The most memorable Met Gala outfits through the years - in pictures

From Beyonce and Rihanna back to Cher and Diana Ross

Kim Kardashian in the exact dress Marilyn Monroe wore to sing Happy Birthday to US president John F Kennedy on his 45th birthday in 1962, at the 2022 Met Gala. EPA

Blake Lively in a colour-changing gown by Atelier Versace gown for the 2022 Met Gala. Getty Images

Iman in gold Dolce & Gabbana x Harris Reed at the 2021 Met Gala. Reuters

Zendaya in Dolce & Gabbana at the 2017 Met Gala. Getty Images

Rihanna in Comme des Garcons at the 2017 Met Gala. Getty Images

Billie Eilish in Oscar de la Renta at the 2021 Met Gala. EPA

Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles in Givenchy at the 2014 Met Gala. Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Naomi Campbell in Versace at the 1990 Met Gala. Getty Images

Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen at the Met Gala in 2006. FilmMagic

Diana Ross and Patrice Calmettes attend the Met Gala in 1981. Getty Images

Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren at the 2018 Met Gala. Reuters

Zendaya in Versace at the 2018 Met Gala. AFP

Carey Mulligan in Prada at the 2012 Met Gala. Getty Images

Diane Kruger in Hugo Boss, with Joshua Jackson, at the 2014 Met Gala. Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Gigi Hadid, in Tommy Hilfiger, and Zayn Malik at the 2016 Met Gala. WireImage

Rooney Mara in Givenchy at the 2013 Met Gala. FilmMagic

Yara Shahidi in gold Dior at the 2021 Met Gala. EPA

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian in Givenchy at the 2013 Met Gala. Getty Images

Cate Blanchett wears Balenciaga to the Met Gala in 2007. Getty Images

Jeremy Scott and Cardi B in Moschino at the 2018 Met Gala. Reuters

Cara Delevingne in Burberry at the 2013 Met Gala. Getty Images

Bella Hadid in Givenchy at the 2016 Met Gala. FilmMagic

Rihanna in Guo Pei at the 2015 Met Gala. AFP

Blake Lively in Gucci at the 2014 Met Gala. Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Diana, Princess of Wales in John Galliano for Dior at the 1996 Met Gala. WireImage

Emma Stone in Thakoon at the 2014 Met Gala. Getty Images

Sarah Jessica Parker in H&M at the 2015 Met Gala. Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Lil Nas X in gold Versace at the 2021 Met Gala. Reuters

Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren at the 2017 Met Gala. Getty Images

Taylor Swift in Louis Vuitton at the 2016 Met Gala. WireImage

Cher in Bob Mackie at the 1985 Met Gala. WireImage

David Bowie and Iman in Calvin Klein at the 2003 Met Gala. Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson in Calvin Klein at the 2004 Met Gala. Getty Images

Katy Perry in Prada at the 2016 Met Gala. Getty Images

Beyonce in Givenchy at the 2016 Met Gala. Getty Images

Amal Clooney in Richard Quinn at the 2018 Met Gala. EPA

Rihanna in Margiela at the 2018 Met Gala. Reuters

Beyonce in Pucci at the 2011 Met Gala. EPA

Gwyneth Paltrow in Valentino at the 2013 Met Gala. EPA

Jennifer Lopez in Gucci at the 2011 Met Gala. EPA

Cardi B in Thom Browne at the 2019 Met Gala. EPA

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu at the 2011 Met Gala. EPA

Anne Hathaway in Ralph Lauren at the 2015 Met Gala. EPA

Zendaya in Tommy Hilfiger at the 2019 Met Gala. EPA

Katy Perry in Versace at the 2018 Met Gala. EPA

Ariana Grande in Vera Wang at the 2018 Met Gala. EPA

Gemma Chan in Tom Ford at the 2019 Met Gala. EPA

Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell at the 2019 Met Gala. EpPA

Mila Kunis in Vera Wang at the 2010 Met Gala. EPA

Jared Leto in Gucci at the 2019 Met Gala. EPA

Katy Perry in Moschino at the 2019 Met Gala. EPA

Gigi Hadid in Michael Kors at the 2019 Met Gala. EPA

Jennifer Lopez in Balmain at the 2018 Met Gala. Reuters

The first Monday in May is almost upon us, which means one of the year's most stylish events is also fast approaching.

The annual Met Gala, which was first established in 1948 though held intermittently until recent decades, will take place in New York on May 6, bringing together stars of the music, film and fashion worlds.

The modish event, which raises funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, also marks the opening of the venue's annual fashion exhibition, this year entitled Camp: Notes on Fashion.

The 2019 occasion will be co-hosted by Gucci's creative director Alessandro Michele, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Serena Williams and, as per usual, Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

While we wait to see which stars will be in attendance, and how they'll interpret this year's dress code of camp, we've rounded up some of the most unforgettable looks of galas past.

From Rihanna in her sweeping yellow cape from 2015 to Beyonce's rubbery Givenchy of 2016, plus some throwbacks from the Eighties, scroll the gallery above to see the Met Gala's most memorable moments.