Nina Dobrev’s Met Gala ‘Glass’ 3D Dress, Explained: A Look Back at Her Most-searched Outfit and More Met Gala Looks Through the Years

Nina Dobrev has sported a number of eye-catching looks throughout the years attending star-studded premieres, parties and most notably, the annual Met Gala.

Ahead of 2024 Met Gala, which will celebrate the museum’s “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibit on May 6 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, take a look back at one of Google’s recent trending searches, which showed a spike in queries throughout April for Dobrev’s “glass dress” seen at Met Gala 2019.

For the 2019 Met Gala, which celebrated the unveiling of the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” exhibit under the helm of celebrity co-chairs Serena Williams, Harry Styles, Alessandro Michele and Lady Gaga, stars were encouraged to dress within the theme of “Camp.” Often celebrated for its playfulness and use of irony, the Camp aesthetic was present in a number of celebrity looks through the use of bold colorways, unique textiles and whimsical design details.

Dressed by Zac Posen, Dobrev arrived to the gala in a custom 3D-printed “glass” minidress. Partnering with GE Additive x Protolabs, Posen designed the dress in four parts, with each section crafted to Dobrev’s exact measurements. The star’s look, styled with an angular hairstyle and glittering pair of Christian Louboutin pumps, featured a sweetheart neckline, full skirt silhouette and faux draping details.

In addition to dressing Dobrev for the gala’s red carpet, Posen implemented the same 3D-printing technology into custom-made designs for Jourdan Dunn, Katie Holmes, Julia Garner and Deepika Padukone.

Before Dobrev made headlines with her eye-catching appearance on the 2019 Met Gala red carpet, “The Vampire Diaries” actress previously attended the museum’s 2012, 2013 and 2016 events.

In 2012, the star arrived in a floor-length black and gold Donna Karan Atelier gown for the “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” exhibit. Dobrev’s look, constructed with a figure-hugging silhouette and asymmetrical neckline, featured a miniature train in the same shimmering textile.

Dobrev was invited to the 2013 Met Gala by Monique Lhuillier, who dressed her in an all-black look for the “Punk: Chaos to Couture” exhibit. The star wore a partially sheer netted black jumpsuit, styled with a matching black leather bustier and sheer skirt overlay.

In 2016, Dobrev was dressed by Marchesa in a bright gold gown adorned from head to toe with floral embroidery. The dress was designed with a sweetheart neckline, partially sheer cap sleeves and a full skirt.