5 90s Met Gala Looks That Are Still Iconic Today (& 5 We Wish We Could Forget)

The Met Gala, also known as the Costume Institute Benefit, has long been one of the biggest nights in the fashion calendar. It first took place in 1948, but it's come a long way since then, with the world's most stylish and well-known people invited to strut their stuff on the Big Apple red carpet year after year. And the '90s were no different. Only, '90s fashion being '90s fashion, there were several big hits and some even bigger misses on the red carpet.

Some of the hottest looks from the era are so iconic they'd still hold up decades later and could easily be amongst Beyoncé's most stunning Met Gala looks (Naomi Campbell and Salma Hayek, we're looking at you). But there are also several outfits that missed the mark so badly we wish we could forget them. Big names like Julianne Moore and even (gasp!) Anna Wintour seemingly totally ignored the event's annual theme — and it didn't go well.

Naomi Campbell sparkled (almost) from head to toe in 1995. Her strapless, rhinestone gown with mesh sides was incredibly glam and helped cement her status as a fashion icon. Plus, it was in keeping with that year's Haute Couture theme. It would have been easy for this bougie look to overwhelm the supermodel's figure, but because Campbell is so drop dead gorgeous, wore simple accessories, and wore her long locks down without much styling, she made sure she was wearing the dress, and that it wasn't wearing her.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Julianne Moore's frumpy, all-black, 1998 'fit. The actor wore a shapeless dress that didn't flatter her figure, nor did it honor the cubism theme or 50th anniversary tagline, "Party of the Year." She paired the textured garment with an equally simple coat and a basic, hardly Met Gala-appropriate tote (although even a dressy clutch couldn't have saved this look). Ditching the coat and wearing her locks in a formal updo would have at least given the impression she put in some thought.

Fashion mogul Donatella Versace took a risk in 1996,the year the event honored Christian Dior, in her rockstar-inspired look. And it paid off. The short, edgy number included a mesh bodice with black straps and gold hardware, plus a satin, leather-look skirt with a long train with rhinestone edges. She added unexpected sheer black tights and boots. The outfit, which would still work on the Met Gala decades later, was expertly tailored to fit her figure and helped her stand out (in a good way) while fitting her bold fashion attitude.

Christina Ricci's 1999 Met Gala look felt confused and couldn't hold a candle to the likes of Rihanna's stunning Met Gala looks. We didn't get rock (that year's theme) from her blue, sequin, spaghetti strap dress with a high-low hem and fringe bottom, nor from her strappy and sparkly baby blue block heels. The actor also failed to give us a rock-inspired aesthetic via her un-styled hair or understated makeup. Instead, she was more appropriately dressed for a nightclub or less formal event, like the MTV Video Music Awards.

Salma Hayek knocked it out of the park with her black dress for the 1997 event honoring Gianni Versace. It was extremely open at the sides, exposing her left leg to her hip and much of her torso. She kept things simple with black, strappy heels that didn't overwhelm the outfit and added a satin wrap for extra sophistication. Her makeup was just as sultry, and she slicked back her locks (to let the dress have its moment), while her dark red lipstick amped up her sex appeal.

Liv Tyler attending the Met Gala alongside fashion designer Stella McCartney in matching white, one-shoulder tops in 1999, was way too casual. Though the "Rock Royalty" motif fit that year's rock theme, pairing the tops with simple, workwear appropriate pants gave the impression they didn't respect the event. They also gave teenagers rebelling in DIY outfits vibes (though Tyler was 21 and McCartney was 28). Equally, the studded shirts appeared low quality to the point they were almost sheer, which hardly screams luxurious Met Gala fashion.

Model and actor Elizabeth Hurley looked every inch the movie star at the 1995 Met Gala. She attended alongside her then-partner, Hugh Grant, in a flattering lavender gown with a high-slit that showed her long, toned legs. The garment was tailored to perfection to highlight her chest and waist, while her gold heels complemented her tan skin. Adding the long, white coat with fur-look edges dialed up the sophisticated glam aesthetic without distracting from her jaw-dropping dress, while encapsulating the Haute Couture theme.

Singer Jewel's 1996 'fit consisted of a tan, western wear-inspired suede top with different hem lengths. It was slightly open at the front to show her black bralette. She paired the understated number with simple black pants and matching open-toe shoes. The look would have been underwhelming on any red carpet, but for a Met Gala honoring Christian Dior, she was extremely underdressed. This bland look was extra disappointing considering she's since proven she knows how to dress up for a red carpet.

Sure, Iman's 1997 tiara, shiny gold dress (with XXL, fluffy white cuffs), sparkly heels, and rhinestone bag were over the top, but isn't that what the Met Gala is all about? The model's look ensured just a peek of her equally sparkly mini dress showed as she walked the red carpet with fashion designer Ferre Gianfranco. The leg baring number was particularly perfect considering the evening honored Gianni Versace, who was famously eccentric and maximalist in his fashion designs.

As blasphemous as it is to call Met Gala chair Anna Wintour worst dressed, her 1999 look deserved it. The cream and maroon dress had fur and paisley detailing on the bodice, a diagonal corset fastening across the front, and chunky sequins down the skirt. It was far too busy, overwhelmed her frame, and felt too try-hard for a woman who's created a chic aesthetic based on clean lines (and proved style gets better with age at the 2025 Met Gala). We didn't see the rock theme in this ensemble either.