The Met Gala is famed for being the fashion night out of the year. Not only is it one day in the calendar where you can get super dressed up (whilst sticking to the theme of course), but it’s also possibly the most exclusive event. Anna Wintour gets to decide the guest list, of course, but even if you do get invited, you’ll have to cough up $35,000 for entry, and up to $300,000 for a table… it’s for a good cause, after all!

Whilst us mere mortals could only ever dream of being invited to such an exclusive event, the one thing we can – and do! – lust over, are the iconic outfit photos that our favourite celebrities share on Instagram (and maybe a sneaky toilet selfie, seeing as there are strictly no-photo policies).

We’ve analysed Instagram to see which celebrities and their outfits have broken the internet over the last five Met Galas. Is your favorite look in the top 30? It’s time to find out…

In top place with 19,504,437 engagements on Instagram, is the Oscar de la Renta dress Billie Eilish’s wore in 2021. With the theme of In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, her outfit was an ode to the iconic blond bombshell, Marilyn Monroe, with her dramatic dress embodying Monroe’s tulle dress she wore at the Oscars in 1951.

With a huge 19,390,437 likes, and 114,000 comments on Instagram, Billie’s first place position is extremely well deserved.

For the In America: A Lexicon of Fashion theme, Kendall Jenner chose to channel Audrey Hepburn, who, although British, portrayed Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, which is an American classic. 

Kendall’s sheer Givenchy gown was adorned in intricate crystals, complete with a delicate train, and dramatic shoulder pads, with her Instagram picture earning her 13,577,897 likes, and 58,124 comments.

Keeping it in the family, Kylie Jenner has come in a respectable third place, with her 2019 Met Gala outfit Instagram post gaining 56,700 comments, and 9,289,947 likes. The theme in 2019 was Camp: Notes on Fashion, giving attendees the opportunity to dress as extravagantly as possible, and Kylie did not disappoint!

Her custom-made Versace dress earned her the title as most committed to the theme, channelling a showgirl look, matching the lilac feathers of her dress to the wig she also adorned.

Fast forwarding to 2021, we all knew that Kim K would be featuring at some point on this list, with her look that launched 1,000 memes! Designed by her ex-husband, Kanye West, with fashion house Balenciaga, it’s one of the most iconic outfits of all time.

The inspiration behind this outfit? Kim herself! Despite dressing all in black, complete with a mask, by her silhouette, we’d all know it was Kim, which ultimately showcases the power of celebrity in America.

Blackpink singer Rosé made history as the first female K-Pop idol to get a much sought-after invite to the Met Gala. Having recently been announced as the brand ambassador for Saint Laurent in 2020, she made an appearance alongside the brand’s Creative Director, Anthony Vaccarello.

Her chic black mini dress with a white bow, was accessorized with a bejewelled choker, and black patent heels; with her Instagram post earning her 7,199,617 likes, and 55,900 comments.

Lili Reinhart wore perhaps the prettiest dress at the 2021 Met Gala, designed by Christian Siriano. Her sheer pink dress was covered in flowers that paid tribute to all 50 states; perfectly tying into the American theme.

Her sleek hairstyle and dainty silver heels perfectly complemented the overall ethereal look, with her Instagram post getting a huge 7,051,181 likes, and 32,937 comments.

The first male to make it on the list is none other than pop sensation Justin Bieber, who was joined by his wife Hailey, who both kept it classic and pared-back in all-black outfits.

Justin chose to wear his own streetwear label, Drew House, in a black suit, trainers, and bag, with his Instagram post getting 6,915,145 likes, and 26,467 comments

Gigi’s monochrome custom Prada gown got 6,831,041 likes and 19,100 comments on Instagram, securing her a position in the top 10. An ode to well-made, simple fashion, her sleek white dress featured a black bodice that peeked out underneath, and was paired with chic, black leather gloves.

Her freshly dyed red locks were debuted in a high ponytail, held in place with a crystal Prada brooch, tying the retro look together perfectly.

Zendaya went full-on Cinderella for the 2019 Met Gala, with a princess dress by Tommy Hilfiger. Taking the theme to the next level, her stylist, Law Roach, dressed up as a fairy godmother, and with a few flourishes of his wand, Zendaya’s dress lit up.

In the lead-up to the event, Zendaya shared several images on Instagram showing her fittings, and the technology under her dress, but overall, her outfit pictures earned her 6,242,601 likes, and 43,800 comments.

Rounding off the top 10 is another one of Kim Kardashian’s looks – this time, at the 2019 Met Gala. Designed by Thierry Mugler, she dressed as a “dripping wet” version of herself, with drops of crystals turning her into a Californian girl stepping out of the ocean.

What made the news more so than the dress itself though, was Kim’s cinched-in waist (she wore a tight, custom-made corset, in case you were wondering!). Nevertheless, her outfit shot gained her 6,090,868 likes and 63,100 comments on Instagram.

With so many amazing, elaborate and over-the-top looks, it’s impossible to narrow down all outfits over the last five years to just the top 10, so below, we’ve listed everyone who falls under positions 11-30, as the most Instagrammed Met Gala outfit.

11. Olivia Rodgrigo – 2021 – 5,430,507 engagements

12. Rihanna – 2021 – 5,332,285 engagements

13. Rihanna – 2018 – 4,722,368 engagements

14. Kendall Jenner – 2019 – 4,457,889 engagements

15. Shawn Mendes – 2018 – 4,339,862 engagements

16. Cardi B – 2019 – 4,228,739 engagements

17. Camila Cabello – 2021 – 4,092,259 engagements

18. Gigi Hadid – 2018 – 4,043,186 engagements

19. Kylie Jenner – 2018 – 4,027,602 engagements

20. Zendaya – 2018 – 3,930,935 engagements

21. Ariana Grande – 2018 – 3,856,274 engagements

22. Emma Chamberlain – 2021 – 3,820,366 engagements

23. Lili Reinhart – 2019 – 3,614,262 engagements

24. Shawn Mendes – 2019 – 3,419,208 engagements

25. Nicki Minaj – 2019 – 3,236,536 engagements

26. Kim Kardashian – 2018 – 3,101,800 engagements

27. Anitta – 2021 – 2,959,165 engagements

28. Jennifer Lopez – 2021 – 2,935,901 engagements

29. Lili Reinhart – 2018 – 2,913,985 engagements

30. Hailey Bieber – 2021 – 2,883,154 engagements

Our rankings are based on the number of Instagram likes, whereas of course, the likes of Vogue and Harpers Bazaar write up their own subjective pieces on which outfits they think are the best each year.

With the 2022 Met Gala taking place on Monday 2^nd May, we can’t wait to see how celebrities interpret this year’s theme: In America: An Anthology of Fashion, with Regina King,

Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Blake Lively serving as the night’s official co-chairs, with Anna Wintour, Tom Ford, and Adam Mosseri acting as honorary co-chairs.

Whilst the vast majority of us could only ever dream of getting an invite to the event, there’s no saying you can’t spend the night dressed up, with your own take on the theme. Simply hang some fashion photography on your wall, fix yourself a sophisticated cocktail, and put on your highest heels, and you’ll be ready to celebrate in style!

Alternatively, if you want to add an extra touch to your home, highlight your inner fashionista with our range of fashion paintings, or for more style inspiration, head on over to our blog.

We’ve combined the likes and comments on each Instagram post to work out the total number of engagements on Instagram.