The 25 best Met Gala hair accessories of all time, from subtle to OTT

Over the years, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute gala, popularly known as the Met Gala, has become synonymous with striking displays of couture, rivalled only by the masterful coifs—decorated with subtle blooms and subversive headpieces alike—that accompany them. See: Beyoncé’s beaded birdcage veil, circa 2014, designed by Riccardo Tisci, or, in a move that has left an indelible mark on red-carpet history, the extraordinary bejewelled bishop’s hat that Rihanna donned to the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” gala four years later.

This year, the Met Gala returns with the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, spotlighting the artistry of Black dandyism and the transformative power of tailored menswear. As we anticipate a parade of bespoke brilliance on the red carpet, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the head-turning hair accessories that have crowned past Met Galas—from veils whispering secrets to headpieces that redefined the boundaries of fashion.

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

Marisa Berenson, 1974

Marisa Berenson glittered from head to toe at the 1974 “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design” gala.