Blake Lively might be known as ‘bestie’ to Taylor Swift, and ‘mum’ to her children James, Betty and Inez, but to us, she will always be a Queen on those Met Gala steps.
The star first attended the event in 2008 and has been making our jaws drop with amazing Met Gala Looks (almost) annually ever since.
As we take a stroll back through her Met Gala pedigree, you can see Lively’s style evolution, and her continued (and increasing) commitment to nailing a theme, without ever slipping into tacky, Halloween-esque territory.
So, without further ado, scroll on for all 10 of Blake Lively’s Met Gala looks, and how she perfectly matched her outfit to the theme.
All Of Blake Lively’s Met Gala Looks
2008: Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy
About The Theme: At this Met Gala we saw everything from superhero to supervillain, and many comic book references, although attendees did eschew capes and super-suits for the occasion.
Lively’s Look: Lively went more ‘villain’ than ‘hero’, walking the steps of the met with her Gossip Girl costar and then-boyfriend Penn Badgley. Her strapless Ralph Lauren gown featured a mermaid style with feathered flare. It was more ‘Batman’ than Captain America, but was more on-theme than other attendees to the 2008 event.
2009: The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion
About The Theme: Sometimes Met Gala themes are very obvious and other times, they’re a little more vague. The ‘Model as Muse’ theme was more obscure, with some celebrities choosing to reference by-gone models, while others went for classic, red-carpet style dresses.
Lively’s Look: Lively went for a skin-baring Versace dress. It featured asymmetrical sleeves and thigh-high slit, which certainly screamed both ‘model’ and ‘muse’.
2010: American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity
About The Theme: New York was painted red, white and blue for this Americana theme, celebrating the ingenuity of American design.
Lively’s Look: Blake Lively took notes on this theme! She wore American brand Marchesa (based in NYC, no less) in a royal blue colour that perfectly complemented the red carpet.
The mini-dress with asymmetrical sleeve, is a memorable early look for Blake. It’s possible the floral detailing was in reference to The Mayflower, the ship that transported pilgrims to the US.
2011: Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
About The Theme: With Alexander McQueen’s passing, the Met Gala honoured the late designer’s sartorial prowess in the 2011 theme. Some wore archival McQueen designs, while others opted for looks from different brands that were inspired by his signature style.
Lively’s Look: Blake Lively attended the ball in Chanel, on the arm of none-other than Karl Lagerfeld himself. She looked stunning in a silver embroidered, semi-‘naked dress’, with an illusion bodice. With a level of detail reminiscent of McQueen’s intricate designs, the look was complete with flowing asymmetrical drapery.
2013: Punk: Chaos to Couture
About The Theme: The distinctive nature of punk dressing was an exciting prompt for the 2013 Met Gala, with celebrities donning smokey eyes and plaid, fishnet and metal designs.
Lively’s Look: Lively looked like a woman transformed for the 2013 Met, in a classic blue-grey Gucci Première strapless gown that melted into a black organza-style layered skirt. It felt very Black Swan, with the layering in the black skirt almost resembling feathers.
2014: Charles James: Beyond Fashion
About The Theme: The theme was a tribute to English-American designer Charles James. James was known for extravagant ballgown designs, mixing structure and silhouette with expertly draped fabrics. However, many stars eschewed the ‘full-skirt’ style, with ‘mermaid’ styles the look of choice.
Lively’s Look: Lively attended the Met Gala alongside her husband Ryan Reynolds, their first red carpet appearance as a couple. She wore a Gucci Première rose-gold ballgown that was a modern take on Charles James’ famous 1955 ‘butterfly dress’.
2016: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology
About The Theme: It was time to get techy-with-it for the 2016 Met Gala, which focused on the intersection between manus (hand) sewn creations and machina (technology and new-age design). The theme saw celebrities take ‘tech’ seriously, with metallic colours, architectural cuts and new-age fabrics (including latex), donning clothing that had both manus and machina elements.
Lively’s Look: Matching the blush-and-red Met Gala steps, Lively donned a Burberry gown that was a perfect mix of manus and machina. It featured extremely technical blush pink fabrics blended with beautiful red floral applique.
2017: Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between
About The Theme: This year, celebrities honoured the work of fashion designer Rei Kawakubo. Specifically, it highlighted Kawakubo’s unconventional approach to aesthetics, and her work in womenswear for Comme des Garçons from the 1980s.
Lively’s Look: Lively was the picture of juxtaposition in a gold Atelier Versace dress. The gold chain dress descended into a bright blue feathered train.
2018: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
About The Theme: In 2018, the Met displayed some of the most beautiful, ornate religious garments from the Sistine Chapel. So, celebrities took to the red carpet in looks in grandeur, religious motifs, and Rihanna even dressed as the Pope.
Lively’s Look: No surprise that Lively nailed this aesthetic, wearing a custom Versace ballgown with deep red and gold detailing. The cherry on the sundae was a gold halo reminiscent of the depictions of Christ in religious artwork.
2022: In America: An Anthology of Fashion
About The Theme: The 2022 Met Gala focused on “Gilded Glamour” and opulence throughout America’s fashion history.
Lively’s Look: Lively nailed this year’s theme, which was no surprise given she and Ryan Reynolds were actually co-chairs for the event. She wore an Atelier Versace copper-coloured metallic gown with huge bustle, that when unfurled revealed a turquoise train.
The dress was designed to pay homage to the Statue of Liberty, a copper statue that has grown a turquoise patina over the years. All we have to say is, theme on point.
How Many Times Has Blake Lively Attended The Met Gala?
Blake Lively has attended 10 Met Galas over the years. Her first Met Gala was in 2008, and her most recent was in 2022.
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