While the countdown to the Met Gala lives rent-free in our heads, Rihanna’s attendance comes with its own level of anticipation. As the hours tick down to the annual fundraising gala benefiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, we can hardly wait to see how the Fenty Beauty founder interprets this year’s theme, “Fashion Is Art.”
It’ll be hard to top what she wore to the 2025 Met Gala: a custom Marc Jacobs look that was part suit, part gown, created for the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which celebrated Black dandyism and the art of getting dressed with intention. Then again, that’s hardly her only iconic moment.
Rihanna missed the 2024 Met Gala due to illness, but every appearance before that has been just as memorable. To celebrate her Met Gala style, we’re looking back at her best looks, from her 2007 debut to the fashion force she is today.
Rihanna’s Best Met Gala Looks Through the Years
1 / 10
2007
Arriving at her first Met Gala in a white Georges Chakra gown, Rihanna paired the look with her then-signature asymmetrical bob, drawing the eye to crystal embellishments and a single red rose accessory. She was just 19 at the time.
2 / 10
2011
During her red hair era, Rihanna arrived in a black lace gown by Stella McCartney, pairing the look with a long, fiery side braid.
3 / 10
2012
The 2012 Met Gala honored Italian fashion icons Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada, both known for pushing the boundaries of style in their respective eras. Rihanna leaned into the moment in a textured gown by Tom Ford.
4 / 10
2014
Rihanna wore a white silk two-piece by Stella McCartney, complete with an entirely backless crop top that delivered a subtle yet striking finish.
5 / 10
2015
Rihanna’s iconic yellow gown by Guo Pei cemented her status as true Met Gala royalty. Opulent, elegant and instantly recognizable, the look has even been featured in museum exhibitions.
Getty Images / Mike Coppola
6 / 10
2017
For the Met Gala theme, “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between,” Rihanna leaned all the way into the night’s avant-garde spirit in a sculptural Comme des Garçons look that blurred the line between fashion and art.
Getty Images / Jackson Lee
7 / 10
2018
As co-chair of the Met Gala, Rihanna delivered one of the night’s most unforgettable looks: a papal-inspired, fully custom creation by John Galliano for Maison Margiela that instantly entered the Met Gala canon.
8 / 10
2021
For the Met Gala theme, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” Rihanna took a darker, more moody approach, pairing black lipstick with an oversized Balenciaga overcoat and a Stephen Jones Millinery beanie, with subtle flashes of crystal drawing the focus back to her face.
Getty Images / Arturo Holmes / MG21
9 / 10
2023
Arriving fashionably late to the 2023 Met Gala, Rihanna made it worth the wait in a custom Valentino gown featuring a dramatic white floral shawl that framed her face, spotlighting vintage glasses and a red lip.
10 / 10
2025
For the 2025 Met Gala, Rihanna hit the carpet in custom Marc Jacobs. The look—part suit, part gown—featured a sharply tailored jacket, a corseted bodysuit and a pinstriped skirt with a dramatic bustle.
It tapped into the night’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which celebrated Black dandyism and the art of getting dressed with intention. She finished the look with a wide-brim hat designed by Stephen Jones Millinery in collaboration with Marc Jacobs.
Getty Images / Jamie McCarthy
