August 1, 2013

Met Gala 2013.

My favorite red carpet event of the year. As much as I haven't been able to blog due to work commitments, I couldn't miss this ( yes, I'm late and I already missed award season earlier this year! Argh!). Plus, the theme for this year - Punk: Chaos to Couture. I COULDN'T NOT FEATURE IT. Those who know me, studs, black, leather and all things edgy make up 40% of my daily style.

Anna Wintour was joined by her daughter, Bee Shaffer upon arrival. The editor-in-chief for Vogue was dressed in a Chanel number that was similar to one from the label's Spring Couture 2013 collection. The modified version is short of a train and the off-shoulder neckline, and is definitely more suitable for her. There were some darker dresses from the collection, which I felt fit the night's theme better but this look is more vibrant and likely more conservative.




In black-and-white frocks were Kylie Minogue (in Moschino ball gown), Leelee SobieskiGwen Stefani and Olivia Wilde. Petite Kylie seemed a little overwhelmed by the full gown. Perhaps she could have had it altered to be a little straighter for some illusion of a taller silhouette. There's apparently a giant bow on the back of the dress as well. Doesn't quite help with her small frame.


Leelee Sobieski wore Christian Dior Couture. I love the label, I love Raf Simons, but I didn't like the actress' look, particularly the floral embroidered sleeves (or are those gloves?). I would have loved her makeup and hair with the dress minus the sleeves for a minimalist look, but I guess you go all out for the MET ball. But, still a no for me.


Front-woman of No Doubt Gwen Stefani went with a dress by Maison Martin Margiela. Personally, the look didn't do justice to the hot bod she has, though she decided to flaunt it just a bit with the cut-out details of the giant bow bodice. The waistline of the dress looks a little strange and unflattering, I'm hoping it's the angle of the picture. Plus, her platinum blond hair and red lips are like a norm anyway, so it was disappointing overall.

Olivia Wilde's mid-riff showing dress was by Calvin Klein Collection. The dress really showed off her nicely toned shoulders, arms and abs. It was a rather minimalist look (always a signature of the label), which was fine, but I thought she could have pulled back her hair into a sleek bun or ponytail for a more punk-ish vibe.


Cut-outs were quite a hot favorite at the MET gala this year. 
Carey Mulligan was in a Balenciaga number, complete with the label's heels. I love the look. I love Balenciaga and yes, Alexander Wang's first collection for the Spanish house really rocked! Gotta love how she paired the heels from another look on the runway with this dress, and how she brings edge to the red carpet as much as I love the feminine looks she usually do.


Dakota Fanning was sexy in a sheer cut-out Rodarte (psst: Dakota's little sister, Elle was in Rodarte too) dress that featured a plunging neckline. Carrying a Roger Viver clutch to complete the look, Dakota brought a rather sexy look to the red carpet, something we seldom see from her. While black is a tad boring, I like seeing her try this classic color since she seldom does anyway.


Sin City actress Jessica Alba did cut-outs at the bust area in a Tory Burch floor-length dress. I do like the look, the prints are perfect for the theme, and with the spikey Christian Louboutin clutch and ballerina bun completing her outfit: perfection.


Victoria's Secrets model Jessica Hart was wearing a custom-made outfit by ALIA. I find the look a little too skimpy for the event, but she looks hot, nonetheless, in that cropped cut-out top with a long flowy skirt. Not really a big fan of the look, but I like how her mini bag added interest to her all-black outfit.


Fellow model Miranda Kerr bared her toned body in a Michael Kors straight-cut dress (oh look, she shares the same initials as the designer she wore!). Showing up on the red carpet sans hubby Orlando Bloom, Miranda matched her sparkly Cartier jewelry with a silver Christian Louboutin clutch (the same one that Jessica Alba carried). The silver certainly adds a touch of class to the spunky look. Her dark lips and side-swept locks finished the look in a glamorous manner.


Brit star Emma Watson (be sure to catch her in Sofia Coppola's film The Bling Ring soon!) also bared some skin in her Prabal Gurung Fall 2013 dress. The look is okay, but I preferred the dress on the runway model, along with the strappy shoes. Emma's version of the outfit is pretty too, only that it looked like a normal red carpet look, nothing unique to the theme. And plain black is way too safe for the Met Ball.



Emily Blunt looked a little disappointing that night, in head-to-toe black with her Carolina Herrera (so bumped I'm not seeing her show at the Audi Fashion Festival this year!) and Rupert Sanderson heels. Good thing her embellished Jimmy Choo clutch added some glitz to her look. I didn't really fancy the earrings with the whole outfit, but I do love the hair and the funky pink eye shadow. So I think without those earrings to let her make-up stand out may have been better.


Emma Roberts was also a little too safe with her red-carpet outfit choice. I do like the Diane von Furstenburg dress, but in some photos, she was actually putting her hands where they were to part the high slit that comes down the front of the dress. I think the flow of the dress could make the dress look more effortless and glam, but a pity we can't see the effect on pictures (which should be a point for celebrities to take note when picking out their dresses for whatever event they may be attending). Good effort though, the Bvlgari baubles worked well in adding just a touch of metal to her look.


While Ashley Greene's Marchesa gown is one gorgeous piece, it looked like a regular red carpet choice, personally. First of all, it's black, when at the Met Gala, it is your chance to bring it and work the best elaborate outfit you can find. Punk doesn't have to mean black, but if you have to pick black, it's gotta stand out. The gown also looked more flattering on the runway model with a narrower fit on the top to balance out the wideness at the bottom. 



Then there are those who did black in looks that were awkward. Girls' Lena Dunham looked like she was attending her prom in her custom laced Erdem dress. Hated the lacey frills at the sleeves, the polka-dot print looked cheap and the cut wasn't flattering at all. She should've picked something that looked more polished and perhaps covered up her arm tattoo (punk doesn't have to involve tattoo). Overall, this was dull.


Lena's co-star Allison Williams looked horrifying in her Altuzarra number. It was showing too much skin, even in a subtle (but barely) way, it didn't look classy. The train looked like a pool of black paint on the red carpet, which I'm hoping looked better with movement than it does on a still picture. She should've done something about her hair as well.


Florence Welch always brings her quirkiness on to the red carpet, but I wish it could at least look good. Her Givenchy velvet dress with floor-length fringe was a little too dark for the event, perhaps? Gothic, yes. Not so much punk. As she swings the fringe she looked like a witch. I don't like this and there's hardly any nice words for it. 



Jaime King was in a pant-suit by Topshop. I love it when celebrities wear high-street fashion, but I'm not too sure if Jamie King looked a little under-dressed when walking alongside her counterparts at the Met gala. It's a nice look but better for a movie premiere, perhaps...? On another note, gotta love the lace, that made the androgynous look more sexy.


Kelly Osbourne's look didn't work for me either. She was wearing Marc Jacobs with Brian Atwood shoes, which I felt was a little too chunky, considering that the dress was only ankle-length. The peep-toes seem to have added a bit of bulk to the lower half of outfit. I wish she had chosen a longer dress instead.


There were some black outfits which I am sitting on the fence about. Like this Giambattista Valli look on Jessica Biel. The whole pants-under-a-high-low-hem-dress thing has been showing up all over the runway (and you will see what I mean when you move on) and I think it's a great look to pull off on the red carpet (since we can't quite do that on regular days). But I think the Spring Couture 2013 piece was a little unforgiving on Jessica Biel's waist and hips. The outfit appeared to flatter the runway model more, but it doesn't seem to be doing much for Biel's more boyish figure.


Gisele Bundchen looked like she was attending the wrong event in her short, and showing-too-much-skin mini by Anthony Vaccarello. I mean, she looks awesome for someone who just had a baby not too long ago, and she has that perfect figure, but no, this is a little too skimpy for this event.


Even the longer, high-slit number from the label's same collection, could have been a more appropriate choice.

Chloe Sevigny was in Proenza Schouler. Argh, the turban. The sheerness is fine but not when I can see the bra. While I'm not saying that you shouldn't wear a bra with it like the models who don't wear bras on the runway, maybe she shouldn't have picked this to wear to the Met. It still is a lovely dress but I think it should stick to the runway.



Lily Collins walked in arm-in-arm with her boyfriend and Mortal Instruments co-star Jamie Campbell Bower. The couple was in Moschino. What really confused me was why Lily would choose to wear that over-embellished biker jacket over her laced tulle dress. It's as though she never got the memo on the theme and she threw on a jacket at the last minute. The lace details and the jacket are fighting for attention, there's too much going on and nothing is working. Okay, maybe except for the makeup, and Jamie looked like a better fit to the theme.


Mad Men's January Jones was really dressing to the theme when she showed up in a Chanel Spring Couture 2009 sequinned black mini dress. Her dress seems to be slightly shorter than the runway version, and a little too casual for my liking but nonetheless, coupled with her half-pompadour and theatrical eyes, January looked wild enough to fit the theme.



In my opinion, Felicity Jones' Proenza Schouler mid-length number was a also a little understated for the Met gala, but good effort with the print and shine. Shoe choice a little too safe but overall, just a touch of funk for a very ladylike celebrity. Usually if you're looking for an edge, you wouldn't go wrong with Proenza Schouler.


Michelle Williams also tried to fit in some edginess into her look with a black (she's seldom in an all-black outfit) Saint Laurent high-low dress and Olympia LeTan clutch (shoes also by Saint Laurent). Michelle still looked sweet, but that's what we all love about her. It wasn't really outstanding, given that it's black head-to-toe, but at least she added interest with her choice of the book clutch, the uneven hemline and T-strap heels.


Why didn't Jennifer Meyer dress up more, as she walked the red carpet with hubby Tobey Maguire? She's a (jewelry) designer, gave her more rights to dress up loudly. Nonetheless, the understated look, head-to-toe Saint Laurent, was still perfect to me. The leather mini-dress still worth some punk rock points. LOVE her single-strap heels to death.


Jennifer Morrison wore Donna Karan. A little blah for me, since it feels like I've seen so many black lace-and-platform pumps combos (and black clutch on top of it?). Loved the red lips though. 


But of course, there were some black dresses that really stood out.

Alexa Chung was her usual stylish self as she strolled in wearing Erdem. I've definitely seen her in dresses of a similar style, but she never fails to look so chic. I love how she finally pulled her hair back! And everything about this look, actually. Besides, she worked it way better than the model did on the runway - certainly one of my favorite looks!



If Doutzen Kroes was standing in front of me, I swear she'll find me rude for gawking. But she is such.a.beauty. Wearing a strapless Theyskens' Theory number, the supermodel (look out for her in H&M's latest campaign!) was every bit perfect. Love love love her silver cuffs on both hands!


Somebody stop Anne Hathaway before she takes over the red carpet! She looked so A.M.A.Z.I.N.G in her vintage Valentino number and she's totally bringing it with that blonde pompadour. I have nothing but praises for this look. Perfection.


It girl Cara Delevingne did everything right in her deep-V Burberry studded dress. The custom-made dress was a perfect fit, and I love how she kept things elegant with her straight locks and choice of a light-color clutch.


Taylor Swift has been nailing pretty much all of her red carpet looks, and the one she brought to the Met gala this year was no exception. Supporting her favorite designer, the country singer was in J. Mendel. I absolutely love the dress, the hair, the whole get-up was to the theme and very fitting for Taylor. I've always loved her with some edge. Also one of my favorites for the night!


Jennifer Lawrence has been busy filming and wrapping up Catching Fire, the sequel to the movie that shot her to fame. The Hunger Games actress looked elegant and feminine in her strapless Christian Dior dress and Brian Atwood stilettos.


Diane Kruger was accompanied by hubby Joshua Jackson at the Met ball when she showed up in a Chanel Couture laced dress. While the dress is feminine, Diane didn't forget her dash of punk as she had some pink tips for her pulled back hair.


Things got fiery on the red carpet as well. Starting with Amber Heard in Pucci. The dress was statement-making in itself with the color and the embellishments, so it's great she kept her make-up and hair looking more natural. To top it off, Amber (ooh, fierce) toted around an orange clutch. Lovely.


Anja Rubik wore a leather Anthony Vaccarello with matching red pumps. The whole look was very daring (not everybody can pull off a sleeved leather dress), complete with the pulled back hair and red lips. I don't really fancy short frocks for the Met gala but this outfit did match the night's theme so it's an okay.


Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke was in head-to-toe Ralph Lauren. The strapless dress was a great fit. I really like how she added an touch of punk with that giant cross Fred Leighton earring, shown off with her side-swept locks. Just one earring changed the look entirely. On another note, I actually preferred another Ralph Lauren piece (from the Spring 2013 RTW collection) which had more fluidity in the dress and Emilia could certainly pull off the fun pattern on the front.



Kate Beckinsale (one of my favorite Hollywood stars) was dressed in an Alberta Ferretti dress, showing off her gams wearing Giuseppe Zanotti heels. The strong eyes and updo was a perfect contrast against the soft color on her gown. The look was youthful and fun. A real joy to look at.


Gwyneth Paltrow also had my vote for one of the best-dressed at the Met gala this year  (and did you watch Iron Man 3 and see that hot bod she's hiding beneath the Valentino dress?!). I confess, I have a personal weakness for Valentino but the fuschia number is such a great fit on her. Not quite to the theme but still a bonus for being able to rock this plain conservative number in hot pink.  


Kate Bosworth rarely gets her hair done, does she? (Even when she does, it's usually pulled back into a simple ballerina bun.) The mini-dress by Balmain was a modification from the Ready-to-Wear collection and I must say it looks really wearable as well (so why not have it in the collection?). The vibrancy of the pattern and color really made the classic silhouette a fun piece to wear. Gotta love how she added that gold waist-belt as well. The classic Ferragamo pumps and black clutch (also by Balmain) pulled the look together.




Newly single Kristen Stewart wasn't in her usual choice of Proenza Schouler or Balenciaga this year. Instead, the actress wore Stella McCartney. The jumpsuit wasn't doing her boyish figure any favour. She looked like she gain a couple of pounds in this outfit. I hated the hair. Argh there's nothing I like about this.


Maggie Gyllenhaal. Oh man. Another high-school prom outfit? Maybe it was the hair, or the choker. Okay, I think it was both. The Calvin Klein Collection dress didn't look right at all. Maggie didn't even look like she was dressed for the red carpet, let alone the Met Ball. What happened to the Maggie who wowed us at the Oscar back in 2010 with her Dries van Noten dress (see below)?



Nikita star Maggie Q looked gothic in her dark lips against her bright red tulle dress. I'm not too sure who she's wearing but the overall look was a little too vampy. Not so classy.


On the other hand, Zhang Ziyi looked timeless in her Jason Wu embroidered strapless gown. Didn't quite fit the night's theme but she did look amazing and oriental. A Christian Louboutin clutch completed her look.


Teresa Palmer, like Maggie Q, wore a red dress with dark lips. The Warm Bodies actress' hair looked unkempt, and the Diane von Furstenburg dress wasn't really flattering for her figure. She looked straight-figured and kinda awkward. A little too hobo, perhaps. 


Speaking of fiery, nobody gets hotter than the honorary woman of the event. Beyonce was flaming in her Givenchy dress, featuring a high slit (to show off her matching boots) and a long train. And of course, complete with matching gloves. A little over the top, yes but at the Met Ball is where you defy all rules! Boots look a little too chunky but nobody can rock this like Beyonce can.


Emmy Rossum had the most perfect cat-eyes and braided hair done on the red carpet at the Met gala. It gave a strong look (I don't see that often on her) to her soft Donna Karan Atelier gown.


My favorite young star Hailee Steinfeld also pulled off a similar trick, by adding edge to a feminine look with fierce eyes. Maybe it's because she's also wearing Donna Karan Atelier? The mid-length leather dress was perfectly made and I love how Hailee carries off mid-length dresses so well. While the silhouette can add years to a look, it can also be really elegant (think Audrey Hepburn). The pretty actress finished off her look with Jimmy Choo shoes and matching clutch.


Many other stars who graced the event wore white. Heidi Klum was one of ém, in Marchesa. I love the beaded bodice. She looked like a nicely wrapped Christmas gift, in a good way. At least she's appropriately dressed, nothing too short or casual this time round, though nothing tough in her look at all. I would have liked it better if she had picked one of the two red dresses from the label's same collection. There's just a greater punk feel to the jewel tone red.




I seldom give praises to Katie Holmes' outfits, but this time I did really like her look on the red carpet. Everything about it I love. The high-crowned hair, natural make-up, halter-neck Calvin Klein Collection dress and single-strap white heels WHICH I ABSOLUTELY ADORE (can you tell I'm into single-strap heels?). Never mind she didn't get the memo on the night's theme, I just love that she looked perfect head-to-toe.


Nicole Richie went full-fledged punk with her white hair, earring-lined ears and dark lips against her Topshop dress. What a way to doll up a high-street label piece. Not forgetting a clutch by her own label House of Harlow, while the look is not a favorite of mine, I gotta give it to her for dressing so right.


British singer Rita Ora wore a custom high-slit dress by Thakoon. Quite strange to see her look so mild as compared to her usual rocker style which would be a great fit to the theme at the MET, but I guess it's a nice change. I always appreciate someone going for white outfits because it's a risk to take, and definitely on -trend at the moment.


Fashion icon Rooney Mara, known for her iconic style, co-chaired this year's ball and she certainly fit the bill. Fitted in Givenchy, she looked incredible in the sharp-shouldered dress which is edgy and sexy all at the same time. YES, THOSE HEELS. TO DIE FOR. 10 out of 10 for the look.


New mum Sienna Miller returned to her roots by supporting a British label, as she appeared in a white , plunging neckline dress by Burberry with a studded motorcycle jacket. Complete with studded a hairband and (also) earrings-lined ears, Sienna wasn't a let-down.


Zooey Deschanel looked so different by simply losing her bangs. The New Girl actress was in a custom Tommy Hilfiger single-shoulder gown. Kinda understated, nothing special, except for the cute safety pin clutch by Edie Parker.


Elle Fanning like her sister, was also wearing Rodarte. The younger sibling picked a tie-dye piece from the label's Fall collection. Kinda eh if you ask me. Hate the make-up, not agreeing with the dress.



Credits: Just Jared, Style.com

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