You never forget your first time. But in case you're fuzzy on which designers Zendaya, Harry Styles, Kim Kardashian and more stars tapped for their Met Gala debuts, we're reliving all the magic.
Why, yes, Elle Fanning does place some sentimental value on her first Met Gala appearance.
"I was 13, and it was the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition," the Oscar-nominated actress recounted to Vogue of her 2011 debut alongside Dakota Fanning. "I went with Valentino and I went with my sister and, my god, it was just an incredible experience. I was freaking out that I was so young and that they invited me to go."
In her feminine, color-blocked Valentino 'fit, "I looked like a little Oreo, in the best way—navy and white lace little short skirt."
As for Met Gala regular Sarah Jessica Parker, she couldn't help but wonder the label she wore for her first outing in 1995.
"This dress is a little bit mysterious," the Sex and the City alum noted to Vogue in 2022 of her pick for the Haute Couture theme. "My guess is that this was a dress from a thrift store, which then I had tailored, and clearly did my own hair and makeup."
Going a similar vintage route for her first Met last year, Chappell Roan tapped Wicked costume designer Paul Tazewell to source a patchwork suit and complementary feathered cape from eBay that had her looking very much like a pink pony girl.
But having told Vogue that "beauty isn't everything—it's the only thing," she asked makeup pro Pat McGrath to ensure she was hot to go.
To channel "the glamour and freedom of the disco era," McGrath explained, "We layered shimmering metallics with illustrated wings, chrome lashes, and rhinestone accents. It’s maximalist, metallic, and made to move."
While stars' Met Gala debuts run the gamut, there's one throughline: Scoring an invite to the first Monday in May's legendary fundraiser is a big frickin' deal.
She might be a veteran at the Metropolitan Museum of Art now, but in 2015, a Fausto Puglisi-clad Zendaya—styled by Law Roach—was "very nervous," she admitted to Vogue of having no place to put her cell phone, "being like, 'How am I going to call Law or call my dad or call someone to pick me up when I'm done? How am I going to get out of here?'"
Fortunately, it turns out there was, in fact, a way home for the Spider-Man star. As for her journey to those famed steps, we're looking back at her and other stars' first times.
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Naomi Campbell in 1990
In Versace
Ke.Mazur/WireImage
Sarah Jessica Parker in 1995
In a thrift store find
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Gwyneth Paltrow in 1995
In Calvin Klein
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Kate Moss, Calvin Klein & Christy Turlington in 1995
In Calvin Klein (Moss)
Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images
Salma Hayek in 1997
In Versace
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Gisele Bundchen in 1999
In Versace
Mark Mainz/Getty Images
Victoria Beckham in 2003
In Dolce & Gabbana
Mark Mainz/Getty Images
Nicole Kidman in 2003
In Gucci by Tom Ford
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Kate Hudson in 2003
In Stella McCartney
Gregory Pace/FilmMagic
Eva Mendes in 2004
In Zac Posen
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Jimmy Fallon in 2004
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Diane Kruger in 2004
In Balenciaga
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Naomi Watts in 2004
In Marc Jacobs
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Serena Williams in 2004
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Emmy Rossum in 2005
In Ralph Lauren
Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com
Ashley Olsen & Mary-Kate Olsen in 2005
In Oscar de la Renta (Ashley) and a vintage dress from What Comes Around Goes Around (Mary-Kate)
Peter Kramer/Getty Images
Sienna Miller in 2006
In Burberry Prorsum
Peter Kramer/Getty Images
Jessica Alba in 2006
In Calvin Klein
Peter Kramer/Getty Images
Rihanna in 2007
In Georges Chakra
Brian ZAK/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Kerry Washington in 2007
BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Cameron Diaz in 2007
In Dior
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Beyoncé in 2008
In Armani Privé
Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com
Blake Lively in 2008
In Ralph Lauren
Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic
Taylor Swift in 2008
In Badgley Mischka
CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Amber Rose & Kanye West in 2009
In Carolina Herrera (Rose)
CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Jessica Biel & Justin Timberlake in 2009
In Versace (Biel)
CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Anne Hathaway in 2009
In Marc Jacobs
CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Leighton Meester in 2009
In Louis Vuitton
CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Katy Perry in 2009
In Tommy Hilfiger
CHANCE YEH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Emma Stone in 2009
In Matthew Williamson

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