Sparkles, Feathers and Naked Dresses: A History of the Kardashian-Jenner’s Met Gala Fashion Moments

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Sparkles, Feathers and Naked Dresses: A History of the Kardashian-Jenner’s Met Gala Fashion Moments

It's hard to imagine Fashion's Biggest Night without reality tv's most famous family, but there was a time when the Kardashian-Jenners couldn't get an invite to the Met Gala. "Year 1 - 2013 Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy," the Skims founder wrote via Twitter in May 2019 while reflecting on her ensembles through the years. "I was Kanye's plus one & so nervous! I didn't know anyone & I'm sure no one wanted me there lol." Kardashian, who was pregnant with daughter North at the time, inadvertently wore the most memorable look of the night. "I went home & cried after of insecurity but this is one of my fave looks," she added, referencing the memes made about her floral gown and matching gloves. Kardashian soon became a staple of the Met Gala red carpet and her designer ensembles have continued to surprise and inspire memes. In September 2021, the KKW Beauty founder arrived in an all-black Balenciaga dress, complete with a long train, waist-length ponytail and a mask over her face. "I fought against it," the Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum told Vogue in February 2022, explaining that she had to be talked into wearing the futuristic take on a T-shirt. "I was like, ‘I don’t know how I could wear the mask. Why would I want to cover my face?’” [jwplayer 6dzInxM7-zhNYySv2] She continued: "[Balenciaga creative director] Demna and the team were like, "This is a costume gala. This is not a Vanity Fair party where everyone looks beautiful. There’s a theme and you have to wear the mask. That is the look.'" The Selfish author isn't the only member of her family to turn heads at the Met Gala. In May 2017, Kendall Jenner arrived at the event — the theme was Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between — in a barely-there La Perla gown. "It’s pretty sexual but, it’s cool, and I always like something that’s a little controversial," she told Allure about the butt-baring dress. Though several members of the Kardashian-Jenner family have attended the fundraiser over the years, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian have never walked up the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art at the gala. In 2019, some began speculating that the Good American cofounder was blacklisted from the event, which Khloé refuted two years later. "Khloé, now that you are online please tell if the Met Gala rumors are true," a fan asked via Twitter in September 2021. "Absolutely NOT true," the Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami alum responded. Keep scrolling to relive all of the Kardashian-Jenner's most memorable fashion moments: [podcast_block]

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2013

The California native attended the "Punk: Chaos to Couture"-themed party alongside now ex-husband Kanye West, who was performing that night. "She is a really good friend, and I am very happy she came to the Met for the first time. I love Kim. ... I wanted to have a Kim Kardashian moment, because Kim always supports me," designer Riccardo Tisci told WWD in May 2013. "To me, pregnancy is the most beautiful thing in the world, and when you celebrate something, you give people flowers. I think she looked amazing. She was the most beautiful pregnant woman I dressed in my career."

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2014

The following year, Kim wore a blue Lanvin gown with black details.

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2014

The model made her Met Gala debut in a structured, champagne gown from TopShop. "I was the new kid back then and didn't really know a ton of people. Thank God, Kim was there because that really helped me," she told Allure in May 2017. "But every year you get to know more people so it’s fun to see everyone and run into people you haven’t seen in a really long time."

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2015

Kendall wore a green Calvin Klein dress with lace-up detailing on the big night, which was themed "China: Through the Looking Glass."

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2015

The Kim and Kourtney Take New York alum took inspiration from her idol Cher when it came to choosing a look for the gala in 2015. "Tonight’s inspiration!” Kim wrote via Instagram at the time. “Cher at the 1st ever Met Gala! I just met her and told her this photo was my inspiration for my dress tonight! She is so beautiful! So happy I met her!"

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2015

Kris Jenner attended the Met Gala for the first time in 2015, wearing a red Balmain dress and attention-grabbing gold accessories.

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2016

In honor of the "Manus × Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" theme, Kim wore a metallic silver Balmain gown. However, it was West who stole all of the attention, thanks to his embellished jacket, ripped jeans and bright blue contacts. The Yeezy designer told E! News that the inspiration behind his look that night was, "Vibes."

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2016

The Kylie Cosmetics founder also had a futuristic take on the evening's theme, wearing a silver Balmain gown with large side cutouts.

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2016

Also in Balmain was Kris, who opted for a sparkling gown in her signature color, black.

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2016

The 818 Tequila founder wore a blue and white Atelier Versace gown that features lots of little cut-outs and a halter neckline.

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2017

Kim opted for a simple, white Vivienne Westwood gown in 2017.

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2017

According to Elle, Kendall's sheer dress was made out of a single piece of string. "It's a very strong, very flexible, incredibly thin piece of nylon, and we've strung 85,000 crystals onto it," La Perla creative director Julia Haart told the outlet at the time. She paired her skin-baring look with a pair of fishnet heels from Christian Louboutin.

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2017

Kendall's younger sister also chose a sheer gown for the event, wearing a pale pink, highly embellished gown from Versace. Kylie famously broke the Met's "no selfie" rule that year, taking a star-studded photo with Kendall, Kim, Diddy and Brie Larson, among others in the bathroom.

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2018

The Dancing With the Stars alum honored the "Heavenly Bodies" theme in a Versace gown made of gold chainmail, complete with embellished crosses on the bodice.

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2018

Kendall appeared to take inspiration from Kim's 2017 look when it came to choosing her off-the-shoulder white Off-White jumpsuit. In a nod to the black-tie dress code, her outfit had long, draping pant legs that acted like a train.

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2018

Just three months after giving birth to daughter Stormi, Kylie arrived at the Met Gala alongside boyfriend Travis Scott. The Kylie Swim founder wore a black Alexander Wang gown with an exposed bra and tiny, bedazzled sunglasses.

"Fun fact: this dress wasn't supposed to have a zipper but it ripped as I was squeezing into it so we added it on the way out the door," she said via Instagram on the night. "But it worked out, I love it."

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2019

The famous family went all out for the "Camp"-inspired soiree, with Kendall and Kylie each wearing feathered Versace gowns (in orange and lavender, respectively), Kris in a Tommy Hilfiger jumpsuit paired with an enormous coat and a blonde wig and Kim wearing Mugler. “This is the first time in 20 years Mr. Mugler has designed for the House of Mugler," she told Vogue at the time. "So to come and design this gown for me is such an honor. This is about eight months in the making … he envisioned me this California girl stepping out of the ocean, wet, dripping."

To pull off the outfit's exaggerated silhouette, Kim wore a corset so tight that she couldn't sit at the event and had to stand in a van on the way over. "Wish me luck,” she said in a video for Vogue. “I won’t be able to pee for about four hours. We’re coming up with a plan for what we do in case of an emergency."

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2021

“What’s more American than a T-shirt head to toe?!” Kim jokingly wrote via Instagram about her completely-covered Balenciaga look. “People would know instantly it was Kim because of her silhouette. They wouldn’t even need to see her face, you know? I think that’s the whole power of her celebrity, that people wouldn’t need to see her face to know it’s her," the fashion house's creative director, Demna, explained to Vogue at the time.

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2021

Kendall put a sexy spin on a classic Audrey Hepburn look in 2021, wearing the actress' favorite designer, Givenchy Haute Couture. Inspired by the gown she wore as Eliza Doolittle in 1964's My Fair Lady, the reality star paired her see-through, sparkling dress with a giant diamond choker and a dainty up-do. 

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2021

In honor of the theme, "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," the manager wore pieces from U.S. designers Tom Ford and Tommy Hilfiger, as well as some touches from Alexander McQueen.