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Unlike the Oscars, Golden Globes or Grammys — each of which comes attached to an often boring, always overly long televised ceremony — the annual Met Gala is about one thing and one thing only: fashion. Add to that a wacky, sometimes difficult-to-decipher theme, dozens of A-list celebrities trying to out-dress each other, and all the industry's most influential designers, and you've got yourself a party everyone (fashion people, pop culture hounds, even art fans) can enjoy.
In anticipation of next Monday night's gala, with its theme Manus x Machina: Fashion in the Age of Technology, I've compiled some of the most memorable looks from Met Galas past. From Sarah Jessica Parker's tartan ode to Alexander McQueen to Kate Moss's gilded minidress and matching turban to Rihanna's insanely intricate Guo Pei caped creation, click through the gallery above for a walk down (a red-carpeted) memory lane.