15 must-see looks from the Met Gala 2024 red carpet

Often described as one of the biggest nights in fashion, the Met Gala is an annual fundraiser for The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that takes place — rather iconically — on the first Monday in May in New York City.

This year's event celebrates the Costume Institute's upcoming exhibition, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.

The exhibition, which features around 250 nature-themed garments and accessories, is an exploration of the fragility and ephemerality of fashion. It's been described as a "celebration of clothing and fashion so fragile that it can't ever be worn again." 

The 2024 Met Gala is being co-chaired by Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth — and, of course, Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour.

The dress code is "The Garden of Time," a theme inspired by British author J.G. Ballard's 1962 short story of the same name.

Here's how celebrities like Cardi B, Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey interpreted the evening's theme on the green (!) carpet.

According to her stylist and close collaborator Law Roach, the Challengers star and Met Gala co-chair hadn't even seen her (first) dress for the evening until this past weekend. As usual, she looked amazing in a blue-and-green Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano. The one-shoulder, mermaid-hem gown was paired with a dramatic headpiece and tulle veil detailing.

Surprise: Toward the end of the red carpet arrivals, Zendaya made a second appearance, this time wearing a black vintage Givenchy dress from the '90s with a bouquet-like hat by Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen.

The YouTuber and content creator reprised her role as Vogue's special correspondent again this year, interviewing attendees at the gala. For her own red carpet arrival, Chamberlain made a gothic impression in a custom, lacy Jean Paul Gaultier corset dress that reportedly took four seamstresses around 600 hours to assemble. 

A co-chair for the evening, Lopez shone in a silver, strapless Schiaparelli Haute Couture dress. Designed by Daniel Roseberry, the very sheer, fitted gown reportedly took 2.5 million beads to make. Lopez styled the custom dress with nude accessories and a statement Tiffany & Co. necklace. 

The Indian-American actor and producer chose a sculptural beige dress by Indian designer Gaurav Gupta. While it may not seem to fit the evening's dress code, at least at first glance, the dress does look great from all angles — and where else can one wear such a gorgeous and truly three-dimensional gown? 

Lee, who sported Loewe several times throughout this past awards season, went with the Spanish fashion brand again for the Met Gala. She paired her sheer white architectural gown with white slingback heels and a sleek wig hand-cut by hairstylist Jenny Cho that's sure to inspire many cuts this summer. 

Unsurprisingly, there were many rose-inspired looks tonight, but model Wisdom Kaye's bold red outfit by London-based designer Robert Wun was particularly impactful. Plus, we love that he literally manifested his Met Gala debut by posting looks on Instagram. 

Making her Met Gala debut, Hall wore a diaphanous floral dress with an extra-long train by designer Danielle Frankel. Her sheer floral gloves, which are very on-trend, virtually disappear into the beautiful flowers painted on her shoulders and arms. Finally, her slicked back hair provides some much-needed contrast, allowing the overall look to feel modern and not too saccharine.