The Full Timeline: 6 Most Iconic (and Controversial) Kim Kardashian And Kanye West Met Gala Moments

The Met Gala red carpet has always been a stage for high-stakes fashion, but no couple defined its cultural impact in the 2010s quite like Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, a duo affectionately dubbed "Kimye." Their joint appearances, spanning from 2013 to 2019, were not merely fashion statements; they were annual, highly-anticipated chapters in a celebrity love story that blurred the lines between high fashion, pop culture, and media spectacle. As of December 2025, the legacy of their combined presence is back in the spotlight, specifically due to the buzz and palpable tension surrounding Kim’s confirmed attendance with her daughter, North West, and the looming possibility of an appearance by Kanye, signaling that the 'Kimye' era—even post-divorce—still dictates the drama of fashion's biggest night.

This comprehensive retrospective details every joint appearance, the designers who dressed them, the themes they interpreted, and the controversies that cemented their status as Met Gala royalty, transforming Kim from a reality TV star into an undisputed fashion icon under the guidance of her then-husband, Kanye West. Their journey on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a masterclass in evolving style, influence, and the power of a unified celebrity brand.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West: A Met Gala Fashion Biography (2013–2019)

The Met Gala served as a crucial launchpad for Kim Kardashian’s acceptance into the elite fashion world, a transition heavily orchestrated and championed by Kanye West. Their six joint appearances show a clear evolution, moving from controversial debutante to industry-revered fashion plate.

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• First Appearance: 2013
  • Theme: Punk: Chaos to Couture
  • Designer: Givenchy (Riccardo Tisci)
  • The Look: Kim, pregnant with North West, wore an infamous floral-printed, high-neck, long-sleeved Givenchy gown, complete with matching gloves and a slit up the leg. Kanye wore a simple black Givenchy suit. The look immediately drew comparisons to a couch and sparked intense media ridicule, a moment Kim later admitted made her cry.
• 2014
  • Theme: Charles James: Beyond Fashion
  • Designer: Lanvin
  • The Look: A significant shift to Old Hollywood glamour. Kim wore a blue-and-black Lanvin gown with a cinched waist and a thigh-high slit, a classic silhouette that signaled her desire for fashion acceptance. Kanye opted for a classic black tuxedo, complementing her refined look.
• 2015
  • Theme: China: Through the Looking Glass
  • Designer: Roberto Cavalli (Peter Dundas)
  • The Look: Kim wore a sheer, white, feathered Roberto Cavalli gown that was heavily inspired by Cher’s iconic Bob Mackie looks. This appearance marked her first time attending as a married woman and firmly established her signature sheer, body-conscious style. Kanye wore a velvet suit in a complementary beige shade.
• 2016
  • Theme: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology
  • Designer: Balmain (Olivier Rousteing)
  • The Look: The "robot" couple. Both wore metallic silver Balmain creations. Kim’s dress was a futuristic, mirrored gown, while Kanye paired his matching silver-sequined jacket with—controversially—ripped, light-wash jeans and blue contact lenses, blending high fashion with his signature streetwear aesthetic.
• 2018 (Kim Alone)
  • Theme: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
  • Designer: Versace
  • Note: Kanye West did not attend this year, allowing Kim to shine in a gold chainmail Versace gown that perfectly embodied the Catholic theme.
• Final Joint Appearance: 2019
  • Theme: Camp: Notes on Fashion
  • Designer: Thierry Mugler (Manfred Thierry Mugler)
  • The Look: Kim’s legendary "wet look" dress, a custom, silicone-latex creation by Mugler designed to look as if she had just emerged from the ocean. Kanye wore an understated black velvet jacket and pants, a stark contrast that reportedly caused an argument between them, as he felt her look was "too sexy."

The Evolution of 'Kimye' Style: From Givenchy to Mugler

The six years Kim and Kanye walked the Met Gala carpet together represent a condensed history of Kim's fashion ascent. In 2013, the floral Givenchy dress by Riccardo Tisci was a baptism by fire. It was a polarizing, almost avant-garde choice for a star who was still fighting to be taken seriously by the fashion establishment.

By 2015, with her sheer Roberto Cavalli gown, Kim had mastered the art of high-impact glamour, using the red carpet to showcase her figure and confidence. Her choice of Peter Dundas for Cavalli, known for his dramatic, feminine designs, was a clear statement about embracing her sex appeal as a form of power.

The 2016 Manus x Machina appearance was perhaps their most unified moment. Dressed head-to-toe in Balmain by Olivier Rousteing, the couple embodied the theme of "fashion in an age of technology," with Kanye’s decision to wear ripped jeans showing his commitment to merging street style with couture, a principle central to his own Yeezy brand.

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The final joint look in 2019, the legendary Thierry Mugler "wet look," was a culmination of their fashion journey. It was a masterpiece of illusion and engineering, a look that broke the internet and has been endlessly referenced. The contrast with Kanye’s simple, muted outfit, however, foreshadowed the end of their creative and personal partnership, highlighting the growing divergence in their public personas.

The Lingering Influence and The 2025 Met Gala Tension

Even after their split, Kanye West’s influence on Kim’s Met Gala style remained evident. Her 2021 fully-cloaked Balenciaga look, an anonymous, head-to-toe black ensemble, was a direct reference to the aesthetic of Kanye's *Donda* album and was reportedly encouraged by him. This look demonstrated that their creative synergy, particularly through designers like Demna (Balenciaga’s creative director), transcended their divorce.

The conversation around their legacy has spiked with the news of the 2025 Met Gala. Kim Kardashian is confirmed to attend, but the major headline is the debut of her eldest daughter, North West, on the iconic red carpet. This generational passing of the torch is set against the backdrop of Kanye West’s controversial appearances and the ongoing custody discussions between the former couple.

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Sources suggest that the potential for Kanye West to make an unannounced appearance has added a layer of tension to the event, a stark reminder of the drama that often followed the couple. Whether he attends or not, the focus remains on the family he helped elevate to the pinnacle of fashion. The Met Gala, under the guidance of Anna Wintour, has always been about setting the cultural agenda, and the 'Kimye' era firmly established the Kardashian-Jenner family as indispensable to that agenda. Their combined history on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a permanent fixture in fashion history, a testament to the power of celebrity, strategic branding, and the unforgettable drama of a truly iconic couple.