The Met Gala has always mattered to the art world, and it was designed to be a "grand fête" from the very beginning, according to the Metropolitan Museum. But these days, it feels like every year there's a bid to outdo the costuming that came before it—which means we are really, really being treated to some wild red carpet looks. Many of them are jaw-dropping in the way that inspires (see also: Rihanna's yellow robe from 2015), but just as many are jaw-dropping in the way that makes you go, "Huh??" We appreciate these just as much: Everyone on this list tried hard, and some of them really leaned in on a difficult theme. Even if it missed the mark or left us scratching our heads, we still love a gamble—without big swings, we wouldn't be discussing whether they worked or not. And I prefer an interesting outfit to a boring one.
Below, 32 of the weirdest, wackiest, wildest, strangest, and no-holds-barred outfits on the Met Gala red carpet.
