MET Gala 2013: Punk: Chaos to Couture (The Best, The Bad, Beyonce and KimYe)

When I saw the pictures via Twitter early this morning, all I kept thinking was, 'this is the best couture punk these celebs could conjure up?' We all know what a big deal the MET Gala is in the fashion world; it's the Oscars of the industry. The best of the best are invited (barring any Kardashian of course, but somehow she manages to merit a ticket) and dressed by the cream of the couture elite. This year celebrates the Punk Movement, and the sustained effect it has on climate of fashion today. The exhibit features pieces from prominent designers such as Riccardo Tisci, John Galliano, Christopher Bailey, Yohji Yamamoto among others, and focused dedications to the 'heroes' of punk like, for example- the Grand Dame of it all, Vivienne Westwood. 

source: Glamour.com

source: Glamour.com

Metal spikes, severe aesthetics (safety-pinned trash bag dresses anyone?), and a lot of bright shocking colours evoke an immediate image of the 60s punk- but, somehow, even the easiest stereotype didn't translate to the attendees. Blondie? Patti Smith? Granted, there were some who took the spirit of punk, that rebelliousness and angst and created wonderfully modern and inspiring ensembles, but some wore it on their sleeves and stayed a little too on-the-nose. There were the few who came to the wrong party. Then there was KimYe. And then there was Beyonce. For a celebration of democracy and sticking-it to the fashion man, there were a lot more sheep (GIVENCHY.) on that carpet last night than liberated individuals. I seem to hear Simon Doonan's rants on that episode of Top Model...

I've made my rankings, so take a look and see if you agree. There are a couple of great surprises and a couple of WTFs, but I'll leave you to make up your own mind. Hope you enjoy my list!

THE BEST 

(in no particular order!)

Sienna Miller, Coco Rocha in Ungaro, Sarah Jessica Parker in Giles Deacon and Philip Treacey

Anne Hathaway (a.k.a Bridgette Nielsen..) in Valentino, Florence Welch in Givenchy Haute Couture,  Christina Ricci in Vivienne Westwood (A+++)

MET Gala 2012: Who Failed to Impress?

It goes without saying that whenever there is a list of best-dressed at an event, there are always those who fail to make the cut. This list doesn't really feature WTF-were-you-thinking-looks, because it was the MET and Anna Wintour would sooner die than to have another Bjork moment on the steps of the Gala. No, instead, these offenders made the list for relatively questionable choices. You decide if you agree or not. Enjoy!

AMBER HEARD: Amber came in the arms of Zac Posen so it was no surprise that she wore a bespoke dress. It's not THAT horrendous, in fact I thought initially, the mermaid gown was pretty. Then, I saw the back. It's as if Zac got a memo saying 'Schiaparelli/Prada: Creative and Avante-Garde', and the only thing he could think of doing was to gather the remains of the fabric and bunch it up behind Amber's dress. This was literally a game of pin the tail on the fashion donkey, and he totally missed the mark.

JESSICA CHASTAIN: Did somebody tell Jessica that the theme was Renaissance Princess? 

KATE UPTON: Kate is the perfect example of how money cannot buy you style. She apparently coughed up $25,000 to score a ticket to Anna's party and THIS is all she could come up with? She looks like Sienna Miller's ugly sister, and that dress did not fit her like a glove. More like badly gathered Seram wrap.

JULIANNE HOUGH:I don't know if she's on this list because she looked like Miss America on steroids in that Carolina Herrera dress, or because she has to suffer under Ryan Seacrest's egocentricity. Literally. Also, is it just me or did she not look like Christie Brinkley?

CHLOE SEVIGNY: The always fashion forward Sevigny left nothing to the imagination. She looks a little dishevelled, like a re-release of Mod Barbie a la Prada, but found herself in the half-off bin.