While we might assume all eyes were on Zendaya’s look or who is stepping onto the red carpet next, the Met Gala is also a place where we have come to expect the unexpected. Between uninvited guests (looking at you, 2023’s cockroach), marriage proposals (2 Chainz is fond of grand gestures), and birthday cakes (Lady Gaga made Donatella Versace’s 61st a fabulous one), the first Monday of May has become a haven for pop culture memes and memorable moments. What happened this year? Keep scrolling for the full tea…

2024’s Met red carpet was all about out-of-the-box materials. Rita Ora’s Marni look was crafted with beads dating back to the first and second centuries BC. South African pop star Tyla had her body perfectly measured by Balmain to create a sand sculpture worn as a gown. Taylor Russell’s Loewe ensemble featured a corset made out of wood, Harris Reed used archival wallpaper for Demi Moore’s outfit, and Ariana Grande’s Loewe corset was made of pure mother of pearl. Breathtaking!

After days of teasing and waiting, Doja Cat and VETEMENTS’ Creative Director Guram Gvasalia’s performance finally came to an end at the 2024 Met Gala. Earlier this week, the duo posed on IG during a shopping session with Doja wearing nothing but bed sheets — and for the big night, she moved from the bedroom to the bathroom and wore a towel and nothing else for her first look of the night. To climb the museum’s stairs, she changed into a wet dress number, keeping the wet-room-inspired theme. For the glam, tears of mascara ran down her face, as if she had spent a night crying in the bathtub. Dramatic, but we’re here for it.

For the big night, many celebrities and stylists interpreted the “Garden of Time” theme as a moment to rock iconic archival pieces. And so did Kendall Jenner. The model was the first person to ever wear the archival Givenchy 1999 piece by Alexander McQueen she had on, a piece only shown on a mannequin before. “It was a miracle that they still had it and that it fit me,” she told Vogue during the event. Not the most on-theme look, but definitely a stunner.

“Just a white tee,” (we imagine) Charli XCX said, and Marni’s Creative Director Francesco Risso delivered. The idea was to build something extravagant from the simplicity of a t-shirt, and they surely did that by patchworking vintage pieces from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, covered in rhinestones and glass beads by Marni’s team of 15 seamstresses. The cherry on top? Charli’s punk-inspired beauty look, with spiked hair and a bold brown lip.

Always one of the most anticipated guests to cross the Met’s red carpet, Kim Kardashian arrived for the evening with what looks like her most dramatic take on silhouette dressing. With a waist-cinching corset and an over-the-shoulder gray cardigan by Maison Margiela, she stunned as a silver siren herself — but we can’t help but wonder how uncomfortable she might have felt. Breathe, Kim!

Victoria Beckham might not have attended the 2024 Met Gala, but the night was undoubtedly a memorable one for the British designer, as she presented her first ever custom dress for actor Phoebe Dynevor to cross the night’s red carpet. A pale pink number, the Bridgerton star opted for an ethereal and whimsical take on the evening’s theme, using vintage lace from Victoria’s archives to create a fresh-out-of-a-fairy-tale look.

Lea Michele is giving a ‘pregnancy reveal photoshoot’ vibe with her springtime Rodarte gown. While the Glee star has been gracing us with her baby bump on Instagram, this entrance takes things up a notch. Imagine walking the Met steps before you’re even born…