The 7 Most Iconic And Controversial Kim Kardashian Met Gala Looks: From 'Dripping Wet' To The 2024 Corset Scandal
Kim Kardashian has cemented her status as the undisputed queen of the Met Gala, consistently delivering looks that dominate global headlines, spark intense debate, and set the internet ablaze with both praise and controversy. As of December 19, 2025, her most recent appearance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala in 2024 became arguably her most polarizing fashion statement yet, reviving the perennial discussion about extreme body modification in the name of art.
The star’s journey from a hesitant first-timer in 2013 to a fashion fixture has been a decade-long masterclass in high-stakes red carpet dressing, involving archival gowns, custom couture, and a willingness to commit entirely to the night’s theme, no matter the physical or public cost. This deep dive explores the full scope of her Met Gala history, focusing on the latest scandal and the evolution of her most memorable fashion risks.
Kimberly Noel Kardashian: Biography and Profile
Kimberly Noel Kardashian is an American media personality, socialite, businesswoman, and model who rose to international fame primarily through the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
- Full Name: Kimberly Noel Kardashian
- Date of Birth: October 21, 1980
- Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Parents: Robert Kardashian (father, attorney) and Kris Jenner (mother, television personality/manager)
- Siblings: Kourtney Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Rob Kardashian (full siblings); Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner (half-sisters)
- Occupations: Media Personality, Socialite, Businesswoman, Model, Producer, and aspiring Attorney.
- Notable Businesses: SKIMS (shapewear and clothing line) and KKW Beauty (previously, now SKKN by Kim).
- Education: Attended Pierce College; currently pursuing a law degree through the "baby bar" examination in California.
- First Met Gala Appearance: 2013, as a guest of Kanye West.
The 2024 Met Gala Scandal: The 'Unhealthy' Corset and the Shawl
The 2024 Met Gala, celebrating the exhibition "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" with the dress code "The Garden of Time," saw Kim Kardashian arrive in a look that immediately triggered a global conversation about extreme fashion and body image. Her choice was a controversial silver floral gown by Maison Margiela Artisanal, designed by John Galliano.
The 'Garden of Time' Interpretation
Kardashian’s outfit was a sheer, custom-made dress featuring a delicate lace train adorned with leaves and floral elements, perfectly aligning with the "Garden of Time" dress code. The silver hue gave the piece a faded, almost archival quality, nodding to the "Sleeping Beauties" theme of reawakening fragile, historical garments.
The Controversy: Extreme Cinching and the 'Kindergarten Teacher' Sweater
The focal point of the controversy was the extremely cinched corset she wore underneath the gown, which created a dramatically small waistline. Critics online were quick to label the look as "unhealthy" and a poor role model for promoting unrealistic body standards.
Adding to the debate was a loosely draped, gray cardigan or shawl that Kardashian wore over the delicate gown. While some saw it as an attempt to cover the sheer dress, others mocked it, calling it a "kindergarten teacher" sweater that detracted from the high fashion aesthetic of the Margiela piece. Kardashian later confessed that the corset made walking and even sitting a challenge, though she insisted she was "not as uncomfortable as I might look."
Kim Kardashian’s Most Iconic Met Gala Moments (2013–2023)
Kim Kardashian has attended the Met Gala every year since 2013 (excluding 2020 when it was cancelled), establishing a legacy of memorable and often polarizing fashion statements. Her appearances are a masterclass in fashion risk-taking and topical authority.
Here are her most iconic and talked-about looks, which are essential viewing for any fashion enthusiast:
1. The 'Couch' Dress (2013)
Theme: Punk: Chaos to Couture. Kim's debut was a custom floral Givenchy gown by Riccardo Tisci. Heavily pregnant at the time, the dress, which covered her from neck to toe and included attached gloves, was widely compared to a floral sofa or curtain pattern. It was a chaotic introduction that immediately put her on the Met Gala map.
2. The 'Dripping Wet' Mugler (2019)
Theme: Camp: Notes on Fashion. This is frequently cited as one of her best looks. The custom Thierry Mugler dress was designed to look as if she had just emerged from the ocean, complete with silicone droplets mimicking water. The skin-tight, nude-illusion design took eight months to create and required a corset that caused its own physical discomfort, foreshadowing the 2024 look.
3. The Balenciaga 'Shadow' (2021)
Theme: In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. Perhaps her most avant-garde look, this Balenciaga haute couture ensemble covered her entire body, including her face, in black fabric. Designed by Demna Gvasalia, it was a striking, anonymous statement that generated massive media buzz and instantly became a viral meme, completely subverting the traditional celebrity red carpet presence.
4. The Marilyn Monroe Dress (2022)
Theme: In America: An Anthology of Fashion. This appearance was the most controversial of her career. Kim wore the actual, archival "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in 1962. The decision to wear a delicate historical garment, and her admitted extreme diet to fit into it, drew heavy criticism from fashion historians and conservationists. The gown, owned by Ripley's Believe It or Not!, was a powerful symbol of fashion history reawakened.
5. The Pearl Schiaparelli (2023)
Theme: Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. To honor the late designer, Kim wore a custom Schiaparelli look featuring thousands of draped pearls. The look was a nod to Lagerfeld's iconic use of pearls at Chanel. While visually stunning, she suffered a wardrobe malfunction on the way to the event, with some of the pearl strands breaking and scattering.
Kim Kardashian’s Evolving Fashion Entity and Topical Authority
Kim Kardashian's presence at the Met Gala is no longer just about fashion; it is a major cultural event. Her outfits are a deliberate strategy to engage with the public, often using controversy to drive attention to the event, the designer, and her own brand, SKIMS.
The choice of a cinched corset in 2024, following the extreme diet for the Marilyn Monroe dress in 2022, highlights a recurring theme: the willingness to endure physical discomfort for the sake of the perfect, headline-grabbing silhouette. This commitment to the 'art' of the look, regardless of the backlash, is what solidifies her topical authority in the realm of high fashion and celebrity culture.
From her initial, much-maligned floral Givenchy dress to her full-body Balenciaga mask and the archival Marilyn Monroe gown, Kim has consistently proven that she understands the assignment: the Met Gala is a costume party, and the best costumes are the ones that provoke the strongest reaction. Her future appearances are guaranteed to be as highly anticipated, and likely as controversial, as her past fashion entities. Her ability to generate LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords like Met Gala controversy, archival fashion, Thierry Mugler, Balenciaga haute couture, and celebrity fashion risks ensures her continued relevance in the fashion news cycle.
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