These days, spotting an archival piece at the Met Gala is as normal as seeing Blake Lively, Gigi Hadid, or Rihanna on those famous steps. While many attendees snatch looks right off the runway or wear custom creations, over the past few years, there has been a growing contingent who pulls looks from decades prior. Last year saw numerous lucky friends of Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld pull from the house’s archives, but if you thought the vintage at the Met Gala trend started in this decade, you’d be sorely mistaken. Vintage has had a place on the Met Gala red carpet for almost as long as there has been a Met Gala red carpet. In this century alone, Lily-Rose Depp, Victoria Beckham, and Anne Hathaway have provided us with some memorable pre-worn moments. And that’s not even mentioning Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen who, for a while, attended the event every year in pieces sourced from the depths of the Chanel, Givenchy, and Dior archives.
This year’s Met Gala is still weeks away, but we can already predict we’ll see a parade of pre-loved pieces on the stairs, not just because it’s currently the “cool thing to do,” but this year’s theme, “Sleeping Beauties” lends itself to unearthing archival fashion. So, as we await the first Monday in May, let’s take a look back at some of the best vintage moments at the Met Gala over the last 20 years.
