
Met Gala's wildest moments: 10 most unforgettable and bizarre celebrity looks of all time
Over the years, some celebs have totally turned heads with daring, out-of-the-box outfits, while others left us wondering what were they thinking? So, ahead of this year's spectacle, let's rewind and check out some of the most bizarre and bold fashion moments in Met Gala history. (Also read: Priyanka Chopra turns NYC into her runway ahead of Met Gala 2025 in stylish brown silk co-ord set worth ₹70K. See pics )
A post shared by Just Jared (@justjared)
Jared Leto always knows how to make a statement at the Met Gala, and 2023 was no different. Embracing the theme 'In honour of Karl,' the Morbius star turned heads by showing up dressed as Karl Lagerfeld's iconic pet cat, Choupette, truly taking the tribute to a whole new level.
A post shared by Getty Images Entertainment (@gettyentertainment)
Jared Leto wasn't alone in channelling Choupette at the 2023 Met Gala. Doja Cat also embraced the feline theme for her debut appearance, donning realistic cat prosthetics, claw-like nails, and a dazzling diamond headpiece complete with cat ears. And in true Doja fashion, she stayed in character all night, answering red carpet questions with actual meows.
A post shared by Just Jared (@justjared)
Lil Nas X is known for going all out at the Met Gala, and 2023 was no exception. The rapper turned heads in a daring metallic Dior Men thong, his entire body covered in silver paint and adorned with pearls and crystals. He even added a subtle nod to Karl Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette, with shimmering silver whiskers completing the bold look.
A post shared by Kim Kardashian (@kimkardashian)
Kim Kardashian embraced full anonymity at the 2021 Met Gala, stepping onto the red carpet in a head-to-toe black Balenciaga haute couture gown. Complete with a matching train and face-covering mask, the look left fans and onlookers doing double-takes, wondering who was behind the mysterious ensemble.
A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)
Priyanka Chopra Jonas fully embraced the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme at the Met Gala, turning heads in a dramatic Dior Haute Couture ensemble. Her look featured a statement crown, a corset with cage detailing, vibrant feathers, and a flowing cape, delivering a bold, theatrical moment on the red carpet.
A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib)
Cardi B stole the spotlight at the 2019 Met Gala in a jaw-dropping custom Thom Browne gown. Drenched in deep red, the dramatic outfit was adorned with 30,000 feathers and took a team of 35 people over 2,000 hours to craft. To top it off, the look featured 44-carat ruby nipples designed by Stefere Jewellery.
At the 2019 Met Gala, Katy Perry embraced the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme in a dramatic Moschino chandelier outfit designed by Jeremy Scott. Weighing 40 pounds and adorned with working lights, the look was bold, theatrical, and impossible to miss. Perry even joked she wouldn't be sitting down and added to the moment by singing a snippet of Sia's 'Chandelier' on the red carpet.
A post shared by National Dress Day (@nationaldressday)
Rihanna's Met Gala outfits are always unforgettable, and her 2023 look was no exception. While pregnant, she wowed in a bold Valentino ensemble that made her resemble an enormous rosebush. The outfit featured a massive train, yet somehow still managed to look surprisingly comfy.
A post shared by Christopher Paul Horne (@itschristopherhorne)
Janelle Monáe definitely brings the "wacky" factor to every red carpet, and the Met Gala 2023 was no different. She rocked a bold Thom Browne black-and-white coat that was already making a statement, but the real surprise came halfway up the stairs when she removed the coat to reveal a sheer pannier dress and bikini underneath.
A post shared by Getty Images Entertainment (@gettyentertainment)
Frank Ocean's Met Gala moment was impossible to forget, thanks to him bringing a green robot baby as his plus-one, seemingly to promote his luxury brand, Homer. The baby was eerily lifelike, with its head and arms moving, giving it an uncanny valley vibe that was both mesmerising and a bit unsettling. The fact that it left everyone staring? Definitely part of the plan.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
a day ago
- Mint
Why are there no retrospectives of Indian designers?
Designer Manish Malhotra ensured his return to India couture week after five years was a night to remember. His Couture Cocktail Evening on 26 July had all the ingredients of a memorable fashion party—flashy guests, a 10ft-tall eagle made of mirrors, video excerpts from Malhotra's past shows projected on the walls, a live DJ, a grazing table, and a 20-minute runway show closed by Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio. In a room across the hall, Malhotra had an interesting exhibit—mannequins displaying 10 of his designs from the last three decades, including the ensemble Rekha wore for a Vogue Arabia cover two years ago, the Parsi gara gown Natasha Poonawalla wore to the 2025 Met Gala, and Kajol's green lehenga from the song 'Mehndi lagake rakhna" in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). Some guests, misleadingly, called it a 'retrospective"—a word social media used for the exhibit the next morning. A retrospective, usually put together by an independent curator, is not just a display of archival clothes. It shows the evolution of the designer, their groundbreaking moments and their impact on the fashion world. While doing so, they also offer an insight into the country's culture and history. It's something we've rarely seen in Indian fashion. The Indian fashion industry, as we know it, is on its way to marking 50 years. Doesn't it deserve just such an independent, critical look-back? A retrospective needs 'criticality, which is largely missing from Indian fashion," says Pramod Kumar K.G., co-founder of Eka Archiving Services, a museum and cultural advisory firm that has created archives for brands such as Tarun Tahiliani, Anokhi and Amrapali. 'An (independent) curator will tell you which pieces to edit out and which to include, something many designers aren't comfortable with. They would prefer to have a piece that brings them money; they are still very connected to their business." Indian fashion and design also lack public archives. While designers have started maintaining personal archives, they still haven't shown a keen interest in opening up their past work to the public to help them understand why, say, Malhotra's chiffon saris that became a rage among Bollywood stars in the 1990s, or why Tahiliani remains the master of the fish drape despite many others attempting it. 'Where are the cultural institutions to present such shows?" says Kumar K.G. 'We don't see too many fashion-related events from a cultural perspective." The last, and perhaps the first, mega event dedicated to Indian fashion in the country was the exhibit during the opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre two years ago. A retrospective show also offers a window to materiality—why a particular fabric or colour was used, why the costume falls the way it does, what the embroidery signifies, how a craft has been interpreted to suit the mood of the time—the kind of information that's as useful to a fashion or a design student as it is to a layperson who wants to understand how India's culture has evolved. 'But who is interested in knowing all this? It all boils down to the bottom line," says Sathya Saran, an author and professor of fashion journalism at the National Institute of Fashion Technology. She was the editor of Femina magazine from 1993 to 2005. 'Today's audience doesn't want to understand fashion; all they are concerned about is looking good, and if the market is going to rule what works, then why would designers be interested in keeping public archives or retrospectives?" A reason for the lack of interest, says Saran, is the absence of critical writing that deconstructs fashion as a concept, taking it beyond just how many crystals were used in a lehnga-choli or how many man hours went in adding feathers to a pair of pants. Critical fashion writing is slowly fading, with PR-driven and influencer-led interviews showcasing only the shiny parts of a designer's journey. Even on social media, the lines between sponsored and organic content are getting blurred. 'If nobody questions, nobody will learn. And then, people will complain that designers are making the same kind of clothes," says Saran. "If there's hardly anyone pushing the envelope, what retrospective will you do then?"


Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Orry on doing Khatron ke Khiladi: Between eating a cockroach and walking into a party where I know no one knows me, I'd eat the cockroach (Exclusive)
Orry is set to trade couture for cockroaches. The social media sensation will soon do the adventure-based reality show Khatron ke Khiladi. He says, 'Yes! Can you believe it? Me—Orry—on Khatron! I've always loved testing my limits, whether it's in fashion, fame, or fear. It's not just about stunts—it's about facing the stuff you hide from. I want to do that. In front of millions.' When asked if he's nervous, he shoots back, 'Nervous? I don't have time for all that. Between eating a cockroach and, say, walking into a party where I know no one knows me, I'd eat the cockroach. A bowl of cockroaches, even.' As for rumours of delays? 'Nothing dramatic—just postponed. These things happen in television. Everyone involved is aligned and excited,' he explains. Orry will soon also be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War. While he chooses to not comment about his acting debut he does mention about eyeing acting gigs. 'Acting's always been part of my life—people just didn't know they were watching,' he states. Earlier this year, Orry went to the MET Gala. Talking about his experience there, he adds, "I was actually in the middle of filming something special, but I flew in last minute—straight off set—to be there for my dear friend, who was attending this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Honer Signatis Flats from ₹1.65 Cr at Kukatpally Honer Signatis Book Now Undo The Met is fashion's Super Bowl, and while I wasn't walking the carpet, I was exactly where I needed to be: cheering on the people I love. I thrive in the wings just as much as I do in the spotlight. " Talking about what is next for him he adds, "Let's just say the Orryverse is under expansion. New formats. New cities. New experiments. I believe in unpredictability as an art form. So while I can't reveal everything just yet, I promise: what's coming next will feel both expected and impossible."


Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
ICW 2025: Manish Malhotra throws India's first-ever couture party
f anyone knows how to throw a party in Bollywood, it's Manish Malhotra. The couturier turned Hyundai India Couture Week into a celebration with what he called India's first-ever couture party. So of course, it was one for the books. Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio was the showstopper for designer Manish Malhotra. From dreamy tablescapes to a video montage of his past shows, it was equal parts nostalgia and glamour. Guests were treated to an exhibit of the designer's iconic creations in a separate hall, from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's ivory Cannes Film Festival saree and the outfit from his 2025 Met Gala debut, to Kajol's green Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) outfit and Kareena Kapoor Khan's suit from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). To top it all off, the curtains lifted to reveal singer Jonita Gandhi performing hit Bollywood tracks, while supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio made her Couture Week debut by opening and closing the show. Trust Malhotra to blend cinema, fashion, and spectacle.