The most memorable Met Gala dresses

The Costume Institute Gala, more commonly known as the Met Gala, takes place at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art every year on the first Monday in May.

Established in 1948, it began as an event for those in high society but these days it's one of the most star-studded events on the fashion calendar thanks to the influence of Anna Wintour.

Since 1999 the editor of Vogue and artistic director of Condé Nast has been the driving force behind the gala's A-list guest list; overseeing the seating plan, coverage, and even which designers will dress certain guests.

So far, Ms. Wintour has helped to raise more than $145 million for the Costume Institute.

Each year, guests are instructed to dress to a chosen theme, each one more outlandish than the last. Throughout the years, we have seen everything from 'Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology' and 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' to the memorable 'Heavenly Bodies' and last year's 'Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between'.

As well as being terribly fashionable, the event marks the opening day of the museum's latest exhibition. This year's exhibition is called  Camp: Notes On Fashion, inspired by Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay, Notes on ‘Camp. 

We can expect some fabulously camp outfits to ascend the steps of the Met this May but, ultimately, Rihanna is the one to watch. Just look at her incredible Maison Margiela dress with Pope-inspired headdress in the above Instagram post. This lady knows how to commit to a theme.

Click through the gallery above to see some of the most memorable Met Gala looks so far.