The last time Taylor Swift graced the Met Gala, she met Joe Alwyn. Will she return with Travis?

Taylor Swift was once a steadfast attendee of the Met Gala, dating back to her first appearance in 2008. Yet, the pop superstar, who has been taking the world by storm with her sold-out Eras Tour, has been notably absent since 2016. 

Given that Swift served as co-chair back in 2016 and has attended no less than six times, fans are sure that Swift's lack of attendance on the red carpet is not because Anna Wintour is leaving her off the guest list. 

In fact, it's theorised that Swift is actively choosing not to attend the 'biggest night in fashion'.

Perhaps, Swift is now so popular that she doesn't need the Met Gala, the Met Gala needs her?

After all, she's a self-made billionaire and her new album The Tortured Poets Department, is the first album to reach one billion streams on Spotify in a week. Swift's cultural dominance cannot be understated. 

Despite her prolonged absence, there have been rumblings that Swift may attend the 2024 Met Gala alongside homecoming king Super Bowl-winning NFL star, Travis Kelce. (And, of course, bestie Blake Lively).

Here's what we know so far about Swift's attendance at fashion's night of nights. 

Will Taylor Swift be attending the 2024 Met Gala? 

the last time taylor attended coachella was in 2016 and now in 2024 the last time she attended met gala was in 2016 sooo pic.twitter.com/4amxhZeDm8

— Ru (Taylor's Version) (@RepIsBest) April 29, 2024

Despite early reports that Swift would grace the 2024 Met Gala red carpet, People reports that she will be skipping the big event. 

Swift will apparently use her time to prepare for the European leg of the Eras Tour, which kicks off in Paris on May 9. From there, she will perform across Europe throughout the summer months, until her final show in London on August 20.

It makes sense, given the Met Gala takes place on May 6 this year, not allowing much time for Swift to attend at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art and then dash to Paris' La Défense Arena. 

Has Taylor Swift attended the Met Gala before? 

Taylor Swift has attended the Met Gala six times. She attended the following galas, which were themed: 

• Met Gala 2008: Superheroes: Fashion & Fantasy

• Met Gala 2010: American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity

• Met Gala 2011: Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

• Met Gala 2013: PUNK: Chaos To Couture

• Met Gala 2014: Charles James: Beyond Fashion

• Met Gala 2016: Manus x Machina

What happened at the 2016 Met Gala? 

Image: Getty

Prior to the gala, Swift had been dating Scottish disc jockey Calvin Harris, yet, she was spotted dancing with British actor Tom Hiddleston on the night of the Met Gala ball. 

Swifties believe she wrote the song 'Getaway Car' about leaving Harris for Hiddleston. Key lyrics include, "The ties were black, the lies were white, in shades of grey in candlelight, I wanted to leave him, I needed a reason."

However, it’s rumoured that on the same night she met Hiddleston, her 'getaway driver', Swift had also started up some kind of romantic intrigue with future boyfriend Joe Alwyn. 

In 'Dress' she writes, "Flashback when you met me, your buzz cut and my hair bleached", which is revealing, as the 2016 Met Gala was when Swift debuted her bleached hair, while Alwyn rocked a buzz cut.

Swift also hints that mistrust in her relationship with Harris may have caused her infidelity, writing, "And I got a boyfriend, he's older than us, he's in the club doing, I don't know what", in ‘Gorgeous’. The lyrics of 'High Infidelity' on her studio album Midnights may also be about this time with lines like, "High infidelity, put on your records and regret me, I bent the truth too far tonight, I was dancing around, dancing around it."

Swift would go on to date Tom Hiddleston from May until September 2016, and then Alwyn from late 2016 until early 2023. 

The May 2016 Met Gala occurred right before a major turning point in Swift’s life. 

She'd achieved major success with 1989 in 2014, but was 'cancelled' shortly after the gala in June 2016, due to the controversial 'Famous' lyrics feud between Swift and Kanye West. That resulted in the #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty trending on X (formerly known as Twitter), and Swift essentially removing herself from the public eye for a year. 

This traumatic event, as well as her romantic trysts at the gala itself, are covered in her sixth studio album Reputation, which was released in 2017. 

So, while there are no phones or social media allowed inside the Met Gala, we know what happened on that fateful night between Swift, Tom Hiddleston and Joe Alwyn from her music.

What has Taylor Swift worn to the Met Gala before?

Taylor Swift is known for nailing a dress code, and the Met Gala is no exception. While she may not be attending the 2024 Met Gala, we can't help taking a walk down memory lane of some of her best looks. 

Taylor Swift at the Met Gala 2008

Image: Getty.

Swift's first Met Gala appearance was for the Costume Institute's 'Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy' theme. Swift, who was in her Fearless era, wore a shimmering golden gown from Badgley Mischka, which was reminiscent of golden scales. 

She finished the look with her classic curls, a neutral lip and smoky eye. 

Taylor Swift at the Met Gala 2010

Image: Getty.

Swift went 'southern belle' for her second Met Gala red carpet, wearing an off-shoulder Ralph Lauren dress to meet the 'American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity' theme. 

She finished the look off with a red lip and wore her curly locks in a romantic updo. 

Taylor Swift at the Met Gala 2011

Image: Getty.

Swift embraced a little of Alexander McQueen's gothic romanticism in 2011, gracing the red carpet in a stunning J.Mendel gown. The dress was made to celebrate the theme, 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty'. 

The dress included vampy lace detailing over a beige silhouette with a layered train and a sheer one-shoulder detail. She wore her hair pulled back and opted for a slightly darker red lip. 

Taylor Swift at the Met Gala 2013

Image: Getty

Swift embraced the 'Punk: Chaos To Couture' theme, this time in an edgier J.Mendel gown complete with golden bodice detailing and bejewelled shoulders. 

Her hair was pulled back into a half-up style, while her curls were left crimped rather than bouncy. She opted for a very nude lip and a darker smoky eye. 

Taylor Swift at the Met Gala 2014

Image: Getty

Swift brought back the Old Hollywood drama at the 2014 ball, opting for a stunning blush Oscar de la Renta dress to celebrate the theme 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion'. 

Complete with bow-bustle detailing and emblazoned with crystals, this form-fitting dress with a long train was a classic look. She paired it with a red lip and cascading waves in her now short locks. 

Taylor Swift at the Met Gala 2016 

Image: Getty

Swift was the co-chair at the 2016 Met Gala, committing to the 'Manus x Machina' theme in an edgy Louis Vuitton mini dress with daring cutouts and a layered silver skirt. 

In honour of the theme, Swift bleached her hair and cropped it short, wearing a vampy dark lipstick and nearly no eye makeup to complete the look (alongside some killer lace-up heels).

Want more behind-the-scenes Met Gala content? Check out these stories:

• Fashion’s most memeable 'night of nights': How to tune into the 2024 Met Gala in Australia.
• A strict seating chart and banned celebrities: What actually happens at the Met Gala?
• 'We're dressed up like a bunch of a**holes.' Every celebrity who has publicly trashed the Met Gala.
• From an elevator fight to the smoking saga: The most controversial moments from the Met Gala.
• 'Jason Derulo just fell down the stairs at the MET Gala': The story behind the viral meme.
• Paolo Sebastian is 1 of only 5 Aussie designers to make a Met Gala dress. Here's what happens behind the scenes.
• Every single look Zendaya has ever worn to the Met Gala.
• Every single look Rihanna has ever worn to the Met Gala.
  
• Every single look Blake Lively has ever worn to the Met Gala.

Feature image: Getty/Canva.

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