The Evolution of Sarah Jessica Parker's Met Gala Looks

With a theme like “Haute Couture,” it makes sense why Sarah Jessica Parker chose this fitted black number. She bought it from a thrift store and did her own hair and makeup for her very first Met Gala.

When the actress asked Alexander McQueen to attend the 2006 event with her, she was surprised that he accepted her invitation. He designed their coordinating looks according to that year's theme, “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion.”

The side view of her dress is just as gorgeous as the front, with the red and black plaid giving a nod to both British fashion and that year's sponsor, Burberry.

Despite her stunning outfit, the actress later told Vogue that her nerves got the best of her: “It wasn't a fun night. Like, it was, but it wasn't because I was so nervous.”

SJP also revealed she kept every piece of extra fabric and all the pins the late designer Alexander McQueen used for her fittings for this look.

This iconic Halston gown was meant to symbolize late '70s American fashion. Everything from the silhouette to the accessories went along with the “American Women: Fashioning a National Identity” theme.

While in motion, the dress takes on a life of its own. It's easy to see why this is still considered one of Parker's best Met Gala looks.

Choosing Halston was an easy choice for SJP, who at the time was the brand's president and chief creative officer. She stepped away less than a year later, but remains grateful for the experience. “There is no way that I would have walked away from that enormous responsibility without learning something,” she later told Vanity Fair.

A year after Alexander McQueen's passing, the Met Gala honored the designer by making him and his influence on the fashion industry the theme of 2011. Parker arrived in this high-neck, beaded gown by the late designer, calling it “not something I normally wear” to Vogue.

While it was the dress that stole the show, her mint green shoes added a playful pop of color to the look.

The full look—from the detailed embroidery to the polished updo—reminded Parker of style icon Lee Radziwill, as well as Valentino in the '60s.

This taffeta Valentino gown wasn't just beautiful, it was also one of her most comfortable looks. The floral fabric and the beautifully-made dress celebrated the “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” theme.

Check out her matching shoes—they were covered in the same fabric as her dress. Since the dress was so long, the special shoes only made an appearance when the actress moved around.

Here, SJP poses with Valentino Garavani. The actress has been a fan of the designer for many years, and continues to wear his creations today—including on the season finale of And Just Like That...

For the clearly-defined theme “Punk: From Chaos to Couture,” Parker opted for this memorable pink, gold, and black Giles Deacon dress. “I should not pick favorites and I'm not going to say that it's my favorite, but it's pretty close,” she told Vogue.

We can't talk about this look without mentioning the headpiece, designed by professional milliner (hat designer) Philip Treacy. The accessory was so tall, Parker had to sit on the floor of her car on the way to the event.

As if Parker's mohawk and metallic dress weren't enough, her plaid thigh-high boots brought the look to even greater heights.

With her long gloves, satin skirt, and black bodice, Parker fully embraced her inner Old Hollywood starlet with this look for the “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” theme.

The back of Parker's dress was a tribute to Charles James's mathematical approach to fashion, since the theme celebrated the life and legacy of the 20th century designer.

Having Oscar de la Renta's name in scarlet on the back—now one of the most memorable parts of the look—almost never happened. The designer was extremely hesitant, and only agreed after Parker repeatedly asked him and his team to do it for her. Thankfully, he ended up loving the look, which was his last public design before passing away the following year.