MET Gala 2012: The Cream of the Crop

It was night full of bright pinks and quirky flairs at the Metropolitan Museum Gala, which currently celebrates the careers of Miuccia Prada and Else Schiaparelli, the once notorious rival of Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel. You didn't really expect me to pass it up in favour of a bloody essay on Plato right? Yeah, didn't think so. And why should I? I thought it would be best to save a blog posting break for something that really is a big deal, and needless to say, this is one of those times.

So how else do you expect the industry to celebrate than to roll out the red carpet and have the brightest and most talented designers, most beautiful faces and incredibly influential figures in fashion, walk atop the steps of the MET in the most beautiful couture? It's always a perfect tribute. These are the looks that really stole the spotlight.

ANNA WINTOUR: Here, The Queen is wearing an updated Prada incarnation of Schiaparelli's infamous lobster dress. It's wonderful, especially since it set the tone for the rest of the evening; chic and classic aesthetics with equal amounts of individualism and eccentricity. All hail Anna!

BEE SHAFFER: or as I like to call her, Hilary Rhoda 2.0 wore a stunning Erdem dress. Again, it is pretty straightforward and simple but the colour is bold and the print vibrant. She's so beautiful too! 

KAROLINA KURKOVA: The supermodel wore a creation by stylist (well, I guess designer also) Rachel Zoe, and though she looked eerily like an Oscar statuette, she channeled her inner Gloria Swanson and worked the Midas touch.

LAUREN SANTO DOMINGO: In Oscar de la Renta. Breathe. Total fashion moment. 

EMMA STONE: Hollywood's newest It Girl walked the steps of the MET in the arms of artistic genius Alber Elbaz, Of course she wore Lanvin! I quite like the pop of bright poppy red mixed with this 3D floral motif. It's a modern take on a Renaissance-era aesthetic, and Stone looks youthful too!

SOFIA VERGARA: Okay. I just love this woman. She looks good in anything! Wearing Marchesa, Sofia told VOGUE that she needed to trick out her dress to fit her well. What trickery?1 She's got the body of a model twenty years her junior. 

LINDA FARGO: Wearing this BEAUTIFUL Oriental Naeem Khan Kimono, I have no words. Just tears.

FLORENCE WELCH: Waving the flag for the highlands, Florence wore a tiered, 3D embroidered Alexander McQueen gown. It's the spirit of the 30s as well. Flo oozed style tonight.  

JESSICA STAM: For a second I thought I was looking at Linda Evangelista, but then soon I realised Stam , who was wearing Dior, channeled her inner glamazon.

KIRSTEN DUNST: The photographers at the red carpet were quite riotous tonight! When Dunst walked the carpet, one photographer shouted 'She's not looking anywhere!!'. Ha! She wore a thirties-flavoured Rodarte ensemble, which most critics panned. I on the other hand, quite liked the novel touch. It is signature Miuccia through and through.

COCO ROCHA: Perhaps the best tribute outfit this evening, Rocha donned a bright and spunky number by Prada. Not only does it scream Miuccia's signature whimsical flair but that shot of pepto-bismal pink is the perfect nod to Elsa's infamous gown. Not a big fan of the dip dye though, but only because it's been done to death already.

BIANCA BRANDOLINI: Diva. in Dolce and Gabbana. Isn't that poetic?

CAREY MULLIGAN: in Prada. Shiny scales sold it to me. 

ELIZABETH BANKS: Again, the critics were not kind to this dress but I thought it fitting that she wore this structural Mary Kantrantzou dress. Remember, this is an exhibit on the woman who put a stiletto on a hat, and the other who decided that putting Hot Wheels-flames on her heels like biker dike was going to be chic. Applause people!

MARION COTILLARD: Lady Dior wore bespoke. It's a perfect mixture of wanton allure and Parisian chic, non?

HAMISH BOWLES: YES! More pink!

JANUARY JONES: She wore Versace, surprise surprise! But I loved it. The colour is arrestingly fabulous, and that bob of hers is so sleek it looked like it was brushed by a thousand imps.

GIOVANNA BATTAGLIA and VLADIMIR RESTOIN ROITFELD: Giovanna wore Dolce and Gabbana last night and did not disappoint! It's outrageous and totally against the grain. I do love that she looks more like Santa Giovanna more than anything.

MARC JACOBS: The only other man to make the list and rightfully so! Jacobs made a significant point last night when he commented on the lack of diversity in men's fashion, so instead of following the crowd of Calvin Klein-clad penguins, he opted for a much bolder statement via a Commes des Garçons lace dress, and a pair of his Louis Vuitton A/W12 Dickensian loafers.

ROONEY MARA: Okay, so she could try and smile. That dragon tattoo is off her back now! Nevertheless, it was a perfect choice for Rooney to wear Givenchy Haute Couture. Well, also because she came in the arms of Riccardo Tisci.

and FINALLY!

BEYONCE: in Givenchy! I feel like this was the look Zoe Saldana was aiming for during the awards season but alas, it was Sasha Fierce who was going to have an iconic moment at the MET. In this sheer, embroidered and feathered gown, Bey encompassed classic glamour and edge that would have made Schiaparelli proud. Way to go hot mama!

Who were your favourites?



[images: fashionologie]