13 times Asian celebrities illuminated the Met Gala

Along with fellow Korean superstar CL, Rosé made history at the 2021 Met Gala as it was the first time female K-pop artists were invited to the fashion extravaganza. To mark the occasion, the Blackpink member donned a Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello mini dress with a sculptural bow detail. 

Stray Kids also made history as the first K-pop boy band to be invited to attend the Met Gala in 2024. For their debut, all members radiated in suits by American designer Tommy Hilfiger. 

The 2024 Met Gala also saw the debut of Vachirawit “Bright” Chivaaree. The meteoric Thai entertainer took the internet by storm in an all-Burberry outfit that featured an embroidered pleated georgette jacket, silk tuxedo trousers and a metallic tank top. 

Song Hye-Kyo celebrated the 2023 Met Gala dress code, In Honour of Karl, by reminding us of the late Karl Lagerfeld’s tenure as the creative director of Fendi. The Korean actress stunned in a baby pink two-piece look with a corseted top, flowing maxi skirt and lace inserts. 

For the 2018 Met Gala, Indian actress and producer Priyanka Chopra did show up in her Sunday best: a wine red velvet Ralph Lauren gown with an opulent embellished gold chain headdress by Swarovski. 

Michelle Yeoh rocked up to the 2024 Met Gala in a custom Balenciaga couture dress by former creative director Demna. Made entirely of an aluminum material, the voluminous design—that takes inspiration from the Spanish house’s 1940s ballroom gowns—required 200 hours for artisans to bring to life.  

Greta Lee also made her Met Gala debut in 2024, paying tribute to the year’s The Garden of Time dress code in a bespoke Loewe gown by former creative director Jonathan Anderson. The Korean American actor’s sheer and sculptural column dress made of Chantilly silk lace featured 3D embroidered flowers. 

While there was no specific dress code, Chinese actress Fan Bingbing celebrated the 2015 Met Gala exhibition theme China: Through the Looking Glass in an embellished column gown and jewel toned cape by Christopher Bu as well as Chopard jewellery. 

For the 2024 Met Gala, Icelandic Chinese singer-songwriter Laufey co-designed her voluminous blush toned gown and veil with her twin sister and Nepalese American designer Prabal Gurung. 

British-Indian actress Alia Bhatt turned to celebrated Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee to create a custom couture sari for her second Met Gala appearance in 2024. Along with a theatrical 23-foot long train hand embroidered with silk floss, beads, sequins, semi-precious stones and glass beaded fringes, her blouse was similarly glitzed out in pearls, emeralds, tourmalines and sapphires. 

Indian actress Deepika Padukone made a statement at the 2019 Met Gala in a barbie pink Zac Posen gown embellished with sea urchin motifs. Upping the glam, Padukone rocked pink sapphire and diamond kissed jewellery by Lorraine Schwartz. 

Liu Wen paid tribute to the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld in a form-fitting Tory Burch gown at the 2023 Met Gala. Echoing his influence at Chanel, the Chinese supermodel’s look featured a burst of white camellias—an emblem of the historic French fashion house—embroidered over layers of tulle. 

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