Blake Lively's Most Stunning Met Gala Looks, Ranked
While Blake Lively isn't really known for her everyday style, when it comes to special events, she never disappointments. And when it's time for the Met Gala, the former "Gossip Girl" star consistently goes above and beyond, not just in nailing the theme, but by adding enough of her personal style to make the look unique and memorable.
As it is every year, the Met Gala 2024 will be held on the first Monday in May. Also, as it does every year, it will kick off the celebrations for the Costume Institute's latest exhibition. Last year it was Karl Lagerfeld who was fêted with the theme being "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," but this year the theme is far less controversial, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion." Inspired by the "The Garden of Time," a short story by J.G. Ballard, we can expect to see lots of flowers and garden imagery, or at least artistic interpretations of botanical-related things.
Although there's no word on whether or not Lively will definitely be attending this year, it's probably safe to assume she'll be there in all her elegant glory. After all, InStyle has declared her the "reigning queen of the event," so it would be surprising if she skipped it. But since we're still a few days away from knowing if she'll show or not, in the meantime we can look back her most stunning Met Gala looks. And, for extra fun, we ranked them to.
2016: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology
It's hard not to love the pink Burberry gown, and out of all the dresses Lively has worn, it remains a standout look. But the big concern here is she's not really committed to the theme as she was in years before and after this. In 2016, the theme was "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" which was supposed to focus on the intersection between fashion and technology. Granted, that didn't mean Lively, or anyone else for that matter needed to show up in some strange computerized attire, but she could have had more fun than a simple pink dress and hit the mark a bit closer to the theme. Because of that, this dress is five on the list.
2017: Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between
Fashion, like all art, is meant to push the boundaries and force people to see things differently — something that Rei Kawakubo has done for years, so it only made sense that the Tokyo-born designer would have a Met Gala theme to honor her with "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between" in 2017. "Rei Kawakubo is one of the most important and influential designers of the past forty years," Costume Institute's curator Andrew Bolton told Vogue in 2017. "By inviting us to rethink fashion as a site of constant creation, recreation, and hybridity, she has defined the aesthetics of our time."
For this event, Lively showed up in a Versace gown that had a snug beaded bodice that naturally flowed into different shades of blue at the hem and throughout the train. The contrasting materials used in the dress really showed her commitment to the "art of the in-between," and that's why this look is number four on the list.
2013: Punk: Chaos to Couture
When you tell a bunch of fashionistas and celebrities that the 2013 Met Gala theme is "Punk: Chaos to Couture," you're going to end up with a wide — and very exciting — array of interpretations. To be fair, as far as looks go, the night belonged to British designer Vivienne Westwood, who not only had quite a few pieces in the exhibit, but definitely knows a lot more about chaos and couture than the rest of the attendees.
However, decked out in Gucci, Lively brought her A-game to the 2013 Met Gala. Between the blue-grey bodice and tiered black organza train, she looked as though she'd be just as comfortable drinking Veuve Clicquot at The Plaza, as she would be doing shots downtown on the Lower East Side — a rare ability and totally punk of her. For brining that level of energy to the night, this look is number three on the list.
2022: In America: An Anthology of Fashion
In 2022, Lively was one of the co-chairs for the Met Gala. That year, the theme was "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," the dress code was "Gilded Glamour," and Lively's look was perfect. "Instead of looking to fashion to influence the dress, I looked to New York City architecture and the classic buildings," Lively told People on the red carpet that day (via X).
What made the Versace dress even more fantastical was the fact that it went from metallic colors to the same shade as the Statue of Liberty due to oxidation. If this ranking allowed for two top looks, this would definitely be there. But because there can only be one best of the best, Lively's 2022 look comes in second place.
2018: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
In 2018, when the Met Gala theme was "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," it was also an amazing year for celestial attire. Of all the dresses to walk those carpeted stairs that night, it was Lively's Versace dress that became iconic in a matter of seconds. Really sticking to the theme of the night, Lively looked like she'd just been plucked from a Renaissance painting that you might find hanging in the Vatican.
"This is, without a doubt, my favorite look of all time," Lively told Vogue in 2023. "I just love this look so much. I just thought it was so striking." Yes, Blake, you're right — it really is the best and that's why it's number one on the list of her most stunning Met Gala looks.
The methodology behind this ranking
Because Blake Lively first attended the Met Gala in 2008, back when she was still just a kid on "Gossip Girl," there were a lot of looks to weed through and to consider for this ranking. However, lucky for us, Lively didn't attend the gala every year and like most celebrities, her fashion sensibilities evolved and she didn't really hit her stylish years until around 2013/2014 (her Met Gala dress in 2013 is proof of that).
But once all the images had been found, a methodology was put in place to make sure this ranking made sense and was fair. Granted, it's not scientific by any stretch of the imagination, but it did focus on key attributes. Of course, the first thing to be weighed was the dress and the whole look. However, it didn't stop there. Dedication to the theme (as in makeup, hairstyle, and minute details), creativity, personal interpretation, and energy were also serious considerations in this ranking.