Taylor Swift ultimately didn't return to the New York City tonight for the Met Gala. The singer was last at the Upper East Side event three years ago, when she co-hosted it. But Daily Mail reported that Swift was seen walking in London's Notting Hill yesterday, meaning she likely remained abroad. (Swift's boyfriend Joe Alwyn lives in North London.)

Swift skipped the Met Gala last year, as she was just about to start her Reputation world tour. But she first attended in 2008 and has made appearances in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2016.

At the 2008 Met Gala. Getty Images

At the 2010 Met Gala. Getty Images

At the 2011 Met Gala. Getty Images

At the 2013 Met Gala. Getty Images

At the 2014 Met Gala. Getty Images

At the 2016 Met Gala. Getty Images

The event does have some history for her. It's where she and her ex-boyfriend Tom Hiddleston were first filmed dancing ahead of her breakup with her other ex-boyfriend Calvin Harris. The song "Getaway Car" is believed to be inspired by the Hiddleswift romance and its Met Gala origins.

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It's also where, fans believe, Swift met her current boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Alwyn was there with Garrett Hedlund in 2016. Swift's Reputation song "Dress" is where the theory spawned from, given Swift sings, "Flashback to when you met me, your buzz cut and my hair bleached," and Alwyn visibly had a buzz cut then. And Swift, of course, was in her brief Bleachella phase after Coachella.

Daniele Venturelli Getty Images

Taylor Hill Getty Images

The Met Gala comes less than one week after Swift opened the Billboard Music Awards with her first live performance of "ME!" with Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie. On that red carpet, Swift wore a—you guessed it—ruffly pastel dress by RaisaVanessa. That time, it was lavender:

Frazer Harrison Getty Images

Alyssa Bailey News and Strategy Editor Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton).

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