5 Most Shocking Kim Kardashian Met Gala Looks: From Pearls To The 'Garden Of Time' Corset Controversy

Kim Kardashian has cemented her status as the undisputed queen of Met Gala shock and spectacle, consistently dominating headlines with fashion choices that push boundaries and ignite global debate. As of late 2025, her recent appearances continue a pattern of high-stakes, high-fashion risk-taking, transforming the Metropolitan Museum of Art's steps into her personal runway for controversy and commentary. Every year, fans and critics alike eagerly anticipate how the reality star and entrepreneur will interpret the theme, knowing her look will be the most talked-about moment of the night, from her extreme corsetry to her historical tributes. This deep dive examines the most recent and impactful Met Gala ensembles worn by Kim Kardashian, providing an inside look at the designers, the themes, and the intense public reaction to her commitment to fashion as performance art. We unpack the intricate details of her most recent looks, including the polarizing 2024 outfit and the stunning 2023 pearl-covered tribute, which showcase her evolution from reality TV star to a major force in haute couture.

Kim Kardashian: A Profile in Pop Culture and Business

Kimberly Noel Kardashian, born on October 21, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, is an American media personality, socialite, businesswoman, model, producer, and actress. Her rise to international fame began in 2007 with the debut of the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which chronicled the lives of her famous family.

Key Biographical Details:

• Full Name: Kimberly Noel Kardashian
• Date of Birth: October 21, 1980
• Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Occupation: Media Personality, Socialite, Businesswoman (SKIMS, KKW Beauty), Model, Producer
• Known For: Keeping Up with the Kardashians, SKIMS shapewear brand, high-profile relationships, and controversial fashion choices.
• Family: Daughter of Kris Jenner and Robert Kardashian. Siblings include Kourtney Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Rob Kardashian, as well as half-siblings Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner.

Beyond television, Kardashian is a formidable entrepreneur, most notably as the founder of the multi-billion dollar shapewear and loungewear brand, SKIMS. Her influence extends across fashion, beauty, and social media, making her one of the most photographed and scrutinized women globally, especially during major events like the Met Gala.

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The 2024 'Garden of Time' Corset: Maison Margiela's Extreme Vision

The 2024 Met Gala, themed "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" with a dress code of "The Garden of Time," saw Kim Kardashian deliver one of her most polarizing looks to date.

The Outfit: Kardashian wore a custom haute couture gown by Maison Margiela, designed by the legendary John Galliano. The striking ensemble featured a silver floral corset gown with a draped skirt, crafted from delicate mirror fragments and antique lace. The look was completed with a sheer, distressed gray cardigan wrapped around her shoulders, intended to represent the "Count Axel" character from J.G. Ballard's short story, The Garden of Time, which inspired the dress code.

The Controversy: The primary focus of the media storm was the extreme, cinched-in corset. Critics immediately voiced concerns over the look's messaging, arguing that the exaggerated waistline promoted unrealistic and potentially harmful body standards. The restrictive nature of the Galliano corset became a hot topic, overshadowing the intricate craftsmanship of the gown itself, which was reportedly made of thousands of tiny pieces of glass and mirror. This look perfectly encapsulated Kardashian's Met Gala strategy: creating a viral, unforgettable moment that sparks global conversation about fashion, body image, and art.

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A Dazzling Tribute: 50,000 Pearls for Karl Lagerfeld (2023)

Following the 2024 spectacle, Kardashian's 2023 look remains a highlight of her recent Met Gala history, offering a beautiful and meticulous homage to the year's theme.

The Theme: The 2023 Met Gala celebrated "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," honoring the life and work of the iconic German designer.

The Outfit: For this tribute, Kardashian chose Schiaparelli haute couture, designed by Daniel Roseberry. Her dress was a sheer, nude-colored gown and top entirely draped and adorned with approximately 50,000 freshwater pearls. The look was meant to evoke the opulent Chanel pearl necklaces and signature aesthetic of Karl Lagerfeld, who frequently used the classic material in his designs. The pearls, which were reportedly strung by hand, covered her body in a cascading, glamorous effect, giving the appearance of a "naked dress" covered in jewels.

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This appearance was a return to pure glamour and high fashion for Kardashian, demonstrating her ability to interpret a serious fashion theme with elegance and extravagance. She was accompanied by her daughter, North West, who also attended the gala, adding a personal family dimension to the night.

The Most Talked-About Moments: Controversy and Cultural Impact

Kim Kardashian's Met Gala journey is defined by moments that transcended fashion and became cultural events. Her history includes some of the most debated and documented looks in the gala's history, solidifying her status as a Met Gala icon.

The Marilyn Monroe Dress and The 2022 Transformation

The 2022 Met Gala, themed "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," saw Kardashian wear the actual dress worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy in 1962. This historical moment sparked intense debate:

• The Feat: Kardashian famously lost a significant amount of weight in a short period to fit into the fragile, one-of-a-kind garment, which is housed in a museum.
• The Regret: She later expressed regret over the extreme physical transformation and the damage to her hair from dyeing it platinum blonde for the occasion.
• The Ethics: The decision to wear such a delicate, historical artifact drew criticism from fashion preservationists and historians, who argued it risked damaging a priceless piece of American fashion history.

The 2019 'Wet Look' by Thierry Mugler

For the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme in 2019, Kardashian wore a custom Thierry Mugler "wet look" dress. The silicone-draped dress was designed to look as if she had just emerged from the ocean, dripping water. The extreme cinching of the corset beneath the dress was so tight that Kardashian stated she couldn't sit down, leading to another wave of public commentary on the lengths celebrities go to for fashion.

These ensembles—from the Maison Margiela corset to the Schiaparelli pearls and the Marilyn Monroe gown—demonstrate Kardashian's unparalleled ability to generate media attention. She consistently works with the biggest names in haute couture, including Olivier Rousteing (Balmain), Riccardo Tisci (Givenchy), and Demna Gvasalia (Balenciaga), turning the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala into a crucial chapter in her ongoing fashion narrative.

Her dedication to interpreting the Met Gala themes, often with a controversial twist, ensures her place in the event's history. Whether you love or hate her choices, Kim Kardashian's Met Gala looks are a masterclass in modern celebrity, fashion influence, and the power of a well-executed, if sometimes shocking, spectacle.