We take a look at our favourite Met Gala debuts through the years

The Met Gala as we know it today is one of the biggest events for fashion, celebrities and pop culture alike. The Met Gala has remained a yearly playground for the kind of visionary, no-holds-barred splendour that is typically reserved for photo shoots ever since its first “Fashion Plate”-themed event in 1971. It is therefore understandable why the Metropolitan Museum of Art has also generated iconic moments destined to influence trends and more than a few headlines. The Met Gala red carpet has only gotten better and better over the past ten years. The star-studded affair has inspired guests to enjoy themselves openly on the red carpet, and as the gala has grown, this attitude has only been stronger. The contrast between the 2010 Met Gala and the 2019 camp theme, for example, is stark: What was once a sea of stunning evening gowns has changed into a showcase of unadulterated excess and risk-taking.

The late Karl Lagerfeld was honoured at this year’s Met Gala, which highlighted his unique contributions to fashion while serving as creative director of prominent fashion houses including Chanel, Fendi, Balmain, and more. Michaela Coel, Penélope Cruz, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa, and Anna Wintour served as co-hosts.