It’s fashion’s biggest night, as Hollywood’s most sartorially savvy stars descend on the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for this year’s Met Gala .
The theme of this year’s annual fundraiser, “The Garden of Time, ” is inspired by a short story of the same name, written by J.G. Ballard in 1962. Fashion’s elite applauded the theme, saying it’s wide open to interpretation and onlookers were treated to plenty of florals, pastel and vintage pieces.
The Met Gala, held annually on the first Monday in May, is a soirée to raise money for the Costume Institute, the museum’s collection of fashion objects. Each year a different theme honours a designer, style or look.
This year’s museum exhibit, which the stars will tour Monday evening, is called Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion . But we’re not talking fairy tales or Disney princesses.
Story continues below advertisement
It includes 250 items from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection, including some garments very rarely seen in public and so fragile they need to be under glass. Curators wanted to engage all the senses, including that of smell. They even worked with a “smell artist ” — and there’s a garment that actually grows . Part of the idea is to pay tribute to the natural world.
Aside from the red carpet, which attracts attention worldwide, it’s an event shrouded in secrecy. Once invitees head inside, there are strict rules around cellphones and social media, which adds to the allure; the public gets minimal glimpses of what really transpires among the A-listers who attend.
Anna Wintour , a Met trustee for whom part of the institute has been renamed, organizes the whole shebang. And this year she’s invited a notable list of co-chairs, including Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and Chris Hemsworth.
Story continues below advertisement
The real fun of the Met Gala, at least for non-attendees, is judging the fashion of all of Hollywood’s biggest celebs. So, let’s do just that. Keep scrolling for a roundup of some of the most fun, elegant and outrageous looks of the night.
Jennifer Lopez
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Zendaya
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Luciana Damon and Matt Damon
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Emma Chamberlain
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Anna Wintour
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Ayo Edebiri
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Dan Levy
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Bad Bunny
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Mindy Kaling
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Greta Gerwig
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Taylor Russell
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Uma Thurman
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Jack Harlow
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Olivier Rousteing
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
La La Anthony
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Emily Ratajkowski
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Gustav Magnar
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Colman Domingo
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Lana Del Rey
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Gayle King
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Amy Fine Collins
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Cole Escola
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Lea Michele
Alex Sharp
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Jamie Singer Soros and Robert Soros
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Alton Mason
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Sarah Jessica Parker
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Rita Ora
Georgina Chapman
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Riley Keough
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Kylie Minogue
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Grace Murdoch and Wendi Murdoch
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Dove Cameron
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Gwendoline Christie
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Aurora James
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Jessica Biel
Wisdom Kaye
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Eva Chen
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Teyana Taylor
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Hamish Bowles
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Charli XCX
Allison Williams
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Eiza González Rivera
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Rachel Zegler
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Jessica Serfaty
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Lily James and Erdem Moralıoğlu
Elizabeth Cordry
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Demi Moore
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Harris Reed
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Lily Gladstone
Brie Larson
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Amanda Seyfried
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Penélope Cruz
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Lil Nas X
Kerry Washington
Nicole Kidman
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Naomi Watts
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Serena Williams
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Queen Latifah
Marleen Moise/Getty Images
Lena Waithe
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Karol G
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Keke Palmer
Marleen Moise/Getty Images
Elle Fanning
Aliah Anderson/Getty Images
Kendall Jenner
Marleen Moise/Getty Images
Dua Lipa
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Laufey
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Kylie Jenner
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Cynthia Erivo
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Naomi Campbell
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Elizabeth Debicki
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Phoebe Dynevor
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Ariana Grande
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Sarah Paulson
Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Hannah Bagshawe
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Jill Kargman
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Ben Simmons
Maleah Joi Moon
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Alexandra Daddario
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Sam Smith
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kris Jenner
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Josh O’Connor
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Alison Oliver
Jeff Goldblum
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Vera Wang and Janelle Monáe
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Zendaya
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Camila Cabello
Marleen Moise/Getty Images
Quannah Chasinghorse
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Cardi B
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Hannah Bagshawe and Eddie Redmayne
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Shakira
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Erykah Badu
Talia Ryder
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Odell Beckham Jr.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Pamela Anderson
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Meg Ryan
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Venus Williams
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Amelia Gray Hamlin
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kim Kardashian
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Cara Delevingne
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Rebecca Hall
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Sabrina Harrison
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Madelyn Cline
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Adrienne Adams
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Ambika Mod
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Harrison Ghee
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Jamie Dornan
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Samantha Berry
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Donald Glover
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Tyla
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Willy Chavarria and Marc Metrick
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Jordan Roth
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Emma Mackey, Zoe Saldana, Chemena Kamali, Sienna Miller and Greta Gerwig
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Tory Burch
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Barry Keoghan
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Michelle Williams
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
FKA Twigs
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Hanani Taylor
Kelsea Ballerini
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Doja Cat
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Willow Smith
Camila Morrone
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Jennie Kim
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Demi Lovato
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Nicki Minaj
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Jaden Smith
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kieran Culkin and Jazz Charton
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Michelle Yeoh
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Jeremy Pope
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Amanda Gorman
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Lizzo
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Anok Yai
Chloë Sevigny
Karlie Kloss
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Kaia Gerber
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Irina Shayk
Theo Wargo/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Stefon Diggs
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Gabrielle Union
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Sydney Sweeney
— with files from The Associated Press
Story continues below advertisement