A$AP Rocky at the Met Gala: A Short History

Though he has only graced the Met Gala carpet four times, A$AP Rocky has cemented himself as a style star to watch on fashion’s biggest night. Case in point: this year, he’s being honoured as a co-chair and will serve as an ambassador of the 2025 theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

While his history at the Met Gala is short, he’s always been a sartorial standout. Over the course of his four appearances, he’s never worn a tie, instead opting for unconventional red carpet statements like turtlenecks, heavy hardware and colourful cloaks. Each year, his outfits have upped the ante, meaning his ensemble on Monday, May 5, is likely to be his best one yet.

Ahead of this year’s event, we’re revisiting all the A$AP Rocky Met Gala looks below.

2014: “Charles James: Beyond Fashion”

To make his Met Gala debut, A$AP Rocky wore a tuxedo from Topshop—an affordable anomaly at an event predicated on red carpet opulence. Attending alongside then-girlfriend Chanel Iman, his look was simple but studded with high-shine details, from the glossy black boots and layered-on white vest to the glistening silver grill.

2017: “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between”

For his sophomore foray up the Met steps, A$AP Rocky was outfitted by Calvin Klein. He eschewed the suit-and-tie standard for a white turtleneck and an all-black button-down jacket. Again honing in on unexpected accents, he opted for squarish boots with edgy metallic accents at the toes. And for a fun fact you likely forgot about: he walked that year’s carpet with fellow Calvin Klein ambassador Gwyneth Paltrow.

2021: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”

This Met Gala marked a shift for A$AP Rocky. For one, it was his first time attending with now-partner Rihanna—a staple of Met Gala excellence. Secondly, it set the tone for Rocky as an out-of-the-box fashion figure. Accompanied by a duvet-wrapped Rihanna, the rapper wore a multicoloured quilt custom-made by ERL with repurposed fabric scraps, referencing the garment’s role as a generational keepsake.

Midway up the stairs, he shed the sheet to reveal an lavish take on the classic suit. Wearing a button-up adorned in ruffles, a stacked pearl necklace and an overcoat embellished with brooches, Rocky’s second ensemble was just as intentional as his first.

2023: “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”

Showing up fashionably late with Rihanna by his side, style savant A$AP Rocky upped the Met Gala menswear game in a skirt-over-pants look inspired by late designer Karl Lagerfeld. The all-Gucci ensemble comprised an array of stacked belts, jewel-encrusted denim and an asymmetrical floor-grazing tartan quilt.

The outfit was not only visually intriguing, but expertly on-theme—a direct reference to the outfit the late designer wore to Chanel’s 2004 runway show in Tokyo. Rihanna’s likeness to the quintessential Chanel couture bride made for an even more extraordinary execution.