The Most Iconic Met Gala Beauty Looks of All Time
1/21With stunning gowns, star-studded performances, and appearances by all the biggest celebs, the annual Met Gala is one of the most glamorous nights of the year. Naturally, it’s also full of show-stopping beauty moments that include everything from out-there spiked hair (hey, Miley!) to covetable red lips (à la Miss Selena Gomez). Either way, the night’s highly entertaining for beauty junkies and celeb spotters alike.
Whether you stalk Insta for the evening’s most outrageous or for stunning makeup tricks to add to your aesthetic arsenal, Met Gala beauty never disappoints. This Monday’s “Manus x Machina”-themed event is sure to bring out the most far-out futuristic fashion and beauty, and we’ll have our eyes peeled for the best of the best. Until then, check out the best looks of the past — AKA the ones to beat this time around — and stay tuned for continuous coverage on the big night.
Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images2/21Selena Gomez in 2015
These days, you’re more likely to see flowers in someone’s hair at Coachella than a formal event, but by pairing hers with an elegant updo and matte red lip, Selena proved they can be chic, too.
Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images3/21Bella Hadid in 2015
This slick topknot may be Bella’s trademark these days, but the 2015 Met Gala was one of its earliest appearances. Slightly contoured cheeks and super long lashes helped the budding model stand out even more.
Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic4/21Cara Delevingne in 2015
Cara took Met Gala beauty to a whole new level by having celeb tattoo artist Bang Bang paint temporary tattoos on her arms and chest. With an intricate, but simple, black jumpsuit and slicked-back hair, the model-actress kept all the focus where it mattered: her bold body art.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage5/21Lupita Nyong’o in 2014
Leave it to Lupita to turn heads anywhere she goes, even one of the most fashionable nights of the year. All the superstar needed was a bright purple shadow and a metallic peach lip, and she totally stole the show.
Photo: Karwai Tang/FilmMagic6/21Kristen Stewart in 2014
Kristen Stewart is never one to shy away from a daring dark lip or smoky eye, so it’s no surprise she’s always one of the Met Gala’s most glam. In past years, she’s worn everything from maroon eyeshadow to low-key beach waves, but in 2014 she took things to a whole new level with this polished, curled ‘do.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage7/21Kendall Jenner in 2015
With glowing skin and simple black eyeliner, Kendall’s 2015 look was nothing outrageous — but in a room full of over-the-top hair and makeup, it was a breath of fresh air. Let this be definitive proof: sometimes less really is more.
Photo: Karwai Tang/FilmMagic8/21Taylor Swift in 2013
Dark lipstick is a staple in Taylor’s makeup bag these days, but in 2013, her look was much more dainty than daring. The pop star dipped a toe in the dark side with a winged black eyeshadow for that year’s “Punk: Chaos to Couture” theme — but stayed true to her country princess roots with sweet curled hair and rosy pink cheeks.
Photo: Jennifer Graylock/FilmMagic9/21Solange Knowles in 2013
With her afro, dark metallic eye, and perfect peach-nude lip, Solange’s look was a hit from head to toe.
Photo: Jennifer Graylock/FilmMagic10/21Miley Cyrus in 2013
Miley always kills it at the Met Gala. For 2013’s punk theme, her spiked blonde hair and bright red lip were impossibly on point.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage11/21Joan Smalls in 2014
Super pigmented purple lipstick and a sleek side braid? What’s not to like? Bravo, Joan, bravo.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images12/21Hailey Baldwin in 2015
Everyone knows Hailey for her bright blonde hair, making her brief stint as a brunette as chic as it was shocking.
Photo: Jennifer Graylock/FilmMagic13/21Elle Fanning in 2013
This year’s Saint Laurent show was hardly Elle’s first time playing with experimental eyeshadows. The actress’s pink and blue winged eye (paired with a braided half updo) was one of the most iconic looks of the year.
Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage14/21Chanel Iman in 2014
Is there anything more universally flattering than glowing skin and Old Hollywood curls? If you’re ever in need of a no-fail, pretty date night look, look to this photo of Chanel Iman.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images15/21Adriana Lima in 2015
As one of the biggest models of the 2000s, Adriana Lima has tried out every look in the book — or so we thought. With thick, straight-across bangs and dark, vampy makeup, the supermodel was nearly unrecognizable at the 2015 Gala. Whoever said bangs weren’t edgy?
Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage16/21Rihanna in 2015
The focus may have been on Rihanna’s endless yellow cape at the 2015 Gala, but her hair and makeup were pretty on-point, too. With gelled-down hair, pristine brows, lined eyes, and rosy cheeks, Rihanna’s pop star pout got a doll-like makeover.
Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images17/21Zoë Kravitz in 2014
We’ve seen Zoë’s hair long, short, black, blonde — and she always looks amazing. The 2014 party was no different, where the star sported a messy bleached bob and expertly matched her berry red dress to both her eyeshadow and her lips.
Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images18/21Miley Cyrus in 2015
Attending the event with designer Alexander Wang, Miley wore an appropriately dark look in 2015. Though her makeup was super clean and minimal, her gelled-down blue hair added a cool pop-punk edge.
Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images19/21Chloë Grace Moretz in 2014
Decked out in Chanel and sporting a classic black smoky eye and pink lipstick, Chloë turned heads at the Gala without even a hair out of place.
Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage20/21Beyoncé in 2014
It doesn’t matter if she’s chilling on the beach or going full-on glam, Beyoncé always kills it. This dark oxblood lip (paired with a minimal, highly mascara-ed eye) in 2014 was absolutely no exception.
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