This week saw the annual star-studded Met Ball once again mark the grand opening of the Costume Institute’s fashion exhibition at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. This hugely anticipated, glamourous frock frenzy, seen by many as the fashion industry’s Oscars, saw many of the most famous faces (and bottoms, as the case seemed to be!) appear on the red carpet attempting to bring this year’s exhibition theme to life, ‘China: Through the Looking Glass.’
Sarah-Jessica Parker (in H&M) and Rihanna (in Guo Pei) attacked the theme with predictable aplomb, both wearing outfits celebrating all things Chinese. Despite SJP’s stand-out, bejewelled Philip Treacy headpiece being likened to a firey emoji and Rihanna’s sweeping canary yellow train being likened to an omelette, these ladies cannot be faulted for their bold and creative looks.
Below: Supermodel Karen Elson’s elaborate Dolce & Gabanna gown was phenomenal and definitely one of my personal ‘WOW’ looks of the night.
Below: Our gorgeous Brit Chicks were out in force and representing on the red carpet, with Sienna Miller (in Thakoon), Georgia May Jagger (in, albeit more Japanese-inspired, Gucci) and Alexa Chung (in Erdem) all looking low key, comfortable and very, very cool.
‘Who Runs The World?... Girls…’ Well, naked girls apparently. Beyonce (in custom Givenchy Haute Couture), Jennifer Lopez (in Versace) and Kim Kardashian West (in Peter Dundas for Roberto Cavalli) decided that less was to be more on the night. Leaving very little to the imagination, these three curvaceous beauties made a strong case for replacing the side-boob with the side-bum, a trend I believe (and desperately hope…) will not catch on. These looks, in my opinion, were not high fashion, not reflective of the Chinese culture, and actually, not particularly classy. I could really have done without seeing 8000 pictures of Kim’s belly-button and Beyonce’s butt-crack over my breakfast. Too much ladies… Toooo much.
Below: Several ladies (perhaps anxious about the controversial implications of the theme?) dressed down to avoid any risk. And by down, I mean drearily. Spending £16,500 on a ticket to the gala and then wearing a sensible dress, however elegant, feels just plain wrong. I want me some drama! I want me some tulle! Despite there being plenty of extraordinary Chinese designers who I’m sure would have been more than happy to design stunning creations for these gorgeous 'schlebs, Clare Danes, Reese Witherspoon, Rachel Weiss, Carey Mulligan and Dakota Johnson* were among many who disappointingly seemed to have missed the ‘Go Big or Go Home’ memo. (*FYI Dakota, wearing heavy winged eye-liner and holding a clutch in the shape of a chubby Chinese woman is a little on-the-nose dude...!)
SHOP THE LOOK...
Who was YOUR best dressed on the night?