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Kim Kardashian always steals the show both style-wise and in general, and her Met Gala looks are prime evidence. Known for being of the Costume Institute gala's most reliable standouts, she's attended every year since 2013, always bringing a headline-making look full of discussion-worthy details and stunning craftsmanship. The modern style icon and entrepreneur's Met Gala outfits, hair, and makeup never fail to turn heads, and each has a backstory as fascinating as its design. For instance, she famously wore Marilyn Monroe's iconic, sparkly "Happy Birthday" gown, lured Thierry Mugler out of retirement, and slinked across the red carpet in a full-coverage black gown that obscured her entire face. Read on for all of Kim Kardashian's Met Gala looks through the years, from her iconic debut to unforgettable interpretations of the night's themes.
Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty (2023)
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Kardashian wore a custom Schiaparelli look with thousands of pearls draped over her for the event in 2023.
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2023's Met Gala was a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld, and Kardashian was one of many celebrities to include pearls in their looks in homage to the designer's work on Chanel. The custom design emphasized her signature hourglass figure and had subtle "naked dress" energy, balancing the tribute with staying true to herself.
In America: An Anthology of Fashion (2022)
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Kardashian broke the internet yet again in 2022 when she arrived in a glamorous—and historical—dress. The star famously (or infamously) wore Marilyn Monroe's iconic Jean Louis dress, the exact one Monroe wore in 1962 when she serenaded John F. Kennedy with a sultry version of 'Happy Birthday'. The dress features six thousand crystals and was one of—if not the—first nude illusion dresses.
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The modern style icon accessorized and finished the historic look with an ivory fur coat, diamond jewelry, and a slicked-back platinum bun. The famous dress was a custom design for Monroe by Jean Louis, and was sketched by a 22-year-old Bob Mackie. Monroe initially purchased it for $1,400, but it later sold at auction in 1999 for $1.2 million before falling into the possession of Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum for $4.8 million in 2006. Kardashian did not pay to wear the dress, nor was she paid to wear it, but she made a donation on behalf of the company to two Orlando-based organizations, where Ripley's has a headquarters. Due to the dress's fragility, she only wore it for her entrance on the Met steps before switching into a replica for the rest of the evening.
In America: A Lexicon of Fashion (2021)
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Kardashian sent shockwaves through the fashion world when she wore this custom outfit designed by Balenciaga. The pitch-black and skin-tight haute couture gown featured a face-obscuring mask, gloves, tights, boots, and a lengthy train.
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The look showcased the power of her celebrity: even though her face was entirely hidden, she was instantly recognizable. Additionally, her long ponytail peeked through a hole in the outfit, further highlighting her famous silhouette.
Camp: Notes on Fashion (2019)
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Thierry Mugler hadn’t designed a collection of his own since 2003—until he famously came out of retirement to spend eight months creating this incredibly detailed, custom gown for Kardashian.
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The look was meant to evoke wetness, and Mugler executed this take on the night's "camp" theme with crystal beading and latex. The hanging beads looked like water droplets, and Kim took things a step further with her dewy skin and fresh-from-the-ocean, wet-look hair.
Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination (2018)
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Versace designed this low-cut, high-karat gold dress, featuring embellished crosses, for Kardashian in 2018. She finished the look with a cross around her neck, metallic gold stilettos, and a super-high ponytail.
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The "Heavenly Bodies" theme went down as one of the most cohesive and beautiful Met Galas in history, and Kardashian's look was no exception. The impeccably crafted Versace gown perfectly toed the line between Catholicism-inspired decadence and the star's modern confidence.
Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between (2017)
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Kardashian wore a simple white Vivienne Westwood gown for the 2017 Met Gala, detailed with a drawstring and billowed draping. It was a refreshing take on the theme and served as a breath of fresh air in between her more high-drama looks.
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The simple white design allowed all the details of Kardashian's look to really shine, from the neckline to the airy sleeves to her blunt, shoulder-length lob haircut.
Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age Of Technology (2016)
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In 2016, Kardashian turned heads in a futuristic chrome Balmain gown. She wanted an all-silver, “blingy, sexy robot” look, and she got it in this high-shine dress that featured silver detailing on the bodice, a high slit, and long, armor-like sleeves.
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The look was perfectly on theme for the 2016 Met Gala, while various elements—from the chrome gown to the slicked-back hair and bleached brows—feel relevant again almost a decade later. Altogether, it's a "space siren" vibe that we love to see.
China: Through the Looking Glass (2015)
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In 2015, Kardashian wore one of her more classically glamorous Met Gala looks: a sheer, feathered, rhinestone-encrusted custom gown designed by Roberto Cavalli. The look marked Peter Dundas' first design as creative director for the label.
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This Met Gala came mere months after the star's infamous "Break the Internet" moment, so it's no surprise that Dundas leaned into a similar illusion for the design. The contrast between the figure-hugging silhouette and the dramatic feathered train made for mesmerizing drama.
Charles James: Beyond Fashion (2014)
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Alber Elbaz of Lanvin dressed Kardashian in a custom pleated navy satin dress, detailed with black folds, a black belt, and pockets. Elbaz had initially created the dress in leather with metallic detailing for the event, but he decided to shift to satin at the last minute.
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The soft, stunning look had major old Hollywood glamour vibes, which felt appropriate as Kardashian continued her transition from reality star to modern style icon. A soft blowout and dramatic, sparkly earrings only added to the energy.
Punk: Chaos to Couture (2013)
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For her first Met Gala, Kardashian wore a floor-length, floral-printed gown by Givenchy. The look emphasized continuity, as she wore matching gloves that blended seamlessly into the mock neck dress. The headline-making look highlighted her first pregnancy and sparked plenty of discussion—not bad for a first appearance.
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While the figure-hugging gown was the star of the show, attention to detail made Kardashian's debut Met Gala look especially memorable. As you see here, her shoes feature the exact same floral pattern as her dress—proof that she commits to a look from the ground up.
