French Brands and the Met Gala Throughout the Years

Rejoice, the time of the Met Gala has arrived! While this year has already blessed us with iconic fashion moments, the most anticipated red carpet of the year delivers the final blow. Each year, the first Monday of May marks this not-to-be-missed event where a select few gather to celebrate fashion at the highest level. Initiated in 1948 by Eleanor Lambert, this prestigious evening began modestly with a refined dinner in a luxurious Manhattan hotel, gathering a worldly elite. Over the years, under the auspices of personalities such as Diana Vreeland and Pat Buckley, the gala has gained in prestige and glamour, becoming the climax of the New York season. Since Anna Wintour took the reins in 1995, the Met Gala has become one of the most publicized events of the year, attracting attention from around the world. This year, attendees are tasked with dressing in their finest attire, inspired by the theme "The Garden of Time", marking the opening of the new exhibition at the Met Museum, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion". As we prepare to be overwhelmed by the flurry of event-related content on social media, from 2.0 fashion critiques to behind-the-scenes at major fashion houses, we cannot help but think of some of the greatest moments of the Met Gala. Without further ado, here is a retrospective of some iconic looks designed by well-established French brands.

Lady Diana in Maison Dior, 1996

For this grand evening dedicated to "Christian Dior", Lady Di embodied the spirit of the theme with natural ease. As a true fashion icon and trendsetter, she pleasantly surprised by setting aside her usual princess outfits to wear a navy blue silk slip dress, enhanced by a set of pearl and deep blue sapphire jewelry. A creation credited to John Galliano, who was then at the helm of the house of Dior.

Karl Lagerfeld and Kate Bosworth in Chanel, 2008

That year, the gala's theme was "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy", and Lagerfeld captivated attention - both literally and figuratively. Dressed in a shimmering silver jacket, matched with a diamond chain and a belt buckle, Lagerfeld was as dazzling as the celebrities he dressed. Among them, Kate Bosworth, who shone in a Chanel dress inspired by comic books and was warmly applauded for her interpretation of the theme.

Erykah Badu in Givenchy Couture, 2014

Among the best-dressed personalities of the 2014 edition, if not of the century, was undoubtedly Erykah Badu, muse of Riccardo Tisci then at Givenchy. Wearing a Givenchy Couture outfit entirely custom-made, she undeniably followed her own beat, highlighting her famous fashion style. Her look consisted of a black jumpsuit worn with a white satin coat embroidered with crystals, matched to her silk scarf and signature wool top hat.

Beyonce in Givenchy Couture, 2015

It seemed as though Beyoncé was floating on the red carpet in her Givenchy dress from 2015 adorned with Swarovski crystals, yet it was actually one of the heaviest she had ever worn. In 2015, Queen B made a splash with this “naked dress” designed by Tisci at Givenchy, transparent except for clusters of crystals strategically placed.

Rihanna in Comme des Garçons, 2017

Rihanna is undeniably one of the Met Gala attendees everyone eagerly awaits to see. If in 2015 she had made a splash with an oversized yellow gown with a train, it was in 2017 that she truly outshone everyone else. Dressed in a creation by Comme des Garçons, in tribute to Rei Kawakubo, the theme of the evening, Rihanna captured all eyes. Her asymmetrical dress, blending shades of pink and crimson, adorned with printed flowers and fabric disks evoking petals, earned her the title of “Best Dressed” by Lady Gaga, an advocate of outlandish outfits.

Virgil Abloh in Louis Vuitton, 2018

Just after being named the head of menswear at Louis Vuitton, with the entire fashion sphere buzzing in anticipation of his first collection coming in June, it was on the Met Gala red carpet that Virgil Abloh previewed the first silhouette he envisioned for Louis Vuitton Homme. He appeared in a suit that paid homage to the theme of the exhibit "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination", with a blazer adorned with pearls forming illustrations inspired by Catholic tradition.

Demna and Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga Haute Couture, 2021

Among the best looks of Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga, it is undeniable that this one stands out at the top of the list. Competing with Blake Lively at this edition, she ascended the steps, masked, alongside Demna Gvasalia, dressed in a stark black haute couture Balenciaga gown with a matching train. A look that, to this day, remains etched in memory as it distinguished itself from anything she—or anyone else—had worn at the Met Gala before.

Michaela Coel in Schiaparelli, 2023

As a frequent wearer of glittering looks, the star of "The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and last year's gala co-chair captured attention with a sumptuous semi-transparent golden gown by Schiaparelli. The body-hugging long-sleeved dress included 130,000 embroidered crystals on a dark brown silhouette, with star-shaped ornaments on the chest and abdominals, as well as chain details, pearls, and golden leaves wrapped around the arms.

Kendrick Lamar in Chanel, 2023

Even though Kendrick Lamar did not deem it necessary to ascend the steps, he still participated in the festivities alongside Chanel to celebrate the opening of the Costume Institute's exhibition, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. For the occasion, he sported an almost entirely black outfit with a leather jacket, oversized pants, evening shoes, and an MLB cap. He enhanced his look with a white sweater and an orange and white Chanel scarf tied around his waist.

Bad Bunny and Jacquemus in Jacquemus, 2023

A duo that certainly raised the bar in men's fashion is none other than the Puerto Rican superstar and the darling designer of the French. They graced the red carpet wearing two suits, one black and the other white, each featuring a backless design and bearing the designer's signature. Both interpretations, crafted in tweed, complemented each other perfectly. One complemented his suit with a long floral train for an even more spectacular effect, while the other enhanced his with a long custom necklace with the initial J.