Ranking 10 celebs who spectacularly misunderstood the Met Gala theme over the years

The Met Gala: Fashion’s answer to the Oscars. Every year, the biggest names in entertainment strut up those iconic steps trying to serve high-concept couture. With a new theme each year, we expect drama, creativity, and at the very least… some connection to the brief.

But no matter how many stylists, designers, and PR people are involved, some of the most proper famous celebs still manage to show up looking like they RSVP’d to the wrong party.

So here is the ultimate ranking of 10 celebs who spectacularly misunderstood the Met Gala theme:

10. Kim Kardashian – 2025

Kim Kardashian turned up in an all-black leather Chrome Hearts bodycon dress with a massive fedora. And while it was very on-brand for her — sexy, sleek, mysterious — it didn’t really scream Black Dandyism or menswear tailoring, which was the whole point of 2025’s “Superfine” theme. The backless moment tried to add edge, but in a sea of rich textures and bold suits, it felt like a remix of outfits she’s worn before.

9. Kendall Jenner – 2025

Kendall, usually a Met Gala standout, kept it understated this year in a tailored grey Torishéju skirt suit. It was well-made, yes. But it leaned more “law firm intern with great hair” than “tailored Black style with flair.” A bolder fabric, colour, or silhouette could’ve made it a quiet stunner, but as it stood, it felt more weekday workwear than Monday night magic.

8. Rihanna – 2021

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We love Rihanna like oxygen, but 2021’s duvet coat dress had people asking if she’d just rolled out of bed (albeit in couture). It was an all-black, oversized look by Balenciaga, comfy, dramatic, but not quite aligned with the theme, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” That said, Rihanna is the theme most years, so she can get away with anything, even arriving late in bedding.

7. Kylie Jenner – 2022

Kylie’s 2022 Met Gala look, a bridal Off-White gown with a backward baseball cap and veil, had many scratching their heads. But it was actually a tribute to her close friend, the late designer Virgil Abloh. The intention was genuinely touching. However, in the context of the theme “Gilded Glamour”, the look felt out of place, more streetwear-wedding hybrid than Gilded Age grandeur. An honourable miss.

6. Katy Perry – 2019

Katy turned herself into a literal chandelier for 2019’s “Camp: Notes on Fashion”. Now, to be fair, that was technically on-theme, over-the-top and theatrical, but it was so literal, so heavy-handed, and so cartoonishly OTT that it ended up more meme than masterpiece. She even had a working light fixture on her head. Subtle, it was not.

Also, don’t get me started on her burger look!

5. Lily Collins – 2023

Paying tribute to Karl Lagerfeld, Lily wore a beautiful black-and-white gown… with “KARL” spelled out across the train in big silver letters. Lovely idea, clumsy execution. The lettering looked like it had been typed in Microsoft Word 2003 and ironed on in a rush. The dress deserved a more elegant homage to Karl’s refined aesthetic.

4. Gustav Magnar Witzøe – 2025

Gustav, a Norwegian billionaire (yes, really), turned heads with a latex trench, a cream suit, and a clear briefcase full of red roses. It was bold, it was strange, and it was definitely a fashion risk. But while it might’ve made sense in an art gallery, it didn’t quite connect with the 2025 theme of tailored Black style. Points for drama, minus a few for relevance.

3. Shailene Woodley – 2018

Shailene Woodley #MetGala pic.twitter.com/fEqHBCneT0

— met gala 2025 (@2015smetgala) May 7, 2018

Shailene Woodley turned up in full Joan of Arc cosplay for “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination”. Her look, metallic, armoured, and severe, was probably meant to represent divine strength or some kind of martyr reference. But instead, it gave “knight who got lost on the way to Comic-Con.” Maybe not a sin, but definitely not saintly.

2. Liza Koshy – 2019

Internet darling Liza Koshy turned up for “Camp” in a boxy, ruffled Balmain creation that looked like a fancy piñata. And listen, camp is a hard thing to define, even Anna Wintour admitted she was clueless. But there’s a difference between fun and full-on craft project. She gets points for spirit, but the silhouette and texture were chaos incarnate.

1. Katy Perry – 2015

#breaktheinternet2k15 pic.twitter.com/bvxTyIKP7P

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) May 5, 2015

Topping the list, again, is Katy Perry. For 2015’s “China: Through the Looking Glass”, she wore a graffiti-covered Moschino gown complete with spray-paint-effect gloves. It was high-energy and pure Moschino, but many felt it lacked cultural sensitivity and theme relevance. While it may have been a nod to rebellion in art and fashion, it felt more like a graphic design demo than a couture tribute.

Honourable Mentions:

Joe Burrow (2025): Debuted at the Gala in a baggy suit and trainers. It was giving Sixth Form prom, not Savile Row.

Hailey Bieber (2025): Opted for an oversized black blazer and tights. Chic? Yes. On-theme? Not remotely.

Anne Hathaway (2025): Gorgeous as always, but her glitzy shirt-and-skirt combo was more “brunch at The Ned” than “celebration of Black tailoring.”

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