From 1981 to 2025, these Met Gala beauty looks are the definitive best of all time.

      For enthusiasts of fashion and beauty, the Met Gala stands as the most thrilling event of the year. This yearly occasion, traditionally held on the first Monday in May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, features a select group of celebrities, designers, and occasionally royals, who showcase the pinnacle of fashion while fundraising for the museum’s Costume Institute. Each event comes with a theme, countless photographers, and an opulent red carpet filled with sparkling attendees adorned in bespoke couture. Yet, as we all know, it’s the details in hair, makeup, and nails that complete an overall look. Every year, beauty editors (myself included) scrutinize the details that distinguish mediocre looks from exceptional ones. Zendaya’s dramatic glam from 2024, featuring '20s-style eyes, drawn-on eyebrows, and glossy, dark lips, secured her Maison Margiela ensemble an iconic status. Similarly, Doechii’s custom Louis Vuitton suit made headlines not for the outfit itself but for her LV-logo face stamp during her debut at the 2025 Met Gala. Thus, when discussing the most unforgettable Met Gala looks throughout history, we must consider how beauty enhances fashion.

      What You Need to Know About the 2026 Met Gala

      - **Theme**: Costume Art, as reported by Vogue

      - **Dress Code**: Fashion Is Art

      - **Date**: Monday, May 4, 2026

      - **Co-Chairs**: Beyoncé, Anna Wintour, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman

      - **How to Watch**: Available for digital viewing on Vogue.com, YouTube, and TikTok at 11 p.m. UK time

      Spanning from the '80s to the present day, Who What Wear's beauty editors examined decades of Met Gala beauty looks to choose the crème de la crème. Here are our favorites from seasoned attendees like Rihanna to newcomers such as Chappell Roan.

      Cher at the 1985 Met Gala

      We can’t discuss the best beauty moments from the Met Gala without mentioning Cher’s striking eye makeup from 1985. True to '80s style, the singer highlighted her eyes with vivid violet shadow and lined her lash line with black kohl eyeliner—a look that remains timeless despite its strong nostalgic elements.

      Zendaya at the 2024 Met Gala

      "Zendaya's makeup at the 2024 Met Gala has been etched in my memory for two years," shares WWW beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock. "The theme was Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, and she fully embraced it with a 1920s-inspired aesthetic: glossy oxblood lips, blown-out red eyeshadow, and slender brows. It was a stunning fusion of Maleficent and flapper girl that left me speechless."

      Lady Gaga at the 2019 Met Gala

      In 2019, nearly everyone showcased their most camp looks on that iconic staircase. A memorable standout was Lady Gaga’s artistic eye makeup, featuring graphic eyeliner, a hot pink lip that matched her fuchsia Brandon Maxwell gown, and the most exaggerated metallic strip lashes I've ever come across. Even if my memories fade with time, this look is likely to stick with me.

      Rihanna at the 2017 Met Gala

      “Rihanna consistently impresses at the Met Gala, but this particular makeup look has lingered in my mind since 2017,” notes WWW assistant beauty editor Sabrina Talbert. “Her outfit is stunning, but the dramatic blush really ties everything together. It accentuates her eyes, and I loved how she coordinated it with a berry lip. Considering how far we've come with blush, she truly seemed ahead of the curve.”

      Gigi Hadid at the 2024 Met Gala

      Gigi Hadid is an often underrated beauty chameleon at the Met Gala. Since 2015, the model has consistently provided looks fit for the best-dressed list while constantly changing her hair and makeup styles for the occasion. In 2024, Hadid embraced her now-signature pinup hair and makeup, styling her bob into glamorous retro curls and completing her look with matching red lips and cheeks.

      Lupita Nyong'o at the 2019 Met Gala

      One thing is certain: Lupita Nyong'o knows how to embody a theme. The actress fully embraced the 2019 Camp theme with glittery eyes and brows (a trend she continued into her 2025 look), enhancing her ensemble with symbolic gold hair combs scattered throughout her hair.

      Lily Collins at the 2019 Met Gala

      “I appreciate when celebrities adhere to the Met Gala's theme, but I appreciate it even more when they fully embrace it,” says McLintock. “Lily Collins exemplified this perfectly at the 2019 Met Gala with her bright lilac shadow and towering bouffant adorned with flowers. The theme was Camp: Notes on Fashion, and she executed it flawlessly.”

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