Rihanna makes dramatic Met Gala entrance, arriving fashionably late in custom Valentino

The singer, who has worn some of the event's most memorable looks, was the last to arrive

Rihanna is often hailed as the queen of the Met Gala, and although she kept fans waiting for her arrival on the red carpet, her look did not disappoint.

The singer arrived at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art fashionably late on Monday evening, ensuring that she had the entire red carpet to herself, save for her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky.

And the singer made sure her outfit was just as dramatic as her late entrance. Dressed in bridal-inspired custom Valentino, she wore a white gown with a five-metre train, paired with a hooded cape covered in 25 giant 3D camellia flowers, an ode to Chanel and the legacy of Karl Lagerfeld, who was the inspiration for this year’s Met Gala theme. She also wore a pair of white rim sunglasses, which featured theatrical false lashes on the lenses, to add some Met-appropriate surrealism to the look.

Rocky, meanwhile, wore a red tartan skirt over crystal-studded jeans with a train of his own, by Gucci.

Rihanna has been one of the Met Gala’s key players over the past decade, providing some of the event’s most memorable looks, such as the dramatic yellow Guo Pei gown she wore in 2015. Never one to be behind the curve, the star debuted a Met-worthy look over the weekend that also paid a not-so-subtle nod to Lagerfeld.

Rihanna's most memorable Met Gala looks - in pictures

Rihanna wears Balenciaga for the 2021 Met Gala. EPA

Rihanna in a Maison Margiela look designed by John Galliano for the 2018 Met Gala. EPA

Rihanna wears a ruffled Comme des Garcon look for the 2017 Met Gala. EPA

Rihanna in a Guo Pei creation at the 2015 Met Gala. EPA

Rihanna in Stella McCartney for the 2014 Met Gala. EPA

Rihanna in Stella McCartney for the 2011 Met Gala. EPA

On Saturday, Rihanna stepped out for dinner in New York City in a vintage monochrome look from Chanel’s 1994 autumn/winter collection, designed by Lagerfeld. She wore the black-and-white fur two-piece over a fluffy white dress and finished the look with a pair of Chanel logo glasses.

While the heavily pregnant singer was not in attendance during last year’s gala, her presence was still felt inside The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she was honoured with a statue. As part of the surprise, organised by Vogue in collaboration with the museum, the singer was immortalised in marble, modelled on the cover shoot she did for the May 2022 issue of the magazine.

For one night only, the figure was placed where the statue of Eirene (The Personification of Peace) stands. Sharing a video to Instagram, the magazine said: “Eirene is usually the highest-profile marble goddess @themetmuseum Greco-Roman galleries. But now we’ve got @badgalriri, straight off this month’s Vogue cover.”

And Rihanna was clearly thrilled with the honour. Reposting the video, she wrote: “Shut down the Met in marble! What’s more gilded than that? Lol! Thank you @metmuseum and @voguemagazine for this historic tribute! y’all bad for this one!”

Scroll through the gallery to see the best looks from the 2023 Met Gala

Alia Bhatt, in a custom Prabal Gurung, attends the 2023 Met Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. Getty Images

Rihanna, in custom Valentino, and A$AP Rocky arrive fashionably late. AP

Cardi B attends the 2023 Met Gala, which honoured the late Karl Lagerfeld, in a monochrome look by Chenpeng Studio. AP

Gigi Hadid in custom Givenchy. AFP

Gisele Bundchen wears vintage Chanel. EPA

Margot Robbie in Chanel. Reuters

Priyanka Chopra, in Valentino, with husband Nick Jonas. AP

Doja Cat chanelled Choupette in custom Oscar de la Renta. AFP

Jennifer Lopez in Ralph Lauren. AP

Anna Wintour in vintage Chanel, arrives with British actor Bill Nighy. EPA

Kim Kardashian in custom Schiaparelli. Reuters

Florence Pugh in Valentino. Getty Images

Jeremy Pope attends in a Balmain cape emblazoned with Karl Lagerfeld's face. AFP

British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones in Gucci. AFP

Sean 'Diddy' Combs in a floral black cape by June Ambrose. AFP

Conan Gray pays homage to Lagerfeld's signature style. AFP

Designer Olivier Rousteing carries a 'Karl who?' bag. AFP

Amber Valletta arrives in a fan-inspired outfit. AFP

Olivia Rodrigo in Thom Browne. Getty Images

Miranda Kerr in Dior. AP

Serena Williams sticks to black and white. AFP

Janelle Monae wears custom Thom Browne. Reuters

Kendall Jenner in custom Marc Jacobs. AFP

Bad Bunny in a white suit and floral cape by Jacquemus. Getty Images

Jared Leto attends as Choupette, Lagerfeld's cat. AP

Viola Davis in hot pink. AP

Anne Hathaway in custom Versace. AP

Pedro Pascal bares his legs in red and black. AFP

Julia Garner in custom Gucci. AFP

Sienna Miller wears all-black. AFP

Teyana Taylor in Thom Browne. AP

Kylie Jenner in custom Jean Paul Gaultier. Reuters

Billie Eilish wears Simone Rocha. EPA

Karlie Kloss in Loewe. EPA

Mindy Kaling in Jonathan Simkhai. Reuters

Jodie Comer in Burberry. AP

Lily Collins wears a black cape emblazoned with the word 'Karl'. AFP

Stormzy attends. AP

Allison Williams wears Patou. Reuters

Jordan Roth in Schiaparelli. Reuters

Cara Delevingne pays homage to Lagerfeld with her hairdo. AFP

Jeremy Scott in one of his own designs. AP

Jenna Ortega attends. AP

Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba attend. Getty Images

Lila Grace Moss and Kate Moss in Fendi, with designer Kim Jones. AFP

Lizzo in Chanel. Getty Images

Olivia Wilde in Chloe. AFP

Irina Shayk arrives. EPA

Michaela Coel arrives. AFP

Rihanna arrives in custom Valentino. AFP