Every year, the Met Gala red carpet turns into a full-blown fashion Hunger Games — only with more tulle, less food, and significantly weirder accessories. While Hollywood’s elite usually try to out-elegant each other with dramatic trains and “just woke up like this in couture” energy, it’s often the rappers and athletes who show up and shut it down. Why? They don’t follow the rules — they remix them, throw a diamond chain on top, and add a matching flex for good measure.
We’re talking about the people who treat the Met Gala like their own personal album cover shoot or postgame press conference from fashion heaven. Whether it’s Doja Cat dressed like a literal cat, Lil Nas X glittering like a disco robot, or Ben Simmons pulling up with a functioning clock in his briefcase like a time-traveling fashion intern, these looks weren’t just outfits, they were cultural moments (that gave us great memes).
If you’re here for tasteful gowns and subtle elegance… this ain’t that. However, if you want to relive the most legendary Met Gala looks from hip-hop royalty and sports legends as we wait for everyone to show how they “Tailor Black Style?” You’re in the right place. Let’s get into it.
Lil’ Kim (1999)
Lil’ Kim didn’t just attend the 1999 Met Gala—she showed up looking like she’d crash-landed from a disco planet where fur, glitter, and raw confidence are standard issue. Drenched in pink from head to toe, Kim wore a custom Donatella Versace (she was a longtime client of hers) jumpsuit that perfectly fit the “Rock Style” theme that year. This was long before rappers were regulars at the Met; Lil’ Kim did it first, and she did it loud. That 1999 look didn’t just turn heads—it cracked open the door for future icons like Cardi B and Doja Cat to bring some real edge to fashion’s most uptight night.
Rihanna (2015)
While most celebs were playing it safe in vaguely “Eastern-inspired” gowns for the “China: Through the Looking Glass” theme, Rihanna showed up like the emperor herself in a handcrafted, imperial yellow cape by Chinese designer Guo Pei. We’re not talking just any cape — this thing had gold embroidery, fur trim, and a train so massive it needed its own security detail. If drama were a garment, this was it. Someone on Twitter compared her to an omelet, others to a walking sun god, and yet somehow, all of the memes still proclaimed the outfit as iconic. Years later, the dress is still considered one of the greatest Met Gala looks ever.
Migos (2018)
When Migos showed up to the 2018 Met Gala, they took the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme and put their own Atlanta spin on it. With the trio (Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff) decked out in custom Versace, they looked as if the Vatican had a trap wing. The fits were clean, elevated, and still felt true to who they were: flashy but sharp, reverent without losing the flex. Their appearance marked a major moment where hip-hop not only had a seat at fashion’s biggest table — but showed up three deep, iced out, and unbothered.
Cardi B (2019)
Cardi B turned the 2019 Met Gala into a burgundy fashion spectacle. The theme that year was “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” and while some celebs got lost in the sauce trying to define what the word really means, the rapper delivered. The dress was a massive, quilted, feather-trimmed piece that extended out in a dramatic circular train, taking up literal square footage of the red carpet. As designer Thom Browne told Vogue, the look took over 2,000 hours to create and was assembled by a team of 35 people. Honestly? Worth every minute.
Travis Scott (2019)
When Travis Scott hit the 2019 red carpet with now-ex Kylie Jenner, he showed up like he was ready to lead a fashion-forward tactical mission. Also following the theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” Travis swerved the feathers and sequins in favor of a rugged, utilitarian-inspired fit by Kim Jones for Dior Men. Dressed in head-to-toe brown with a harnessed jacket, cargo-style pants, and long leather gloves, Scott looked like a high-fashion SWAT team captain. While other guests went wild with over-the-top theatrics, Travis took the minimalist route.
Stephen Curry (2021)
Curry’s look was a slam dunk, following the theme of “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” by keeping it sleek and sophisticated. The NBA star stepped onto the carpet with his wife Ayesha wearing a crisp Atelier Versace suit (with #30 on one of the sleeves) in deep navy, paired with a sharp black shirt and black shoes. The vibe? Clean, polished, and ready for a gala after-party or a victory.
Pharrell Williams (2021)
When Pharrell Williams walked the red carpet in 2021, he was ready to redefine what it means to be an icon in modern-day fashion. Williams’ look would be perfect for the COWBOY CARTER TOUR — matching his wife Helen in a black Chanel fit (of course with bolo ties) that works for the rodeo and fashion’s biggest night. As Vogue noted, Pharrell’s take on American fashion was a nod to both high luxury and streetwear, blending the two in a way that only he can pull off.
Russell Westbrook (2021)
Russell Westbrook also showed up in 2021 to represent the basketball world in a custom blue (his favorite color) Ralph Lauren tux while also paying homage to the theme—”In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”—with his hair. Painted blue with white stars, Westbrook made sure to add a little avant-garde into the fit — along with a sapphire Patek Philippe and an 18K gold-and-135-carat sapphire necklace. The NBA player took the Met Gala and made it his own.
Kid Cudi (2021)
While most guests went the old-Hollywood or western-wear route in 2021, Cudi came through like a futuristic streetwear alien who took a detour through Hot Topic on his way to the function—and yes, that’s a compliment. Draped in a custom Louis Vuitton look, Cudi wore an oversized sweatshirt, flowy skirt, LV sneakers, and his KAWS x Ben Baller chain. His neon green hair and smoky black eye makeup stole the show, though, and his look reminded everyone that American fashion includes punk, hip-hop, emo, streetwear, and whatever genre-defying corner he lives in.
Allyson Felix (2021)
Felix arrived in 2021 like a red-carpet goddess with the medals and the style to back it up. Wearing a custom Fendi Couture gown designed by artistic director Kim Jones, Felix floated onto the carpet in a feather-covered (240,000 to be exact) white gown with a dramatic train that trailed behind her like she was gliding into the Hall of Fame (again). She also made sure to wear the necklace made from her record-breaking eleven Olympic medals as a casual standout accessory. Felix didn’t go for flashy or avant-garde—she went for powerful and regal, and it paid off. It also served as a loud reminder that athletes absolutely belong in these fashion conversations.
Saweetie (2021)
The rapper showed up in a custom Christian Cowan gown that blended patriotism with pure heat. The dress was a backless, crystal-drenched creation with a major cutout and a super-high leg slit that also had a deeper message. Her train featured two flags— the Black American Heritage flag and the Filipino flag— a nod to her cultural roots and a flex that made her look not just fashion-forward, but meaningful. As Vogue reported, Saweetie said, “That’s what makes me an American girl.” With the dress being made of over 10 million crystals and eight people needed for her to get ready, Saweetie came with intention — and glitter. Lots of glitter.
Lil Nas X (2021)
Lil Nas X pulled off a Versace fashion trilogy in 2021. He started in a giant golden cape, fit for royalty or possibly a Final Fantasy boss. But wait—he dropped the cape to reveal… a full gold Versace suit of armor, looking like C-3PO got an upgrade and booked a fashion magazine cover. Underneath all that protection? Round three: a bedazzled, skin-tight catsuit covered in crystals and constellations—part disco ball, part intergalactic superstar. The whole reveal was a metaphor for his journey: from guarded, to armored up, to fully and unapologetically himself. With each layer, Lil Nas X flexed not just fashion versatility but storytelling.
Lil Uzi Vert (2021)
Uzi showed up in a look that screamed “post-apocalyptic prom king who might also be in a cyberpunk rock band.” Decked out in a full black Thom Browne ensemble, Uzi kept things sleek, subversive, and deeply him. The fit included a cropped tuxedo jacket, a crisp white shirt with a thin black tie, a pleated skirt layered over tailored pants, and platform boots that looked ready to stomp through a warehouse rave or the Met steps. While some went maximalist, Uzi kept it monochromatic and mysterious, letting his vibe do the talking.
Dwyane Wade (2022)
The theme in 2022 was “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”, and while most played it safe with old-school tuxedos and corsets, D-Wade walked in shirtless, radiant, and fully committed. The NBA legend rocked a crisp white tailored suit by Atelier Versace, open-chested with no shirt underneath (because buttons are a suggestion, not a rule). The look featured a sleek double-breasted blazer and perfectly pressed trousers, all accented with a diamond chain, and came to really give “old money.” Let’s not forget—he wasn’t alone. Walking alongside his equally iconic wife, Gabrielle Union, the two gave us power couple in 4K.
Stormzy (2022)
When Stormzy hit the 2022 Met Gala, he showed up in a custom white Burberry three-piece suit with a matching floor-length cape, designed by Riccardo Tisci, and honestly? The crisp tailoring, monochrome palette, and cape situation gave the whole look serious bridal energy meets British royalty, and we’re not mad at it. Also, the fact that he was the first British rapper to ever attend the Met Gala? Yeah, that made it even more iconic.
Future (2022)
The rapper showed up to the Met Gala in a custom Boss tailcoat with a black button-down shirt, paired with shorts instead of pants (yes, shorts at the Met so y’all can see the tats) — and knee-high socks that made him look like the most stylish prep school troublemaker to ever drop a mixtape. He topped it all off with a diamond-studded face mask and some icy jewelry that reminded you he came to flex. The look was a cocktail of formalwear and Future’s signature brand of elegant chaos.
Kendrick Lamar (2023)
In true K. Dot fashion, he kept things low-key, layered, and quietly elite. Rocking a classic Chanel leather jacket over a crisp white shirt, black trousers, his classic snapback, and an orange Chanel scarf used as a belt. It was giving Lagerfeld meets Compton, and somehow? It worked. As Vogue pointed out, Kendrick didn’t need theatrics. His look was clean, intentional, and mysterious—just like his public persona.
A$AP Rocky (2023)
The rapper had a head-to-toe Gucci look with a sleek black blazer, white collared shirt, and skinny tie, a direct nod to Karl’s signature uniform. However, then he threw in the chaos: a red plaid kilt layered over bedazzled baggy jeans, complete with a leather glove, black glasses, and a stack of Gucci belts holding the whole situation together. It was on brand for Rocky—the man who will wear a simple fit and still look more put-together than everyone else in the room. Of course, Rihanna was right there beside him, looking like a fashionable egg.
Doja Cat (2023)
Since Lagerfeld was famously obsessed with his cat Choupette, Doja said, “Cool, I am the cat now.” She hit the carpet in a custom hand-beaded Oscar de la Renta gown, completely crystalized and couture, with a feathered train. She didn’t stop there, though — she had cat ears on the top of the dress, a face-altering feline nose, and razor-sharp cat eye makeup. She even answered questions in meows. She gave method dressing a whole new meaning and walked away with arguably the most talked-about moment of the night. It was surreal, bizarre, and genius.
Ben Simmons (2024)
The dress code last year was “The Garden of Time,” and Simmons took it literally, showing up in a custom Thom Browne ensemble that screamed “NBA star turned time-traveling botanist.” Simmons rocked a tweed suit layered under an oversized tartan overcoat, complete with a vine motif growing up the hem and blooming into a white rose stitched near his ribcage—a poetic nod to the “garden” half of the theme. However, it was his accessory game that really had the internet clocking in. He was holding a briefcase with an actual working clock embedded in it. On his wrist, he flexed a Patek Philippe Aquanaut with a gem-set rainbow bezel, because one timepiece clearly wasn’t enough. Love it or roast it, Simmons made sure no one forgot what time it was.
