the fashion report: 2011 MET ball

well, this has been quite the weekend!

first, we have the wedding of all weddings – prince william & princess kate tied the knot this past friday. now we’ve got this year’s MET ball hosted at the metropolitan museum of art’s annual gala. the costume institute gala benefit celebrates the opening of the “alexander mcqueen: savage beauty” exhibition, featuring the late designer’s iconic work.

this red carpet is unlike any other… this is where the best & the brightest come out to celebrate fashion. and celebrate they did! let’s start off with my best picks of the night.

when it’s right, it’s right, and these ladies did it perfectly. first up, my absolute favorite of the night, diane kruger in jason wu. this chic gown accents her old hollywood appeal, right down to the slitted skirt. absolute perfection! next up is young’un evan rachel wood in a maroon gucci premiere ensemble. we don’t see too much of this color anymore, and she’s workin’ it. love the detailing around the bust.

the fashion-forward isabel lucas chose this stunning louis vuitton number – i just can’t get over the color! while i’m not a huge fan of the headpiece, it’s still an inspired look. and then there’s ginnfer goodwin in topshop. are you kidding me? the jewelry, the makeup, the shoes! oh, the shoes! i’m loving everything about this look.

blake lively got it right in chanel this time around. her recently-dyed flowing locks fall gracefully on top of a beautiful detailed bodice. well done, karl lagerfeld! and rounding out the top 6 is model brooklyn decker in michael kors. so simple, yet absolutely out of this world.

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a big theme at this year’s MET ball? it was all about beige, starting with benefit organizer salma hayek in alexander mcqueen. expectant mommy kate hudson seemed to have blossomed overnight! stella mccartney really knows how to dress the preggos, lookin’ good kate.

in comes victoria’s secret model lily aldridge in ralph lauren collection – yea, she’s gorgeous. not many people can pull off the draped silk. that’s impressive! and then there’s another preggo on the red carpet… jessica alba in ralph lauren collection. i would KILL for her upper body – and skin tone, for that matter!

9 times out of 10 renee zellweger is on my “worst” list. but i think she got it right in carolina herrera. featuring quite the plunging backline, renee certainly knows how to draw attention to her rockin’ bod! last up, wearing valentio, is ms. dakota fanning! very age-appropriate and dainty! love it.

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and then there was the worst. there’s always some atrocious picks, and this year was no different. first up to the plate? the usually spot-on christina hendricks in carolina herrera. i mean, did she even look in the mirror? this does NOTHING for her figure and the colors? just plain ugly. i just have to say, what in the world, christina ricci?! we already picture you as your addams family character, why act it out in real life? yuck.

i’ll be the first to admit the olsen’s are quite the fashion-forward pair. but, why must they always wear things 40 times too big? i hate ill-fitting clothes, and mary kate‘s givenchy haute couture choice is no different. argh! modern family actress sofia vergara‘s carolina herrera gown, i’m sorry to say, looks like something i could’ve bought at jc penney on the clearance prom rack. whoops.

a total miss by alicia keys in her givenchy gown. it’s not that bad – take the jacket off and we’ll talk! and one of  these days, kristen stewart may just get it right, but this not one of those times. her proenza schouler number is repetitive, ill-fitting and just plain blah. sorry k-stew!

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this selection is all about… interesting black gowns. creative, i know. first up is model chrissy teigen in chris march. sometimes, chrissy, daring is not always a good idea. this is one of those moments. we see more cut-out fun in leighton meester‘s dress by louis vuitton. i’m like 80/20 on this one… 80% good, 20% not good.

then there’s brunette beauty penelope cruz. choosing the always-glamorous oscar de la renta, penelope looks exquisite. although i would’ve loved it even more if it were strapless! rhianna steps out in a less-than-stellar stella mccartney gown. i’m just not feelin’ the asymmetrical shoulder cut and corresponding hemline.

here comes lucy liu in vionnet. do i even have to say anything? waist-up, i could’ve dealt with. but come on, the see through slit and ostrich-y skirt? yikes! and last on the list we have ashley olsen in christian dior haute couture. ya know, i actually really like this. a form-fitting gown with puffy cream sleeves is a perfect pairing!

 

 

the fashion report: 2010 MET ball

the MET ball (noun): a gala held at the metropolitan museum of art in which celebs far & wide gather for one purpose – to pay homage to fashion. look FIERCE, or leave.

i gots to say, i was more impressed than i usually am with the MET red carpet. there were definitely some shining moments. i couldn’t narrow down my picks for best – i chose 7! not much to say about the four above. heavenly, i believe would be sufficient enough to describe camilla belle (in jason wu), mila kunis (in vera wang), melania trump (in christian siriano), and anne hathaway (in valentino – her fave). WOW.

below, jennifer lopez worked it ouuuut in zuhair murad. love the silhouette and the design scheme – perfect for her coloring. jessica alba channels old school hollywood in this champagne colored sophie theallet gown. and i’m loving model bar rafeali’s choice of the hem, showing off her gorgeous gams in this rag & bone ensemble.

she’s been off the map recently, but claire danes came in strong at the MET ball, donning a brilliant form-fitting burberry gown. and of course, i loved rachel weisz’s custom-made oscar de la renta gown. who doesn’t appreciate a splash of color?

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the MET ball saw a lot of white this year… some did it good, some, not so good. diane kruger chose this calvin klein gown – a great look for her. take a gander at those curves! really not jealous at all! jessica biel rocked the greek goddess look in her ralph lauren collection dress… loved the gown, hate the hair. two-toned brown has never been my thing.

kirsten dunst – what’s with the hemline? i can’t stand the it’s-a-long-dress-but-not-quite-touching-the-floor kinda thing. her rodarte for gap dress had me less than impressed. taylor swift was a different story in her ralph lauren collection ensemble – very age-appropriate and feminine. she might try switching the hairstyle every once in awhile… it’s pretty much the same on every red carpet.

and one of my faves for the night, emma watson in burberry. the stunner can do no wrong in my eyes… gorgeous!

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aaaaand for the worst. and man, where there some unflattering choices! dear, sweet kristen stewart. in other words, what the heck is wrong with you? this chanel dress is HEINOUS in every way possible. and what’s with the hair/make-up? time to fire the stylist. the lovely gisele bundchen seems a little more like catwoman than a sophisticated MET attendee. not feeling the alexander wang gown at all.

sienna miller almost had it right in her emilio pucci gown – how much more gorgeous would it be as a full-length? and tina fey, oh tina fey. just because you’re known for being “funny” doesn’t mean you have to dress like crap. who wears a jumpsuit to the MET ball… honestly.

no words for katy perry. her cute circuit dress has actual LED lights included. doesn’t that just scream classy?

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so, what do YOU think? agree/disagree with my picks?