MET Gala 2012

This year’s Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was held in honour of Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli - I’m not going to pretend I’m totes fashion and had heard of the latter until this exhibition – andwith rumours abound that Miuccia was running a tight ship, it was with a hush of excitement that news of who was dressing who began to filter through.

The biggest news before the Gala went ahead was that the head honcho had put a stop to Coco Rocha being dressed by her designer bessie Zac Posen, she instead had teased on Twitter she was wearing vintage Givenchy. Now in my mind vintage Givenchy would be elegant, dramatic and gorgeous, what Coco Rocha wore was far from any of this… A vintage suit previously owned by Elizabeth Taylor may be majah but she looked like a hot mess and to top it all off she added some poor 13 year-old girls bubblegum pink clip ins. If there was ever a Worst Ever Dressed Award it would go to you Mrs Rocha, please stick to what you know.

Coco Rocha in Vintage Givenchy at the MET Gala 2012

To follow on from my Worst Ever Dressed, I’ll direct you to my next worst dressed. If you read my previous post on this young woman you would probably see who I was going to say a mile off.

Kristen Stewart in Balenciaga at the MET Gala 2012

Honestly the dress isn’t really that bad, I think the red next to the blue is sending me shivers but I like the bodice of the dress.  It’s just those SHOES. They could honestly be the most horrific shoes ever made on earth. And of course you know I’m going to have a problem with that hair, yes I know if she’d had it all posh and preened it would not be her style but surely something like her hairstyle from the BD premiere could be done here.

Everyone else seemed to think that Karolina Kurkova looked uh-mazing, but I really think Rachel Zoe was given too much creative control with a roll of tin foil. The turban Kurkova sported was an almost spit of Kate Moss’ Marc Jacob’s ’09 MET Gala outfit, and if Zoe had just left it off I would have let her get away with the standard gold sparkly dress that every designer has to make.

Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe at the MET Gala 2012

It’s easy to pick apart the looks you don’t like, it always is but when it comes to those jaw-dropping dresses there can only really ever be one that just made you wish you could wear that dress. That’s the only way I can pick which celeb knocked it out of the park…. Or maybe there will have to be a three-way tie…

For me Beyonce’s Givenchy Couture gown was a jaw-dropper, that train, the sheerness, and her post-baby body, but when you think about it as stunning as she looks she has worn just as risque outfits on stage. So to me this is a normal look for B, in fact I think I prefer her Emilio Pucci from last year’s MET Gala.

Beyonce Knowles in Givenchy Couture at the MET Gala 2012

Someone who never fails to look smokin’ hot is the ever sexy Rihanna, her Tom Ford dress fit like a second (snake)skin. It was on par with her black lace Stella McCartney look from last year, still with the crazy hair but a little more toned down, despite the one inch talons adorning her hands.

Rihanna in Tom Ford at the MET Gala 2012

Now my number one Style Crush let me down a little on the night, after her showstopper Jason Wu number last year, Diane Kruger rocked up in a purple Prada number. Not the usual high glamour she goes for on the red carpet, in fact it was a little dressed down. The skirt half was gorgeous but the top half was a little on the slouchy vest side, not something I would expect from such a first class dresser, still I can’t bring myself to say I hate it…

Diane Kruger in Prada at the MET Gala 2012

Two very different women, two very different dresses, one designer. Cate Blanchett and Florence Welch were both guests of Sarah Burton, they both wore Alexander McQueen gowns, one I adored the other was a little extreme but to be fair suited the wearer’s personality down to the ground… Can you guess which I liked?

Florence Welch and Cate Blanchett with Sarah Burton in Alexander McQueen at the MET Gala 2012

Yup you guessed it… Cate Blanchett!

Cate Blanchett in Alexander McQueen at the MET Gala 2012

One of my main contenders for Best Dressed was, surprisingly enough, Gwyneth Paltrow, going for a shorter length than her fellow attendees, she wore a Prada dress with embellished pockets. I really like the shape of the dress and if I had a body like that at 39 I would be proud of it too. The hair and make up along with those earrings really top off a fantastic look from Gywnnie, almost harks back to that Balmain dress at the Iron Man premiere in 2008.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Prada at the MET Gala 2012

I loved Kate Bosworth’s Prada look. Yes I said it I loved what Kate was wearing, the dark ombre feathered dress, the Miu Miu shoes the flawless make up and the slicked back hair. I want it all, I want it all NOW!

Kate Bosworth in Prada at the MET Gala 2012

It was nearly a draw with Kate, but I think Camilla Belle just pipped her to the post in her Ralph Lauren silver fluid gown. The fact she went full length adds even more glamour, both had similar make up looks – it seems that wine coloured lips were the majah look of the night – and Camilla’s hair just topped off that old Hollywood glamour that I adore so much.

Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren at the MET Gala 2012

Here are the best of the rest from the MET Gala 2012:

Lana Del Ray in Altuzarra, Fashion Critic over at Red Carpet Fashion Awards made the genius comparison of Lana being the Bad Witch to Gwyneth Paltrow’ Good Witch at the Oscars this year.

Ginnifer Goodwin in Monique Lhullier. I really love this look, the colour suits Ginnifer down to the ground and her pixie cut is as perfect as ever.

Bianca Brandolini D’Adda looks verrrry gold in Dolce & Gabbana the epitome of their label really. I kinda like it on the Italian socialite, glitz and glam in the most obvious way.

Nina Dobrev in custom-made Donna Karan. Nina knows how to do the red carpet, ever since she wore that red Donna Karan at the Emmy’s this was a match made in heaven.

Victoria Justice in McQ by Alexander McQueen. The young star dresses her age in a beautiful McQ dress, the colour explosion and the puff ball skirt make a really great look.

Solange Knowles in Rachel Roy. Amazing colour.

Emma Stone in Lanvin. I enjoyed this look, but Emma can do sooo much better than this.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Burberry. We get it R H-W has the perfect body, but this look really bores the hell out of me even if I do love the make up.

The Costume Institute Gala 2011: Alexander McQueen “Savage Beauty”

The annual Costume Institute Gala’s MET Ball is fashion’s biggest extravaganza, this year it was in tribute to the late Alexander McQueen and there were plenty of guests in attendance who had some way over his illustrous career crossed paths, become great friends, walked in one of his shows or admired him from a distance.

The “Savage Beauty” exhibition is exquisite, I spent a fair amount of time going through the pieces on the MET Museum blog, the pictures, the video and the accompanying narrative from his close friends and colleagues play the part in it being pretty unique. I haven’t always paid close attention to Alexander McQueen and fashion for that matter only picking up my addiction in the past couple of years, so I feel I’ve missed out on some amazing shows such as “It’s Only a Game”, “VOSS” and “Widows of Culloden”. I advise you take a look they are things of beauty.

Those in attendance of 2011′s MET Ball had to pull out the stops to be the one most talked about, the dress that was most desired and the look of the night. And what a night it was for our very own British designer Stella McCartney, I’ve counted EIGHT women wearing her designs, that must be some kind of an achievement for any designer let alone a Brit. Stella is known for making dresses for women, perfectly sculpted, figure-hugging, or fiercely bright and statement-making. Every celebrity looked amazing in her gowns and for Iman a gold lame jumpsuit (she is Iman of course she can do what she wants).

Eva Mendes - although I like the colour and 70's style of the dress I'm still hoping Eva will return to her sexy roots rather than all the loose dresses she's been wearing recently. Rihanna - looks drop dead hot exactly as expected, the nude slash on the opposite side of the dress exposes just enough without been slutty. Her hair would have been amazing plaited without the long piece on the end.

Hailee Steinfield - I must say this is one of my favourites of the night, unexpectedly because it is understated glamour at its best. Capped sleeves and fitted bodice, works beautifully with the mini/maxi skirt. Iman - who cares, that crazy hair and the gold lame is what she's about.

Naomi Watts - simple column dress, with sheer sleeves is a sharp contrast to what Thandie Newton is wearing. Both stunning in equal ways, but Thandie pips Naomi to the post with the scallop lac detailing and sheer skirt. Sexy.

Amber Valletta - a classic Stella dress, the simple column skirt keeps the attention focused primarily on the detailed bodice, her pulled back hair and massive earrings add sultry glamour. Gwyneth Paltrow - we know that Gwynnie is bessie's with Stella so of course she would wear the designer, but even though the dress is gorgeous and I would kill for it, Gwyneth makes it dull and boring. This is her go to look, where are her pins from the Balmain dress a couple of years ago?

There were only a select few to actually wear McQueen, those I expected like Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Burton, Daphne Guinness, Naomi Campbell and Anna Dello Russo, as well as Gisele and Coco Rocha. Daphne Guinness actually got dressed in the window of Barneys department store, strange but true you can see the delightful video here. She wore an amazing feathered McQueen creation, probably out of her own very extensive private collection, it captured Guinness perfectly.

Sarah Jessica Parker truly stunned me in her McQueen gown, normally she is a quirky dresser, there’s always something added that makes it that little bit odd but her dress was beautiful. I’m not entirely familiar with Sarah Burton’s style, so her white floaty dress was probably well chosen and not too extreme.

I adore Anna Dello Russo’s outfit, perfectly fitted trousers, gold embroidery detail, crisp white shirt and cropped jacket, not a dress but so ADR. Apparently Naomi Campbell decided to chose the dress with the most fringing anybody ever saw and let it drown her, not to mention the awful hair, whoever did that should be fired.

Gisele looked lovely in her red gown, but it wasn’t outstanding for someone with a body as gorgeous as that. And the only saving grace on Coco Rocha’s black grecian-style dress are the feather’s adorned on the hip, a perfect touch to an otherwise simple dress.

Daphne Guinness

Sarah Jessica Parker

Anna Dello Russo

Naomi Campbell

Gisele Bundchen

Coco Rocha

Next up are my favourite people, Blake Lively, Beyonce and Diane Kruger. Each have their own unique style, Blake and Diane, if you read my blog enough you will know, are my style crushes so I was impressed that Diane returned to Jason Wu as she always looks gorgeous in his dresses. The thigh slit oozes sex but with the full length sleeves adds the classic glamour that Diane does so well and with the perfect Josh accessory on her arm she was never going to fail. Blake had Karl Lagerfeld as her accessory, and what else would she be dressed in other than Chanel? But the dress she turned up in wasn’t what I expected at all. Blake tends to stick to a pattern, mini and tight, boobs and tight, long and more than likely tight-ish, it works for her she has a killer body and it gets her noticed as always. You can see her style peeking through on one half of the dress and then a massive sash covers her other half, its different and I suppose sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone and that’s exactly what Blake has done and she pulls it off with aplomb.

Diane Kruger and Josh Jackson

Blake Lively

Hey B what’s that you can’t move? Beyonce rocked up in skintight Emilio Pucci, showing off her fantastic figure. She struggled to climb the stairs into the venue and even got booed when she didn’t stand and stop for waiting photographers. Who cares about them when you look that gorgeous, I think the keyhole over the breasts wasn’t needed as the dress really spoke for itself.

Beyonce

Kudos goes to Ginnifer Goodwin for shunning a designer dress and opting for custom made Topshop gown, what a coop for them. Her green dress is killer, love it, the cutout the full length brilliant choice. Jessica Szhor also chose Topshop from their Unique range which according to their Inside Out blog will be available in stores in September!

Ginnifer Goodwin and Jessica Szhor

Favourites of the night go to Christina Ricci in Zac Posen, Karlie Kloss looking majah 90′s in Dior, Brooklyn Decker in neon pink Calvin Klein, Liv Tyler in Givenchy Couture, (you’re going to hear lots about her soo)n Oh Land in 3.1 Philip Lim.

Christina Ricci and Karlie Kloss

Brooklyn Decker and Liv Tyler

Oh Land

The Royal Wedding

I’m one of those people that becomes all patriotic for the day when something happens in the UK that makes you proud to be British. The Royal Wedding was a beautiful, happy occasion perfectly orchestrated by the family. We saw Prince William marry his sweetheart Kate Middleton, and all eyes were on the bride the whole time. The Duchess of Cambridge as Kate is now officially known, stepped out in a dress made by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. It was what I had hoped for it was what everyone else had hoped for, that she would chose a British designer to take her from commoner to royal. And the dress was absolutely stunning, delicate, and perfect for the new princess and very reminiscent of Princess Grace as so many people commented.

Kate arrives in Sarah Burton

Prince William and Kate, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The kiss, with a little grumpy bridesmaid Grace van Cutsem

Kate cannot resist one last glance, so touching.

Kate in the second dress from Sarah Burton for the reception.

Pippa Middleton in her own Sarah Burton dress, almost stealing the show looking beautiful in a fitted ivory dress with cowl neckline and button detailing.

Very symmetrical

The cake, amazing.

Just as exciting as the wedding itself and the arrival of the bride and groom and the extended family, was the arrival of the VIP guests most importantly the Beckhams. Almost royalty themselves (ha) Victoria and David arrived to their own fanfare (well I like to think they did), Victoria in her own custom dress from her AW ’11 line and David in Ralph Lauren Purple Label adorned with his OBE. As well as Tara Palmer-Tompkinson who looked lovley in all royal blue, and who escaped the radar Joss Stone, why was she there urgh.

The Royal Celebrity Couple

Tara Palmer-Tompkinson in all blue took away from her collapsed nose.

Anyway we have plenty of days ahead of us to see the royal wedding pictures, videos, and articles what i’m looking forward to is her first magazine cover… If she does one I hope as What Serena Saw pointed out that she also sticks to a British designer for her outfit.

So the next thing to look forward to is Monday, the MET Ball and the late Alexander McQueen who is being honoured, with an exhibition called Savage Beauty’. The world’s fashion elite are invited and I expect to see some amazing gowns, maybe not as amazing as Kate’s wedding dress but certainly many stunning creations.

Here's Coco Rocha's MET Ball invite. One lucky gal.