Rihanna’s best Met Gala looks through the years
There is a general consensus across the globe that Rihanna is the queen of the Met Gala - and for good reason.
She has proven to us time and again that when she ascends those red-carpeted steps at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, all eyes are on her - and of course, her innovative, stand-out ensembles that nobody else could possibly pull off.
From working with designers like Rei Kawakubo and Stella McCartney, we can always expect something dramatic and fabulous from Riri on Fashion’s Biggest Night.
Here are our favourite looks from Rihanna at the Met Gala through the years.
2009: Wearing Dolce & Gabbana
Rihanna in her Good Girl Gone Bad phase was a memorable era, and when she opted for this Dolce & Gabbana menswear look at the 2009 Met Gala themed The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, it was indeed a showstopper.
The tuxedo jacket with exaggerated puff sleeves was complemented by leather gloves and a side-swept mullet with blond highlights.
2011: Wearing Stella McCartney
At the 2011 Met Gala in honour of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, Rihanna wore a black lace, embellished one-shoulder Stella Mccartney gown. Of course, she spiced it up in her signature way with fiery red locks worn in a braid and contrasting emerald jewels.
2012: Wearing Tom Ford
In 2012, Rihanna proved that something as simple as texture can make a dress stand out from the crowd. For the theme, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, the singer wore a Tom Ford snakeskin gown with an open back and natural makeup. As always she looked unique and fresh.
2014: Wearing Stella McCartney
Rihanna and Stella McCartney once again made magic with this elegant and understated ensemble.
The singer looked like a Grecian goddess wearing a figure-hugging white flared skirt and matching crop top with diamond detailing on the neck.
2015: Wearing Guo Pei
For the Met Gala theme China: Through the Looking Glass, Rihanna really stepped up to the plate. She wore a show-stopping Yellow Empress cape by Beijing-based designer Guo Pei. The garment reportedly weighs 25 kg, has a 16-foot train, features over 50 000-hours worth of hand embroidery and took two years to make.
2016: Wearing Comme des Garcons
In 2017, Rihanna went all in for the avant garde dress code Rei Kawabuko/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between. She wore a Comme des Garcons creation straight off the Fall 2016 runway that was an architectural wonder.
She accessorised with lace-up strappy heels and bold makeup.
2018: Wearing Maison Margeila
Rihanna truly embodied the theme Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic imagination at the 2018 Met Gala. She wore pearl and jewel-encrusted custom creation by Maison Margeila consisting of robe, matching papal mitre and necklace. She accessorised with Tom Ford heels and Cartier jewels to complete her Pope look.
2021: Wearing Balenciaga
Rihanna stunned in a black ruffled Balenciaga gown that resembled a jacket for the 2021 Met Gala themed In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. She accesorised with a beanie and Bulgari diamonds.
