The Met Gala 2015: compare and contrast fashion from the 70s through to today

A look back at the Met Gala’s archive red carpet and how fashion has changed throughout the years.

Model Barbara Allen in 1977 - Rihanna in Guo Pei in 2015. (Corbis/Getty Images)

Last night New York hosted this year’s Met Gala, attended by a star-studded guestlist, from Rihanna, to Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lawrence, with their black tie attires joining the history of an iconic red carpet.

Basically, all the biggest stars from the worlds of fashion, Hollywood and music attend every year to the annual fundraising event, hence why the highlight of the night is the red carpet, as celebrities parade in their custom made designer gowns.

Model Karoline Kurkova wearing Viktor & Rolf in 2005 and Katy Perry with Jeremy Scott in Moschino in 2015. (Getty Images)

The event marks the grand opening of the Costume Institute's fashion exhibition held at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The theme of the exhibition provides the dress code for the night, which serves as the inspiration for designers. This year’s theme is China: Through The Looking Glass, which goes some way to explain some of the outfits (yes, that hat worn by Sarah Jessica Parker).

However, the Met Gala has a long and varied history; ever since the first exhibition was held in 1971, entitled Fashion Plate, the world’s eyes have been on the guests and more importantly, their gowns. We’ve delved through the archives to find out how red carpet fashion has changed through the years.

It comes as no surprise that many trends return year after year, from the seventies through to today; shoulder pads, long sleeves, asymmetric cuts, feathers, fur and kimono-inspired gowns, and last night, many of these we saw all over again.

Cristina DeLorean wearing a vintage Rochas gown in 1981 - Jennifer Lawrence in Dior. (Corbis/Getty Images)

Carolina Herrera in 1975 and Miley Cyrus in Alexander Wang in 2015. (Corbis/Getty Images)

Evelyn Lauder in 1981 and Lady Gaga in Alexander Wang in 2015. (Corbis/Getty Images)

Pat Buckely wearing a Bill Blass gown in 1983 and Emma Roberts in Ralph Lauren in 2015. (Corbis/Getty Images)

Barbara Walters in 1975 and Sofia Vergara in Marchesa in 2015. (Corbis/Getty Images)

Carolina Herrera wearing a gown of her design in 1983 and Rita Ora in Tom Ford in 2015. (Corbis/Getty Images)

Model Barbara Allen in 1977 - Rihanna in Guo Pei in 2015. (Corbis/Getty Images)

Carolina Herrera’s structured shoulders and long sleeves worn decades ago were back, but Rita Ora and Miley Cyrus put a twist on them. Fur is a favourite at black tie events, as was seen last night on Rihanna’s caped design. And so has Emma Roberts’s one-shoulder, Sofia Vergara’s white gown, Kim Kardashian’s feathers, Amal Clooney’s ruffles and Lady Gaga’s kimono-inspired designs.