The 20 Met Gala Looks We'll Never Forget

Each year at the Met Gala, the world's biggest celebrities, designers, and supermodels trot out outrageous fashions. This year's event is coming up—as always—on the first Monday in May. It's just three days away! But, we can't wait that long to see all the fashion.

So while we wait, we're sating our couture cravings by looking back at the gowns we'll never forget. Did you favorite look make the list? And, more importantly, how will Katy Perry—this year's co-chair—ever top that?

The ball's theme in 2008 was "Superheroes: Fashion & Fantasy." But this strapless, black-and-white number needs no cape. It looks perfectly super as is.

Ah, there she is. The hostess with the most...power in the fashion universe. In 2008, Anna Wintour wore this futuristic Chanel gown to the ball. The Karl Lagerfeld-stitched creation drew some backlash, with several publications deeming it a fashion faux pas. Our opinion? Cover-worthy.

Kate Beckinsale seems pretty down-to-earth. But when the actress brings the drama, she brings it. A case in point: the show-stopping gown she wore to the 2009 ball. Marchesa wrapped the English stunner in miles of figure-flattering tulle.

Ms. Beckinsale wasn't the only head-turning Kate at the 2009 ball. This was the year Kate Moss rocked a backless golden toga, replete with a matching turban. The ball's theme that year was "Model as Muse," and it looks like Marc Jacobs broughts his, all right.

In 2010, the French actress wore a dazzling sliver gown by Christian Dior. Her hair was slicked back in a retro-style 'do, and there was no jewelry—or heavy makeup— to compete with that amazing neckline. Oh, the Parisian elegance of it all.

The pretty Devil Wears Prada star also shone bright in 2010, stepping out in a nude, sequined gown from the Italian designer.

Think about it: would a woman who belts her heart out about fireworks allow herself to be outshone? Katy wore a light-up dress to the 2010 ball.

The Brazilian supemodel looks divine in anything (or, let's face it, in next to nothing.) So when she shows up to an event in a dramatic red gown, hearts stop. Ours just did, again—even though this look is from 2011.

Let's all look at Anna again. One, because we missed her. And two, because the Chanel gown she wore to the 2011 ball looks like a dazzling sunset cut just for her. Throw in that necklace, and the self-assured pose, and we're in full-on swoon mode.

Kruger is fashion royalty, so it makes sense that her 2012 gown was in a perfectly royal hue. But, clearly, we're here to talk about the hand-finished, ostrich border on the train.

The Florence and the Machine frontwoman is a skipping, twirling, force of nature on stage. And this billowing, couture windstorm of a dress matched her personality perfectly. Kudos for the braided crown. Not everyone can pull this look off, but Florence can.

The theme for the 2013 gala was "Punk, Chaos to Couture." And our girl SJP went all out, topping her look with Philip Treacy's custom mohawk headpiece. Next time she's on WWHL, we're so calling in to ask whether those feathers accidentally tickled anyone famous.

Okay, so Gwyneth has admitted that she's not the biggest fan of the Met Ball. But we're a fan of her bright pink, subtle homage to punk culture. GP is ever the lady, even in a slashed dress.

We'll have to issue the same warning here as we did for Florence Welch: Not everyone can pull off this look. (In fact, we're not even sure we could do it on Halloween.) But in 2014, Nyong'o was pretty much the reigning champ of the red carpet. Why not experiment a little, when you and you alone can look edgy and cool in a green, flapper-style gown?

Eyes on our text, please! This mind-blowing look—studded with expertly placed jewels—pretty much started the whole nude-dress/red-carpet trend. You know what they say about imitation.

Rihanna. World's most incredible train. 'Nuff said

Claire looked like Cinderella at the 2016 event. But, this photo only shows the half of it.

Playing off the gala's high-tech theme, designer Zac Posen embedded the dress with hundreds of tiny LED lights, which gave the confection a firefly-like glow when the lights dimmed.

The Big Little Lies star looked like a high-fashion sorceress in this starry, floor-sweeping gown at the 2016 event.

We know what you're thinking, but we loved this 2016 look. How does one manage a look that screams butterfly, but also gives off major sex appeal and a hint of danger? Watch and learn.

You're only seeing the front of Madonna's 2016 look because, well, there wasn't a lot to the back. (In terms of fabric, anyway.) Though the icon caught heat for wearing a look that exposed so much skin, she didn't back down. Madonna has taken to social media to call the look "A political statement as well as a fashion statement." She went on to say: "The fact that people actually believe a woman is not allowed to express her sexuality and be adventurous past a certain age is proof that we still live in an age-ist and sexist society. I have never thought in a limited way and I'm not going to start."

Want more Met Gala looks? (Duh.) On Monday evening, E! will air footage of the red-carpet arrivals, starting at 7 p.m. EST. Start chilling your bubbly—but don't get hungover. On Tuesday morning, we'll be back to discuss it all.