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AOC's on the hook for $2,983.28 after the House Ethics panel closed its probe into her Met Gala appearance

25 July 2025 at 17:12
AOC at the Met Gala in 2021
The ethics committee found that the congresswoman "impermissibly accepted gifts" in connection with her appearance at the 2021 Met Gala.

Ray Tamarra/GC Images via Getty Images

  • The House Ethics Committee closed its probe into Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.
  • The panel found that the congresswoman "impermissibly accepted gifts."
  • They asked her to pay nearly $3,000 of her own money in order to close the matter.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's appearance at the 2021 Met Gala ended up being more expensive for her than she might've thought.

The House Ethics Committee on Friday closed its yearslong probe into the New York congresswoman and whether she accepted improper gifts in connection with her attendance at the high-profile event, where she wore a white dress emblazoned with the phrase "Tax the Rich."

In a 31-page report, the panel said that Ocasio-Cortez had "impermissibly accepted gifts" and said that in order for the matter to be closed, she would need to pay nearly $3,000 in personal funds.

That includes $250 to cover the attendance of her fiancé, Riley Roberts, and an additional $2,733.28 payment to Brother Vellies, the business that designed her dress.

Her chief of staff, Mike Casca, told BI in a statement that she would make those payments.

"The Congresswoman appreciates the Committee finding that she made efforts to ensure her compliance with House Rules and sought to act consistently with her ethical requirements as a Member of the House," Casca said. "She accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts, as she's done at each step in this process."

The committee said that Ocasio-Cortez had taken proactive steps to comply with House Ethics rules, which include strict guidelines around accepting gifts. She nonetheless fell short, though the committee said it had no evidence that she "intentionally underpaid for any goods or services received in connection with the Met Gala."

The report said that the congresswoman's attempts to comply with the gift rules included arranging to rent the dress and accessories that she was provided with and to pay for other services out of pocket, which are usually provided to Met Gala guests for free.

However, the committee said that her fiancé's attendance was an impermissible gift because he is not yet her spouse, and that she initially failed to pay the full fair market value for some of the items she wore.

According to the report, Ocasio-Cortez and Roberts have already paid a total of $6,853.75 for various services they received that night, including transportation, clothing rental, and rooms at the Carlyle Hotel.

Correction: July 25 — An earlier version of this story misstated the name of Ocasio-Cortez's fiancé. It is Riley Roberts, not Riley Rogers.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Celebrities partied all weekend ahead of the 2025 Met Gala. Here are the best looks they wore.

Sabrina Carpenter wears a blue Versace dress and platform-heeled sandals while entering a pre-Met Gala party in New York City.
Sabrina Carpenter enters the Moda Operandi pre-Met Gala party in New York City.

The Hapa Blonde/Getty Images

  • Over the weekend, numerous parties were held to celebrate the 2025 Met Gala.
  • Colman Domingo and Pharrell Williams took fashion-forward approaches to menswear.
  • Cynthia Erivo and Sabrina Carpenter also wore eye-catching outfits.

The 2025 Met Gala doesn't start until Monday night, but celebrities already spent the weekend celebrating.

Stars will soon gather at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the annual Met Gala, a fundraiser for the museum's Costume Institute.

For the 2025 gala, A-list attendees will dress for the event's "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" theme, which honors Black Dandyism and menswear.

Stars won't reveal how they're channeling the Met Gala theme until they walk the red carpet, but the outfits they wore to pre-parties for the event over the weekend might offer clues.

Take a look at some of the best outfits stars wore to pre-Met Gala events.

Laura Harrier looked like she stepped out of the '90s in a baby-pink minidress for the Moda Operandi party.
Laura Harrier in a sparkly pink dress on a New York street.
Laura Harrier at the Moda Operandi pre-Met Gala cocktail party on May 3, 2025.

Aeon/GC Images

Versace designed the actor's sleeveless slip, which was covered from top to bottom in translucent sequins. The dress also had a cowl neckline and the brand's signature hardware in silver across each strap.

She wore it with black patent-leather kitten heels, a micro purse in black, and small diamond stud earrings.

Anne Hathaway embraced menswear, matching the 2025 Met Gala theme.
Anne Hathaway stands in a black suit and sunglasses.
Anne Hathaway at the Moda Operandi pre-Met Gala cocktail party on May 3, 2025.

Aeon/GC Images

Also in Versace, Hathaway wore a white button-down blouse, a loose black blazer with a gold logo embellishment at its pocket, and straight-leg trousers.

Her party look was cool and chic on its own, but it became more feminine thanks to her choice of accessories.

The actor carried a sparkling gold purse, sported large sunglasses on her face, and donned heeled sandals with beaded detailing.

Ariana DeBose was there in a blazer-style dress.
Ariana Debose walks in a skirt suit on a New York street.
Ariana Debose at the Moda Operandi pre-Met Gala cocktail party on May 3, 2025.

Aeon/GC Images

Her black Versace number had long sleeves, a deep V-neckline, crystal buttons, and an above-the-knee skirt.

The garment gave a feminine edge to a classic menswear piece.

It was her silver accents, however, that really stole the show. To complete her look, she added thick sunglasses, silver sandals with bow straps, and a shimmering purse with ring handles.

Oil heiress Ivy Getty wore one of the night's most daring looks.
Ivy Getty poses in a colorful dress on a street in New York.
Ivy Getty at the Moda Operandi pre-Met Gala cocktail party on May 3, 2025.

TheStewartofNY/GC Images

Getty wore a yellow Versace minidress with long sleeves, an all-over shell print, and a plunging neckline that revealed the middle section of her torso. One of Versace's signature gold safety pins held the garment together.

She completed the look with classic accessories, including black pumps, a crystal anklet with a cross charm, a gold purse, and hoop earrings.

Sabrina Carpenter looked like a mermaid in a shimmering blue gown.
Sabrina Carpenter walks in a sparkly, blue dress in New York.
Sabrina Carpenter at the Moda Operandi pre-Met Gala cocktail party on May 3, 2025.

Aeon/GC Images

For the Moda Operandi party, the "Espresso" singer stepped out in a sleeveless Versace dress that hugged her body and shimmered in the light.

It had sheer sequins all over its baby-blue fabric, a gold safety pin that pulled it together at the hips, and a thigh-high slit in its skirt. For shoes, Carpenter wore her signature platforms in the form of tan sandals.

Donatella Versace made a vibrant appearance in pink.
Donatella Versace in a pink suit on a New York street.
Donatella Versace at the Moda Operandi pre-Met Gala cocktail party on May 3, 2025.

Aeon/GC Images

The fashion designer wore one of the brightest looks of the night: a hot-pink suit over a yellow blouse printed with shell images.

She also wore platform Versace heels in the same pink shade, dangling crystal earrings, and rectangular sunglasses with cherry-red frames.

Met Gala co-chair Colman Domingo wore a textured suit to his stylists' Wayman + Micah's pre-Met party on Sunday.
Colman Domingo in a textured suit in front of a red couch.
Colman Domingo at Wayman + Micah's pre-Met party on May 4, 2025.

Bre Johnson /WWD via Getty Images

Domingo attended pre-Met Gala events throughout the weekend, and his cream suit from Eleven Sixteen for Wayman + Micah's party spoke directly to the 2025 Met Gala theme.

The bold tailoring of his cream suit represented Black dandyism, while the thick material and checked pattern made it feel modern. Domingo's tie coordinated with the suit, and his white shoes completed the outfit effortlessly.

Taraji P. Henson put a sparkly spin on a jacket and pants at LaQuan Smith's pre-Met Gala party on Sunday.
Taraji P. Henson stands in a gray, sparkly suit in a restaurant.
Taraji P. Henson at the LaQuan Smith Met Gala pre-party on May 4, 2025.

Alyssa Greenberg/WWD via Getty Images

On Sunday, Henson also played with the silhouette of a suit, arriving at the LaQuan Smith Met Gala party in a fitted jacket and matching wide-legged trousers.

The jacket was open on Henson's chest, mirroring the pointed hemline that cinched her waist. Sparkles covered the entire outfit, giving it a glitzy edge.

The same night, Pharrell Williams was spotted arriving at Anna Wintour's Met Gala dinner in a more casual look.
Pharrell Williams walks on a street in a New York.
Pharrell Williams at Anna Wintour's pre-Met Gala party on May 4, 2025.

Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Williams is also a Met Gala co-chair this year, and he arrived at the dinner that Wintour hosts the night before the event in a mix of high- and low-fashion garments.

He paired a green blouse and a brown sweatshirt with khaki trousers and a Louis Vuitton trench coat. His coat matched his bag, and Williams added sunglasses and a yellow cap to the look.

The ensemble effortlessly blended styles, perhaps offering a clue as to how Williams might be approaching his Met Gala look.

Cynthia Erivo chose an oversize suit and colorful tie for the UTA pre-Met soiree on Sunday.
Cynthia Erivo stands in a brown suit and sunglasses.
Cynthia Erivo at the UTA pre-Met soiree on May 4, 2025.

The Hapa Blonde/GC Images

Erivo's Saint Laurent suit was double-breasted, and the coordinating pants flared wide. Her blouse underneath featured a colorful pattern of stripes, bringing out the purple hue of her tie.

Tinted sunglasses and Christian Louboutin shoes completed the look.

Regé-Jean Page attended the same event in a modern take on a pinstripe suit.
Regé-Jean Page sits in a blue suit on a brown chair.
Regé-Jean Page at the UTA pre-Met soiree on May 4, 2025.

Marsha Bernstein/WWD via Getty Images

Page's Brioni suit was bright blue and had a classic pinstripe pattern, which the actor juxtaposed with a more relaxed pink T-shirt.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Princess Diana wore a lingerie-inspired gown for her only Met Gala appearance. It was the ultimate 'revenge' dress.

Princess Diana Met Gala 1996
Princess Diana attended her first and only Met Gala in December 1996.

Richard Corkery/NY Daily News via Getty Images

  • Princess Diana made her only Met Gala appearance in 1996, shortly after divorcing then-Prince Charles.
  • She wore a lingerie-inspired silk dress designed by John Galliano.
  • Galliano said Princess Diana tore the corset out of the dress without telling him.

Princess Diana only attended one Met Gala, but she sure knew how to make an entrance.

In honor of fashion's biggest night, which returns on Monday with the theme "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," we're diving back into the Met Gala archives.

And it'd be hard to find an A-list attendee who made a bigger splash than the people's princess.

Diana walked the famous Met steps on December 9, 1996, four months after she finalized her divorce from then-Prince Charles.

The 1996 Met Gala theme paid tribute to Christian Dior, so Diana wore a dress designed by John Galliano, who had just become head designer of the legendary French fashion house.

Princess Diana Met Gala 1996
Princess Diana wore a lingerie-inspired dress designed by John Galliano.

Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Diana wore a navy-blue, lingerie-inspired slip dress decorated with black lace, as well as a matching robe.

She accessorized the slinky ensemble with sapphire earrings and a sapphire choker necklace that matched her iconic engagement ring.

In the 2024 Hulu docuseries "In Vogue: The 90s," Galliano revealed that he tried to convince Diana to wear pink to the Met Gala.

"We went to Kensington Palace and discussed drawings. I was trying to push for pink, but she was not having it. 'No, not the pink!' That was real, real fun," he recalled.

Galliano's dress originally had a corset, but he said Diana removed it without letting him know before she arrived at the Met Gala.

"Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car," Galliano said. "I couldn't believe it. She'd ripped the corset out."

"She felt so liberated. She'd torn the corset out. The dress was much more… sensuous," he added.

Princess Diana Met Gala 1996
Diana paired the dress with sapphire earrings and a sapphire choker necklace.

Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Eloise Moran, author of "The Lady Di Look Book: What Diana Was Trying To Tell Us Through Her Clothes," told Yahoo during a 2021 interview that Diana's Met Gala ensemble was a "revenge" look following her divorce from Charles.

"That was one of her most shocking dresses," Moran said. "But I thought she looked fabulous. She just looks so happy and confident."

"I think she was embracing it and enjoying it," the author added. "She knew she could never get rid of the attention and the spotlight on her, but I think she was positioning it in a different way, as a kind of international megastar, Marilyn Monroe-type icon rather than a member of the royal family. And I think the dress really reflected that."

Princess Diana 1996 Met Gala
Diana was worried her dress would embarrass Princess William, who was 14 at the time.

Richard Corkery/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Diana did have some reservations about the dress. Royal biographer Katie Nicholl, who wrote "William and Harry," revealed that the princess was worried it might embarrass her eldest son, Prince William, who was 14 years old at the time.

But her gown has now become a part of fashion history, even going on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

And there's no doubt it's one of the best Met Gala looks of all time.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Kim Kardashian's Met Gala looks, ranked from least to most iconic

Kim Kardashian attends the 2024 Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2024 Met Gala.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

  • Kim Kardashian has been to 11 Met Galas in her career.
  • The Skims founder has gotten bolder with her looks for the ball over the years.
  • Her 2022 Marilyn Monroe look was her most iconic Met Gala look to date.

The first Monday in May is quickly approaching, which means one thing to fashion fans: it's time for the 2025 Met Gala.

The annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute will take place on May 5, and stars will arrive in their interpretations of the event's "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" theme.

One of the most exciting aspects of the gala is seeing how repeat attendees keep improving their looks for the event year after year. Few stars have as interesting a track record with their Met Gala red carpet looks as Kim Kardashian.

From a floral gown at her first ball to her controversial ode to Marilyn Monroe, take a look at Kardashian's Met Gala looks ranked from least to most iconic.

Kardashian's blue evening gown for the 2014 Met Gala was lackluster compared to her other looks.
Kim Kardashian on the Met Gala red carpet wearing a blue gown with a thigh-high slit. Her then-husband Kanye West stands directly behind her.
Kim Kardashian at the 2014 Met Gala.

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

After being turned into a couch meme at her very first Met Gala the year prior (more on that in a second), Kardashian chose to play it safe for the 2014 theme, "Charles James: Beyond Fashion." 

Alber Elbaz designed her custom Lanvin gown, which featured a black satin belt and a thigh-high slit. 

The gown was undoubtedly pretty and would've looked great for a movie premiere or awards show, but it was nothing special for a night that encourages celebrities to push the envelope.

Kardashian's ensemble was actually supposed to look completely different. She revealed on her now-inactive website that the gown was originally made of "this amazing leather with metallic detailing." Her design team only decided to redo it in blue satin at the last minute.  

Kardashian still planned to pair her new gown with a chunky belt and leather cuffs, but she ditched them before walking the red carpet because, according to E!, they were "a bit too rock 'n' roll."

As a Met Gala novice, it was clear Kardashian didn't want to rock the boat too much on the carpet. Still, we wish we could've seen the far edgier look she envisioned in 2014.

Kardashian's 2016 Met Gala gown was flashier but still didn't push the envelope.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2016 Met Gala wearing a silver metallic gown with a thigh-high slit.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2016 Met Gala.

Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Kardashian wore a metallic silver Balmain gown with a thigh-high slit for the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" theme in 2016. 

We loved the fabric of the silver dress, and Kardashian took a bit of a risk with her beauty by bleaching her eyebrows. However, the look didn't stand out among a sea of similar metallic looks. 

Kardashian was also overshadowed by her date, then-husband Kanye West. The rapper made headlines that year for daring to wear denim to the Met Gala. 

When looking back on her Met Gala looks in 2019, Kardashian revealed that she felt insecure ahead of the event because she hadn't "lost all of my baby weight" after giving birth to her son Saint in December 2015, which is likely why she stuck to her usual silhouette.

Kardashian wore another metallic gown to the 2018 Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian stands in front of a wall of roses wearing a gold metallic gown with crosses on it.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2018 Met Gala.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

The "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" Met Gala will likely go down as one of the boldest in the event's history. Stars like Rihanna, Ariana Grande, and Blake Lively delivered stunning looks referencing everything from the Pope to the Sistine Chapel. 

Because of all the eye-catching looks, Kardashian didn't make waves with her custom gold Versace dress, although the number did nab her a few spots on best-dressed lists. 

Kardashian personally designed the chain-mail gown with Donatella Versace, and we loved the dark eye makeup and high pony she paired it with.

While the reality TV star hadn't yet mastered how to steal the show at the Met Gala, her style was definitely becoming a little bolder.

The star's simple Vivienne Westwood dress at the 2017 Met Gala shocked fans and critics alike, for all the right reasons.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2017 Met Gala in a simple white off-the-shoulder gown.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2017 Met Gala.

Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images

At first glance, Kardashian's off-the-shoulder white dress for the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between" theme might seem even simpler than the gowns we've already discussed. 

But the chic and beachy outfit, which Kardashian paired with sandals and minimal makeup, felt like a statement from the reality TV star. On a night when everyone would dial it up and go avant-garde, Kardashian decided to do something completely different — and it worked. One headline praised Kardashian's "seriously toned down" look.

"I figured everyone was going to go really over the top, and I just wanted to be really simple," Kardashian, who attended the event without West for the first time, told Vogue on the red carpet.

The 2017 Met Gala also happened just a few months after Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in Paris, and $11 million in jewels were stolen from her hotel room. The simple Vivienne Westwood dress and her lack of accessories felt like a statement from Kardashian, who later discussed the trauma she experienced from the robbery.

Kardashian brought major drama and glamour to the 2015 Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian stands on the Met Gala red carpet stairs wearing a nude gown with crystal detailing and white feathers on the train.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2015 Met Gala.

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Designed by Peter Dundas, the dress was covered with strategically placed crystals and featured a long train of white feathers. Kardashian revealed on Instagram that her inspiration had been Cher's iconic 1974 Met Gala outfit.

Other naked dresses were popular on the red carpet that year. Stars like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez won praise for their sheer numbers, and Rihanna had the most standout look of the night by upstaging everyone with her custom Guo Pei gown — now one of the most iconic Met Gala looks of all time. 

But Kardashian's gown was bold, stunning, and told a story. It was the first inkling of her realizing she could become a force on the Met Gala red carpet.

Kardashian's gown for the 2014 Met Gala would have fit the "Garden of Time" dress code perfectly if she hadn't added a shrug to it.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2024 Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2024 Met Gala.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Kardashian wore a custom John Galliano dress to the "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" gala, which had a "Garden of Time" dress code.

Kardashian's look leaned into the garden aspect of the dress code, though it clearly had a through-line to her previous Met Gala looks as well.

Like dresses she wore in previous years, the gown was metallic and featured a dramatic, waist-cinching corset. Floral detailing adorned the strapless bodice, while the floor-length skirt was made of interlocking, floral appliqué that showed peeks of Kardashian's legs. Her blond hair added to the edgy feel of the look.

The gown was well suited to the theme, but the gray shrug Kardashian wore atop looked disjointed with the rest of the look. The outfit would have been stronger if Kardashian had let the dress speak for itself.

Kardashian nodded to the early days of fame at the 2023 Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2023 Met Gala in a dress made of pearl strands with a white coat draped on her arms.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2023 Met Gala.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Kardashian arrived at the "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" Met Gala in a Schiaparelli gown made almost entirely of pearl strands.

The strings of pearls created a halter-style bodice and barely-there skirt, which sat atop taupe shapewear.

Lagerfeld often gravitated toward pearls in his designs, making the ensemble an apt choice for the ball. However, the look also referenced Kardashian's 2007 Playboy shoot, for which she posed only wearing pearls, so it made even more of a statement.

Kris Jenner said her now meme-ified comment, "You're doing amazing, sweetie," to Kardashian during the shoot, as captured on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians."

Kardashian also celebrated her Skims empire with the shapewear she wore under the pearls, using the Met Gala as a platform for her own success. The company was worth $3.2 billion as of 2022.

Kardashian made a statement about her fame at the 2021 gala.
Kim Kardashian West at the 2021 Met Gala covered head to toe in black fabric with a long black train.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2021 Met Gala.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Kardashian arrived in the most jaw-dropping look of the night at the 2021 Met Gala with the theme, "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion." Her Balenciaga bodysuit and oversized T-shirt dress covered her from head to toe, including a face-covering mask and gloves.

She was only visible in silhouette, with her ponytail and a train flowing behind her as she walked the Met Gala carpet.

It was an instant meme because of its avant-garde nature. Still, Balenciaga's creative director, Demna Gvasalia, later explained that the outfit was designed to highlight how iconic Kardashian's body had become in pop culture. 

"People would know instantly it was Kim because of her silhouette. They wouldn't even need to see her face, you know?" Gvasalia told Vogue at the time. "And I think that the whole power of her celebrity, that people wouldn't need to see her face to know it's her."

The form-fitting dress Kardashian chose for the 2019 Met Gala looms large because of the controversial efforts she took to wear it.
Kim Kardashian poses for photos on the 2019 Met Gala carpet wearing a formfitting nude gown with crystal raindrop embellishments.
Kim Kardashian at the 2019 Met Gala.

Doug Peters/STAR MAX/IPx/AP

Kardashian arrived at the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" gala in a Thierry Mugler gown that hugged her figure and was adorned with crystals. The dress appeared sheer, as it matched her skin tone.

After the gala, Kardashian revealed she went to extreme lengths to wear the skin-tight dress, including taking corset lessons to breathe in it.

She also couldn't go to the bathroom in the dress, and in a clip from "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," she said she was willing to urinate on herself in the gown if there was an emergency. 

The dress was pretty, but Kardashian's drastic measures made the dress so memorable.

Kardashian's floral gown for her first Met Gala in 2013 was one of her most memorable outfits, even though it was criticized then.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2013 Met Gala. She's pregnant and wearing a floral gown with a thigh-high slit.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2013 Met Gala.

Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Kardashian made her Met Gala debut in 2013 when she was expecting her first child, North West. 

The gala's theme was "Punk: Chaos to Couture," and Kardashian wore a long-sleeve, floral Riccardo Tisci dress. It had a high neckline, which contrasted with its daring, thigh-high slit. Matching, open-toe shoes completed the look.

Kardashian told Vogue in 2019 that Tisci wanted the floral pattern to symbolize sending a pregnant woman flowers, which she said was "such a sweet message." Tisci also told Kardashian that Anna Wintour wanted her to wear the floral dress, so she did.

Social media users immediately took to Twitter to criticize the look after Kardashian walked the red carpet. Many compared the dress to a couch, to the star's dismay.

"I was crying, like, the whole way home because I just couldn't believe it," Kardashian said in the same interview with Vogue.

Looking back at the dress, Kim has a different perspective. "Now I love it," she told the magazine. "Now it's, like, sick."

Although it wasn't for the reasons she wanted, Kardashian was the talk of the event from her very first Met Gala, which was even more impressive considering she was attending as Kanye West's date.

Of course, Kardashian's most iconic Met Gala look was her 2022 dress that originally belonged to Marilyn Monroe.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2022 Met Gala in a nude gown previously worn by Marilyn Monroe.
Kim Kardashian attends the 2022 Met Gala.

John Shearer/Getty Images

Kardashian made headlines when she arrived at the 2022 "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" Met Gala in the dress Marilyn Monroe wore to sing "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy in 1962.

The sheer Jean Louis dress was embellished from head to toe, and Kardashian dyed her hair platinum blond to fully recreate Monroe's look.

"In a sense, it's the original naked dress. That's why it was so shocking," Kardashian told Vogue of the gown.

She borrowed the dress from Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in Orlando, which acquired it for $4.81 million in 2016, according to a Ripley's press release. Kardashian wore the gown on the red carpet, but she changed into a replica immediately after because it was so fragile. 

Kardashian once again took extreme measures to fit into Monroe's dress. She said she lost 16 pounds in three weeks so she could wear it. 

The conversation around the dress continued for weeks after the Met Gala, as people accused Kardashian of damaging the gown when she wore it.

In June 2022, Ripley's and Kardashian sent Business Insider a joint statement saying she "did not, in any way, damage the garment in the short amount of time it was worn at the Met Gala." 

Kardashian solidified her status as the Met Gala it-girl with her Marilyn Monroe look, which was truly a once-in-a-lifetime fashion moment.

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Rihanna is the undisputed queen of Met Gala fashion. Here are all the looks she's worn.

Rihanna attends the 2023 Met Gala.
Rihanna attends the 2023 Met Gala.

James Devaney/GC Images

  • Rihanna has been to 10 Met Galas throughout her career.
  • She has become one of the most iconic stars at the annual event thanks to her jaw-dropping looks.
  • Rihanna last attended the gala in 2023 in a custom Valentino gown with a coat made of flowers.

Met Gala season is upon us.

Fashion's biggest night will take place on May 5 this year. A-list stars will flock to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in eye-catching, themed ensembles, raising money for the museum's Costume Institute.

For 2025, the gala's theme is "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," celebrating dandyism and menswear. It's not confirmed who Anna Wintour invited to the event this year, though arguably, no star's attendance is as hotly anticipated as Rihanna's, as she always splashes on the Met Gala red carpet.

Rihanna skipped the 2024 event, but her fans and fashion enthusiasts hope the Fenty Beauty mogul and singer will return to the Met Gala red carpet this year, especially since her partner A$AP Rocky is a cochair.

Take a look back at the looks Rihanna wore to the 10 Met Galas she has attended so far.

Rihanna debuted at the Met Gala in 2007 wearing a simple but pretty Georges Chakra gown.
Rihanna wore a white gown with a plunging halter neck to the 2007 Met Gala.
Rihanna attends the 2007 Met Gala.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

The white gown had a halter neckline with silver embellishments on the bodice.

She paired the dress with black mesh gloves and a red rose to fit the "Poiret: King of Fashion" theme.

It was an understated look compared to other outfits Rihanna wore to the Met Gala in the years to come.

In May 2009, she wore a bold suit designed by Dolce & Gabbana.
Rihanna at the 2009 Met Gala wearing a black tuxedo with cropped pants and butterfly shoulders.
Rihanna at the 2009 Met Gala.

WWD/Getty Images

The suit included a jacket with puffy sleeves, a bow tie, and ankle-length pants. She paired it with black gloves and black pumps.

The jacket's dramatic, oversize shoulder pads fit the event's "The Model as Muse" theme. Rihanna's edgy pixie cut completed the chic look.

For May 2011's "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" theme, Rihanna wore a sparkly, lacy gown.
Rihanna wore a black lace one-shoulder gown with a long train and red braided hair to the 2011 Met Gala.
Rihanna at the 2011 Met Gala.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

The semi-sheer dress designed by Stella McCartney had a scalloped, one-shoulder neckline and a slit on the skirt, showing off her criss-cross pumps.

The gown was eye-catching, but Rihanna's long, bright-red side-braid gave the look a pop of color.

Rihanna's Tom Ford gown for the 2012 Met Gala featured scaled detailing.
Rihanna wore a black dress to the 2012 Met Gala that appeared to be alligator skinned.
Rihanna at the 2012 Met Gala.

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The form-fitting gown Rihanna wore to the "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations" gala had long sleeves, a boat neckline, and flowed to the floor.

It hugged Rihanna's figure, and the gown's texturing caught the light as she walked the red carpet.

The singer returned to the 2014 "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" gala in a Stella McCartney set.
Rihannah poses on the Met Gala stairs wearing a cropped white top and flowing white skirt.
Rihanna at the 2014 Met Gala.

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Rihanna's two-piece featured a long-sleeve crop top with pointed sleeves and a high-waisted skirt with a side train. She wore a sparkly choker that blended with the neckline of the dress.

The ensemble's backless crop top felt modern and fresh.

For the 2015 gala, Rihanna pulled out all the stops in an extravagant Guo Pei design.
Rihanna's 2015 Met Gala look is probably her most iconic: a dramatic yellow dress with a large train with fur trim and a gold headpiece.
Rihanna at the 2015 Met Gala.

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Rihanna solidified her status as a Met Gala legend at the "China: Through the Looking Glass" gala.

Her custom yellow look sat off her shoulders. It featured faux fur sleeves and trim, and intricate detailing adorned the ensemble.

The singer making her way down the red carpet while her long train flowed behind her will always be an iconic Met Gala moment.

In 2017, Rihanna wore her most avant-garde Met Gala look, a dress covered in giant floral embellishments.
Rihanna poses for photos on a previous Met Gala red carpet in strappy red heels and a sculptural look made from colorful floral fabrics.
Rihanna attends the 2017 Met Gala.

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The 2018 Met Gala theme was "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between." Rihanna appropriately went with a Comme des Garçons design.

The dress was made entirely of colorful, three-dimensional petals that floated around her. Rihanna paired the look with red heels, lacing her thighs, and pink-toned makeup.

Rihanna didn't disappoint when she co-chaired the Met Gala in 2018, arriving in a Margiela ensemble that seemed to be inspired by the Pope.
Rihanna wearing a silver look complete with a pope hat for the heavenly bodies Met Gala in 2018
Rihanna at the 2018 Met Gala.

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Rihanna's jewel-encrusted silver look featured a mini dress, a separate, longer skirt, and a jacket. A large, pointed headpiece and silver jewelry coordinated with the look.

Rihanna made a statement in a couture coatdress as one of the last celebrities to arrive at the 2021 Met Gala.
Rihanna at the 2021 Met Gala wearing an oversized black coatdress and diamond necklace.
Rihanna attends the 2021 Met Gala.

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Demna Gvasalia designed the Fenty founder's custom Balenciaga coatdress. Its collar popped around her shoulders, and the skirt was a subtle mermaid.

Rihanna paired the look with a beanie hat, a diamond necklace, and a stunning crystal headpiece. 

Rihanna arrived at the 2023 Met Gala in a dramatic white gown and coordinating coat.
Rihanna wore a dramatic white look to the 2023 Met Gala with a large skirt and floral hooded coat.
Rihanna at the 2023 Met Gala.

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Rihanna wore a custom Valentino Haute Couture gown to the "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" gala.

The gown's form-fitting bodice showed off her baby bump with a rosette in the center, though Rihanna covered it with a hooded, rosette-covered jacket and fingerless gloves when she walked the red carpet. Her dropped-waist skirt flowed into a long train, which trailed behind her on the carpet.

Rihanna completed the look with funky sunglasses that had eyelashes on them.

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All of Taylor Swift's Met Gala looks, ranked from least to most iconic

Taylor Swift at the 2016 Met Gala.
Taylor Swift at the 2016 Met Gala.

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  • Taylor Swift has attended six Met Galas to date, making her debut at the event in 2008.
  • Some of her Met Gala looks have fallen flat, while others stood out on the red carpet.
  • Her most recent Met Gala look was her most iconic, in part because of its significance in her music.

The fashion world is abuzz as the 2025 Met Gala is swiftly approaching.

A-list celebrities, billionaires, and athletes will gather at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 5 for the annual fundraiser. Chaired by Anna Wintour, it raises money for the museum's Costume Institute.

The Met Gala red carpet is always exciting for fashion fans, as celebrities reveal their interpretations of the event's dress code. For 2025, stars will put their spin on the "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" theme.

The guest list is always kept secret before the event, so fans don't know which celebrities will walk the red carpet. Taylor Swift has been absent from the gala since 2019, and it's unclear if she'll break that streak in 2025 — and bring her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, for his Met Gala debut.

Whether she attends in 2025 or not, Swift's legacy at the Met Gala has already been solidified. Take a look back at all the looks she's worn to the event, ranked from least to most iconic.

Swift's white dress for the 2010 Met Gala was simple.
Taylor Swift wears a white dress on the Met Gala red carpet.
Taylor Swift attends the 2010 Met Gala.

Rabbani and Solimene Photography / Contributor / Getty Images

Swift's white Ralph Lauren gown featured a pointed neckline, ruffled, off-the-shoulder sleeves, and a coordinating skirt.

The dress was pretty, but it didn't stand out in a way that fit the "American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity" on the red carpet.

Likewise, instead of elevating her outfit with accessories, Swift wore minimal jewelry and kept her hair in a demure updo.

The singer upped her game slightly for the "Savage Beauty" theme at the 2011 Met Gala.
Taylor Swift poses for a photo on the Met Gala red carpet in a peach and black gown.
Taylor Swift attends the 2011 Met Gala.

Kevin Mazur / Contributor / Getty Images

Swift arrived at the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" gala in a one-shoulder J. Mendel gown. The dress mixed taupe and frayed, black fabric, and it had a textured, mermaid skirt.

The dress was well-suited to the theme, but Swift's simple updo took away from the effect. A more over-the-top hairstyle could have taken the outfit to another level.

Swift embraced semi-sheer detailing at the 2013 Met Gala.
Taylor Swift poses for a photo on the Met Gala red carpet in a black gown with mesh cutouts.
Taylor Swift attends the 2013 Met Gala.

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Swift sported another J. Mendel gown for the 2013 "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" Met Gala.

The bodice of the black, floor-length gown was covered in cutouts of sheer, webbed fabric, and it had a cutout on the bodice.

A jeweled collar and dramatic eye makeup completed the look, which fit the punk theme well.

Swift made her Met Gala debut in a gown that hinted at her sophomore album, "Fearless."
Taylor Swift poses for a photo in a gold dress on the Met Gala red carpet.
Taylor Swift attends the 2008 Met Gala.

Dimitrios Kambouris / Staff / Getty Images

Swift attended her first Met Gala in 2008 wearing a gold ombré gown from Badgley Mischka. 

The dress celebrated the "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" theme with its head-to-toe embellishments and shape that nodded to a mermaid tail.

The look seemed to be an Easter egg for Swift's "Fearless" album, which was released in October 2008.

The album cover had golden tones, on which Swift was photographed with her hair flowing around her as she spun her head — which Swift modernized for "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" in 2021.

Her Met Gala gown had the same color scheme, and her hair was styled similarly. The look set the tone for the release of Swift's second album just months before its release.

Swift's pink dress for the 2014 Met Gala exuded Old Hollywood glamour.
Taylor Swift poses at the bottom of the Met Gala stairs on the red carpet, wearing a pink gown with a long train.
Taylor Swift at the 2014 Met Gala.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The 2014 Met Gala's theme was "Charles James: Beyond Fashion." The event's white-tie dress code called for formal looks from celebrities, and Swift rose to the occasion in a soft-pink Oscar de la Renta gown.

The dress had a scooped neckline and was embroidered with delicate flowers. The column dress had a low back and a dramatic train flowing from an oversized bow.

The elegant dress was modern but evoked the glamour of Old Hollywood, and unlike in years past, Swift matched the look of the dress with her hair, which was swept to the side in soft waves. It was a step up from her past looks.

Swift nailed the theme with her 2016 Met Gala look when she was co-chair for the gala, and the ensemble became culturally significant for her fans.
Taylor Swift poses at the Met Gala with bleached hair and wearing a short, flared metallic dress, dark lipstick, and strappy black heels.
Taylor Swift wore a robot-inspired dress to the 2016 Met Gala.

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Swift was a Met Gala co-chair in 2016, so it's no surprise she embraced the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" theme. 

Her custom Louis Vuitton dress was metallic, featuring a scaled pattern and daring cutouts along the stomach. Swift paired the dress with heels that wrapped to her knees. Bleached hair and black lipstick completed the futuristic look, making the look edgy overall.

The departure from Swift's typically softer looks made it a standout on the Met Gala carpet and in Swift's fashion history, but it became truly iconic because the 2016 Met Gala proved significant for Swift personally and musically.

Swift was first romantically linked to Tom Hiddleston at the Gala, as a video of her dancing with him in a Louis Vuitton dress went viral. Fans also speculate that Swift met Joe Alwyn, whom she dated for six years, the same night. Swift and Alywn split in February 2023, and she's been dating Travis Kelce since the summer of 2023.

Fans also suspect her interactions with both Hiddleston and Alwyn at the Gala served as inspiration for two songs on her album "Reputation" — "Dress" and "Getaway Car."

The silver-toned look she wore to the Met Gala also mimicked the coloring of her "Reputation" cover, again connecting the album to the event. 

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