 2021 Met Gala celebrated American fashion and designers.
2020: “About Time: Fashion and Duration”
So you probably don’t remember this one: the 2020 theme of “About Time: Fashion and Duration,” because it was cancelled due to COVID-19. It was supposed to be about how trends never really die in fashion.
2019: “Camp: Notes on Fashion”
The 2019 theme was all about wearing the most exaggerated and extravagant looks you can find.
2018: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”
The most iconic Met Gala was definitely the 2018 one, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” which was all about dramatic, ornate fashion pieces inspired by the visual symbolism of Catholicism.
2017: “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Gar?ons: Art of the In-Between”
You may not have known this, but the 2017 gala was paying homage to Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo and her label Comme des Gar?ons, who was all about unconvential pieces and avant-garde subjects.
2016: “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”
Back in 2016, everyone arrived in looks inspired by futuristic fashion, and how technology has influenced fashion over the years.
2015: “China: Through the Looking Glass”
For the 2015 theme “China: Through The Looking Glass,” many donned looked with details inspired by Chinese art and culture that influenced Western fashion over the years.
2014: “Charles James: Beyond Fashion”
For the 2014 theme “Charles James: Beyond Fashion,” it was all about honoring the sculptural designs of mid-20th century fashion designer Charles James.
2013: “Punk: Chaos to Couture”
The 2013 Met Gala theme “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” was all about seeing how the punk rock movement has impacted high fashion.
2012: “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations”
2012 shook things up by paying homage to two designers: Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada.
2011: “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”
Like many Met Galas before, the 2012 theme “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” was about paying homage to the designer, Alexander McQueen and his “savage” styles inspired by nature and culture.
2010: “American Women: Fashioning a National Identity”
The 2010 theme “American Women: Fashioning a National Identity” was all about embracing feminine fashion associated with women in America over the past century.
2009: “The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion”
Instead of paying homage to designers, the 2009 Met Gala honored iconic models from the 20th century and the fashion associated with them.
2008: “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”
For the theme in 2008 titled “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy,” which was all about exploring the aesthetics of superhero costumes.
2007: “Poiret: King of Fashion”
Back in 2007, the theme was “Poiret: King Of Fashion,” which honored the designer for freeing women from corsets and getting them into fun, loose clothing.
2006: “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion”
In 2006, the Met Gala theme was “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion,” which was all about embracing British fashion throughout the decades, sometimes in a more literal sense.
2005: “The House of Chanel”
Ashley Olsen and Mary Kate Olsen paid homage to Coco Chanel and all things Chanel with their chic 2005 gowns and pearl jewelry.
2004: “Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century”
Supermodel Amber Valletta fully embraced the 18th-century theme by rocking this Maggie Norris Couture gown, as did many who took inspiration from the 18th century fashion trends.
2003: “Goddess: The Classical Mode”
Antiquity was the name of the game, you had to look at depictions of goddesses in religion and history to make the perfect outfit for the 2003 gala, “Goddess: The Classical Mode.”
2001: “Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years”
The 2001 Met Gala honored Jackie Kennedy and her iconic style from her time at the White House, with all those iconic looks being the inspo for the red carpet.
1999: “Rock Style”
For the 1999 Met Gala with the theme “Rock Style,” everyone arrived in rocker-chic looks.
1998: “Cubism and Fashion”
For the 50th anniversary of the gala, they had the theme “Cubism and Fashion,” which was trying to add the cubist artistic style into fashion.
1997: “Gianni Versace”
And for 1997, the Met Gala honored the designer, “Gianni Versace.”
1996: “Christian Dior”
Celebrating designer Christian Dior, many arrived in looks honoring his past designs and inspirations, including Princess Diana.
1995: “Haute Couture”
“Haute Couture” means all the designs, all the fashion, and all the unique takes on style.
1994: “Orientalism: Visions of the East in Western”
So, for one, that’s not a great name, but this Met Gala was all about how the East influenced the West in fashion.
1993: “Diana Vreeland: Immoderate Style”
1993 was another Met Gala honoring Diana Vreeland!
1992: “Fashion and History: A Dialogue”
The theme “Fashion and History: A Dialogue” was quite bare-bones: find links between history and fashion; and many understood the assignment.
1991: No Theme
So there was no theme this year, but so many stars came in lavish looks.
1990: “Théatre de la Mode: Fashion Dolls, The Survival of Haute Couture”
The 1990 theme was an interesting one. For one thing, the exhibit featured miniature fashion dolls dressed in creations by Parisian couturiers, but that had nothing to do with the red carpet, apparently. The red carpet was all donning looks that show the resilience of haute couture.
1989: “The Age of Napoleon: Costume from Revolution to Empire, 1789-1815”
This theme was quite self-explanatory: “The Age of Napoleon: Costume from Revolution to Empire, 1789-1815.” But for those who need more details: think aristocratic French fashion that is oh-so luxurious.
1988: “From Queen to Empress: Victorian Dress, 1837-1877”
The 1988 theme was another theme all about 18th-century glamour, but this time, it focused more on glamorous, ornate Victorian inspirations.
1987: “A Tribute to Diana Vreeland”
The 1987 Met Gala didn’t honor a designer, but it honored legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who was all about boldness and eccentricity.
1986: “Dance”
All the colors and movement were needed for the costumes worn at the 1986 Met Gala.
1985: “Costumes of Royal India”
The Met Gala of “Costumes of Royal India” put a heavy focus on color and patterns, and Cher understood the assignment.
1984: “Man and the Horse”
This theme was so out there because it was inspired by hunting and horse riding; so furs, leathers, and more.
1983: “Yves Saint Laurent: 25 Years of Design”
1983 was another Met Gala-themed year honoring a designer, this time paying tribute to “Yves Saint Laurent 25 Years of Design.”
1982: “La Belle époque”
For the 1982 theme “Le Belle époque,” guests were expected to arrive in extravagant looks inspired by the 1880s to 1940s. Actress Raquel Welch clearly understood the assignment with this lavish look.
1981: “The Eighteenth-Century Woman”
So you might be like, what is this theme? The 1981 theme was all about embracing 18th century fashion in some way.
1980: “The Manchu Dragon: Costumes of China”
This 1980 theme was all about embracing Chinese costumes, specifically inspired by the Manchus, who ruled China during the Qing Dynasty, from 1644-1912.
1979: “Fashions of The Hapsburg Era”
“Fashions of The Hapsburg Era” was all about the Hapsburg family, which had fashions associated with the Renaissance and Baroque periods. While the theme called for court gowns and ornate jewelry, many went with a more modern take on the Baroque elements.
1978: “Diaghilev: Costumes and Designs of the Ballets Russes”
The Russian influences didn’t stop with the 1970s Met Gala themes, and for 1978, they had the theme of “Diaghilev: Costumes and Designs of the Ballets Russes.” It was based around designer Sergei Diaghilev and Diaghilev’s ballet designs.
1977: “Vanity Fair: A Treasure Trove”
The 1977 Met Gala was all about arriving in extravagant wear, emulating treasure!
1976: “The Glory of Russian Costume”
The 1976 Met Gala theme of “The Glory of Russian Costume” had the exhibit full of Russian clothes, accessories and clothing fragments; and you had to arrive in clothes similar to it.
1975: “American Women of Style”
The 1975 theme “American Women of Style” was about emv=bracing feminine details in clothing.
1974: “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design”
This theme was an homage to the romantic styles of fashion, specifically honoring the Golden Age of Hollywood fashion. Wallis Simpson donned the perfect look: a silk blue dress with white gloves, buttons, and a bow.
1973: “The 10s, the 20s, the 30s: Inventive Clothes”
The 1973 theme was all about honoring inventive fashion in the early 20th century. And yes, there were two galas in 1971.
1973: “The World of Balenciaga”
The 1973 gala was all about honring Balenciaga fashion.
1971: “Fashion Plate”
The next theme wasn’t until 1971, when the next theme was “Fashion Plate,” which was a bare-bones theme for fashion inspiration.
1948: “Fashion Pleasure Party: The World in Dress”
The 1948 Met Gala, the first ever Met Gala had the theme of “Fashion Pleasure Party: The World in Dress,” which was all about celebrating diversity in fashion around the world. Unlike the Met Gala that followed, it took place at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City.