From Cinderella to sculptural gowns—Mindy Kaling’s Met Gala looks over the years had it all

During Mindy Kaling’s career as a sitcom star and producer there have many memorable looks that stood out, but none come as close to her Met Gala ones. From larger than life crowns to exaggerated trains, the multi-hyphenate’s appearances have been consistently eye-catching each time, getting better with each theme. That explains why the actor’s 2024 look, defined by Gaurav Gupta’s architectural flourish, has only upped the anticipation for her next one. As we inch closer to fashion’s biggest night, here’s a look at her past ensembles.

2013: Lela Rose

For her debut at the Gala that coincided with the ‘PUNK: Chaos to Couture’ theme, Kaling stepped out with actor BJ Novak, in a Lela Rose aubergine peplum gown, glamming it up with a turquoise clutch and matching rings. Her wit, however, remained her most glittering accessory that evening: “If you subvert anything, then you are punk. So I am going to be chubby and friendly tonight, and that’s as punk as you get.”

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2016: Tory Burch

A custom strapless iridescent gown by Tory Burch with a clutch dusted with Swarovski crystals made up her look for ‘Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology’. Incorporated with hidden batteries and multi-pixel technology, the nifty case changed colour with shifting intensities of light.