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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →There is no official ranking of the Met Gala’s most controversial outfits. This editorial selection brings together looks that prompted reported criticism, conservation debate, memes or unusually wide fashion discussion. Those reactions are not equivalent: some outfits drew specific objections, while others became memorable for their spectacle or unusual design. The Met Gala is a benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, and its theme is tied to the Institute’s exhibition. The looks below are grouped by year, not ranked.
2010–2016: The looks that turned fashion into spectacle
Katy Perry, 2010: a light-up candy-striped gown
Perry’s candy-striped gown used wearable lighting to make technology part of the red-carpet effect. TIME included it among the gala’s memorable looks; the available coverage supports describing it as attention-grabbing, not as a documented backlash story. TIME’s retrospective.
Beyoncé, 2012: sheer Givenchy
Beyoncé’s embellished, sheer Givenchy gown is identified by TIME as an early marker of the “naked dress” era. Its significance here is fashion attention rather than a specific recorded controversy. TIME’s retrospective.
Kim Kardashian, 2013: the floral Riccardo Tisci gown
Kardashian wore a floral gown with attached gloves designed by Riccardo Tisci. The Standard reports that the look was compared to a sofa—a sharp public comparison that made the outfit a talking point, though it is not evidence of a broader offense controversy. The Standard’s retrospective.
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Madonna, 2013: punk styling
For the punk-themed gala, Madonna wore a studded plaid blazer as a dress with ripped fishnets and a black bob. TIME presents the look as a bold interpretation of the theme; its account does not document a particular backlash. TIME’s retrospective.
Lupita Nyong’o, 2014: green Prada
Nyong’o’s green Prada outfit, styled with a flapper-like feel, became a memorable red-carpet look. TIME’s description supports its inclusion for fashion attention, not for a specific controversy. TIME’s retrospective.
Rihanna, 2015: Guo Pei’s yellow cape
Rihanna’s sweeping, fur-trimmed yellow cape by Chinese designer Guo Pei became one of the gala’s best-known outfits and generated a wave of memes. TIME and The Standard describe the attention it attracted. In a Vogue interview, stylist Mel Ottenberg discussed the choice of the Guo Pei design, offering background on how the look came together. Vogue’s interview with Ottenberg.
Rank #2
Madonna, 2016: sheer Givenchy
Madonna arrived in a sheer Givenchy ensemble with a cape, lace-up boots and an exposed back. The Standard includes it in its retrospective of controversial Met Gala looks, but the description establishes a daring outfit rather than a particular public backlash. The Standard’s retrospective.
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Lady Gaga, 2016: Versace without pants
Gaga paired a Versace leotard with a jacket, fishnets and platform boots. TIME highlights the pants-free formalwear as a boundary-pushing red-carpet choice; its account does not establish a specific scandal. TIME’s retrospective.
2017: Memes, unusual construction and red-carpet drama
Jaden Smith: bringing his hair as a date
Smith arrived carrying a lock of his own hair, an unusual red-carpet gesture that The Standard described as bringing his hair as his date. It drew attention for its unexpectedness; the available account does not present it as a public offense controversy. The Standard’s retrospective.
Rank #3
Cara Delevingne: a silver-painted scalp
Delevingne wore a metallic Chanel suit after shaving her head and painting her scalp silver. The look’s striking visual impact made it a memorable departure from conventional gala glamour. The Standard’s retrospective.
Bella Hadid: Alexander Wang bodysuit
Hadid wore an Alexander Wang bodysuit at an event where her appearance alongside The Weeknd and Selena Gomez also drew attention. The Standard uses the moment as part of its retrospective, but does not establish that the outfit itself sparked a wider controversy. The Standard’s retrospective.
Priyanka Chopra: Ralph Lauren’s trench-coat gown
Chopra’s dramatic Ralph Lauren silhouette prompted “Inspector Gadget” memes, according to The Standard. The reaction was meme-driven commentary on the coat-like shape, not evidence of a more serious dispute. The Standard’s retrospective.
Rank #4
Helen Lasichanh: a Comme des Garçons bodysuit without armholes
Lasichanh wore an avant-garde Comme des Garçons bodysuit constructed without armholes. TIME notes the unusual design; its description implies the garment’s restrictive construction but does not report specific physical consequences. TIME’s retrospective.
2018: When the theme brought religion into the conversation
The theme was Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, connecting the red carpet to the Costume Institute exhibition. Vogue reported that curator Andrew Bolton described the premise this way: “There’s an inherent eroticism within Catholic imagery, particularly from the Renaissance onward.” Vogue also reported that Bolton consulted Catholic community members, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Jesuit writer James Martin, who were not concerned that the exhibition would be too controversial, aside from a possible concern about a crown of thorns. Those details are Vogue’s account of the exhibition’s framing and consultation, not a statement that every Catholic agreed. Vogue’s exhibition coverage.
Rihanna: Maison Margiela’s papal-inspired look
Rihanna’s Maison Margiela outfit paired a gown and coat with a mitre-style headpiece, turning the theme into unmistakable papal-inspired fashion. TIME describes it as a nod to the theme; The Standard reports that it drew backlash from some Catholics. That is a specific reported reaction, distinct from the more general attention many other looks received. TIME’s retrospective; The Standard’s retrospective.
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Katy Perry: Versace with angel wings
Perry wore a gold Versace dress with feathered angel wings, making the religious theme into a high-impact spectacle. TIME treats it as a memorable interpretation, but does not document specific criticism of the outfit. TIME’s retrospective.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.2019–2023: Exaggerated silhouettes and disputed dress history
Cardi B, 2019: Thom Browne’s quilted gown and train
Cardi B’s hooded, feathered and quilted Thom Browne gown featured a vast train. TIME describes it as a red-carpet standout—an example of scale and spectacle rather than a documented controversy. TIME’s retrospective.
Kim Kardashian, 2021: Balenciaga from head to toe
Kardashian’s full-coverage Balenciaga look concealed her face as well as her body, making anonymity the outfit’s central visual effect. TIME describes it as avant-garde and striking; the cited coverage does not establish a particular backlash. TIME’s retrospective.
Kim Kardashian, 2022: Marilyn Monroe’s original dress
Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe’s original “Happy Birthday” dress on the carpet, then changed into a replica inside, according to TIME. The choice set off a conservation dispute after claims that the historic garment had been damaged. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, the dress’s owner, disputed those allegations and cited a condition report predating the gala. The reviewed accounts do not independently settle whether the dress was damaged, so the allegation and the owner’s rebuttal should remain attributed rather than presented as a resolved finding. TIME reported that Ripley’s acquired the dress at auction in 2016 for $4.8 million; that is the reported purchase price, not an estimate of its current value. TIME’s report; Ripley’s statement.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDoja Cat, 2023: a feline Oscar de la Renta look
Doja Cat’s cat-inspired ensemble combined a crystal hooded gown, feather train, cat ears and feline prosthetics. TIME describes the unusual styling; its account supports calling the look striking, not claiming it generated a specific backlash. TIME’s retrospective.
What “controversial” means on the Met Gala red carpet
The label covers different kinds of attention, and the distinction matters. Rihanna’s 2018 outfit drew reported religious criticism; Kardashian’s 2022 appearance became part of an unresolved dispute over the treatment of a historic garment. Other looks in this selection are included because retrospectives describe them as memorable, outrageous or unusual, or because they prompted memes and comparisons. No consensus ranking establishes these as the definitive 19 most controversial looks, and the evidence does not make every entry equally controversial.
Quick Recap
- Reported criticism: an identifiable group or source is reported as objecting.
- Dispute: competing accounts exist and should be attributed rather than treated as settled fact.
- Meme or comparison: a look becomes a joke or cultural reference, which is not the same as serious backlash.
- Fashion spectacle: a striking design or theme interpretation draws attention without documented offense.
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