Kim Kardashian always makes a stir at the Met Gala. The star of Hulu’s The Kardashians regularly attends since a much-mocked debut in 2013. And let’s just say, she doesn’t play things safe.
The eternally controversial reality TV star always chooses looks that launch memes, discourse, and hot takes. This year, Kim’s look broke the internet for an entirely different reason. Because she looked very similar Real Housewives star turned cabaret maven Luann de Lesseps. Here are all of Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala looks, ranked from worst to best.
Kim Kardashian’s first Met Gala look didn’t win raves in 2013
I almost feel bad for putting this Kim Kardashian Met Gala look on the bottom of our ranking. This ensemble was so publicly ridiculed, Kim admitted she cried over the mean tweets and memes. The Givenchy dress was compared to couches and Mrs. Doubtfire.
Rude memes aside, it’s just not very fashionable. The pattern is incredibly dated. And pairing the dress with gloves and shoes in the same print is overwhelming. Also, the 2013 Met Gala theme was Punk: From Chaos to Couture. Twelve years later, I still have no idea how this was supposed to fit that theme. On top of everything, you can tell by Kim’s expression in photos that she doesn’t like it.
Wait, are we sure that’s Kim Kardashian in this 2021 Met Gala look?
Nine years after her Met Gala debut, Kim tried another monochromatic look. Instead of a dated floral pattern, she went for all black. Including a face covering. Once again, the look inspired countless memes. But this time, she seemed to be in on the joke.
Again, I’m not sure how this look fit into the Met Gala 2021 theme, which was In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. But nobody can accuse the All’s Fair star of playing things safe!
Kim Kardashian Met Gala 2022: Kim’s most controversial Met Gala look yet
Where to begin with Kim’s 2022 Met Gala look? For the second In America Met Gala, Kim wore the same dress Marilyn Monroe did to sing Happy Birthday to JFK. The iconic dress should’ve been in that Met exhibit itself. Instead, Kim rented it from Ripley’s Believe It or Not. To minimize damage, Kim only wore Marilyn’s exact dress on the red carpet. She wore a replica the rest of the night.
Kim got a lot of backlash for this look. Some were offended she seemingly compared herself to Marilyn. Bob Mackie, who designed the dress, said Kim shouldn’t have worn it. I’m all for vintage on the red carpet, but not if a dress is literally too fragile to wear. Kim also spoke at length about starving herself to fit into it, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
All controversy aside, the dress just doesn’t look very good on Kim. It was clearly made for Marilyn, who had a different skin tone and height. On Kim, it just looks awkward. Besides, she could barely walk in it, and looks uncomfortable in all her poses. Not to mention, her poorly bleached hair. Maybe she should’ve worn a look inspired by Marilyn’s instead.
Kim Kardashian serves classic elegance at her second Met Gala in 2014
After her first Met Gala look was a disaster, Kim played it safe her second time around. That year, the theme was an ode to legendary designer Charles James. The classic elegance of this black and teal belted gown fit the theme beautifully.
You can also tell how much happier and more confident Kim felt in this look compared to 2013. However, it’s not as memorable as the aspiring lawyer’s other Met Gala gowns. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, you be the judge.
Kim Kardashian Met Gala 2016: Serving silver siren
The 2016 Met Gala theme was Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age of Technology. Many stars wore designs that incorporated technology. By comparison, a metallic dress seems like the obvious way to go. But Kim still looks great in the bodycon silver number.
However, Kim herself admitted the bleached eyebrows were a mistake. Meanwhile, the less said about Kanye West’s Met Gala look that year, the better.
On a sadder note, this Met Gala was just months before Kim was robbed in Paris.
Kim Kardashian pays tribute to an ultimate fashion icon at the 2015 Met Gala
For 2015’s Met Gala, Kim paid tribute to Cher. And not just the legendary diva’s style in general. But, more specifically, Cher’s look at the very first Met Gala ever in the 1970s. As tributes to style icons go, this is more successful than her Marilyn moment.
However, another celebrity ultimately outshone Kim in the dramatic train department. 2015 was the same year Rihanna wore THAT gorgeous yellow coat dress with the giant train. Which is probably the most famous Met Gala look of all time. Surely, every Met Gala attendee knows by now that you can’t compete with Bravo superfan Rihanna!
Kim Kardashian Met Gala 2024: Pretty dress, confusing accessory choice
In 2024, the theme was Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. Kim’s dress does have a sort of fairy tale feel to it. But the cardigan? Kim described the inspiration for her look, designed by John Galliano, as “the wildest night in the garden.”
She explained, “I just ran out and grabbed my boyfriend’s sweater and threw it on and had to get to work. And my hair’s all messed up.” Sure, I guess? Explanation or no, that cardigan still seems unnecessary. But it’s not bad enough to ruin the look’s overall impact.
Kim Kardashian Met Gala 2023: A Kardashian twist on classic Chanel
This Met Gala look paid tribute to the night’s honoree, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld. “The iconic Chanel pearls is what I always thought of,” Kim said of her inspiration, “so we wanted to just be dripping in pearls,”
Kim’s eldest daughter North West famously wasn’t a fan of this Met Gala look. On The Kardashians, North insulted the pearls right in front of the designer, Schiaparelli head honcho Daniel Roseberry.
Personally, I think Daniel Roseberry created a perfectly Kardashian twist on a classic Chanel ensemble. But also, Kim herself admitted some of the pearls fell off during the night.
Kim Kardashian Met Gala 2025: Serving … Luann de Lesseps?
This year, Kim’s Met Gala look went viral once again … because of comparisons to Luann de Lesseps. Between the fedora and the chunky statement necklace, all Bravo fans could see was Luann’s influence. Luann herself joked that Kim stole her look. “I love that Kim was inspired by my cabaret look and stole it for the Met,” the Love Hotel star said, “She looked fabulous and I’m so happy that she’s inspired by me.”
However, Kim revealed the actual inspiration, and it’s not the RHONY alum. Instead, Kim claims her most recent Met Gala look was a tribute to Lenny Kravitz. Regardless of the true inspiration, Kim looks great. From the fedora to the sexy back cut out to the train (which unfortunately got stepped on), it’s one of Kim Kardashian’s best Met Gala looks yet.
Kim Kardashian looked like a golden goddess at the 2018 Met Gala
2018 was the best dressed Met Gala in recent memory. The theme, Heavenly Bodies, clearly inspired designers and the celebrities they dressed to up the ante. It was maybe the only year where every attendee actually followed the theme. Kim’s 2018 Met Gala look wasn’t as creative as, say, Rihanna’s Pope-inspired ensemble. But Kim still nailed it, looking stunning from head to toe.
This gold metallic Versace gown looks as if it were poured onto Kim’s body. It also looks like something Madonna would wear. That totally fits with the theme of Catholicism aesthetics inspiring bold fashion.
Kim’s 2019 Met Gala look is a stunning optical illusion – and her best one yet
Kim’s 2019 Met Gala dress was first look legendary designer Manfred Thierry Mugler created in over 20 years. Sadly, it was one of his last masterpieces ever. That alone puts it ahead of the pack for me. But it’s also just a jaw-dropping ensemble unlike anything else Kim’s worn. According to Kim’s social media, the dress was envisioned to look like she stepped right out of the ocean. And it does! It’s an incredible feat of design and artistry.
The reality TV icon earned controversy for wearing corsets over the years. In this case, the theme was Camp. So, I think the exaggerated female form actually works in that context.
The look also shows off Kim’s personal style, after years of wearing clothes then-husband Kanye chose. In fact, Kanye dismissed it as “too sexy,” but Kim wore it anyway.
The Kardashians is available to stream on Hulu.
TELL US – WHICH KIM KARDASHIAN MET GALA LOOK IS YOUR FAVORITE? DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR RANKINGS?
