Jennifer Garner Says She Hasn’t Attended the Met Gala Since 2007 Because It Was 'a Little Scary’

The actress fondly remembers her ‘majestic’ Valentino gown she wore to the event 16 years ago

Every May, the hottest stars step out for the Met Gala — except for a select few, like Jennifer Garner, who decide not to go after their first run.

The 13 Going on 30 star, 51, made her debut at the annual event back in 2007 alongside designer Valentino Garavani.

Since then, though, she hasn't returned to the lavish event, explaining why in a makeup tutorial for Vogue uploaded on Monday.

“I found it a little scary, so I haven’t been back,” she shared in her “Beauty Secrets” video for the outlet.

What was positively memorable was her “magical” cardinal red Valentino strapless gown, which featured an elegant train and was made even more special with Valentino as her date.

“That was really, like, majestic and special,” Garner remembered.

Related: The Met Gala's Theme for 2024 Revealed! What You Need to Know 

The theme of that year’s exhibit was “Poiret: King of Fashion,” and attendees abided by the dress code with sleek floor-length dresses, metallic numbers and gowns with full skirts.

Garner felt that her look was so gorgeous that she gave the dress a special shoutout again in 2018, while also revealing how dedicated she was to rocking the design.

“You will never appreciate using the bathroom alone until you’ve been sewn into a dress — Met Gala 2007,” she wrote of the throwback look on Instagram that year.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Related: Stars Who Hated Their Met Gala Experiences — and Their Riveting Reasons Why

From the outside, the Met Gala is the peak of glitz and glamour. However, over the years, a few celebrities have opened up about their not-so-pleasant experiences at fashion’s Super Bowl.

The common complaint among stars like Demi Lovato, Billie Eilish, Ben Platt, Tina Fey and Madonna’s daughter Lourdes Leon have all been about the part-awkward, part-irreverent interactions that ensue after the carpet.

Related: Can You Guess How Many of These Celebs Have (or Haven't!) Attended the Met Gala?

"You're just shoved into a room with all these famous people and you're supposed to talk to them and be their friend, even though you don't f---ing know them," Leon, who made her Met Gala debut in 2021, said in Interview magazine.

Quannah Chasinghorse, an Indigenous model and climate change activist, told Insider that she felt “so alone.” She remembered, "No one knew me. No one cared to ask. People are there for themselves and it shows."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.