Met Ball Magic and Misses

 

Judgment day is here! Who are you to have an opinion, you might say? Based on my years of luxury market and editorial (I’ve touched some of these dresses in the flesh), these are my winners and losers for the fashion Oscars. Long live McQueen. Comment away!

BEST COLOR (ALSO KNOWN AS SEEN IT BEFORE, STILL LOVE IT)

Brooklyn Decker in Calvin Klein

Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein

Doutzen Kroes in Giambattista Valli

 

BEST COUPLES

Lily Aldridge in Ralph Lauren with Caleb Folowill

Going back to Ralph’s roots (look at what Dylan Lauren and Lauren Bush were wearing) has been a mixed bag in my book, but Lily + Caleb + the dress, hair, and earrings (plus that just engaged glow) = ah.

Jessica Alba in Ralph Lauren with Cash Warren.

Pregnant and elegant is hard to pull off (see Kate Hudson), but she does it.

Cara Delevigne in Burberry with Douglas Booth

Angela Lindvall and Karlie Kloss in Christian Dior

Yes, I know they’re not a couple, but don’t they look gorge together?

 

BEST DRAMA

Christina Ricci in Zac Posen

This is the Met Ball. Glad someone showed up with a sense of humor and drama.

Daphne Guiness in Alexander McQueen

So incredibly appropriate for the occasion, for his memory, for her personality. To top it all off, getting dressed in the windows at Barney’s adds to the drama and effect.

 

MOST AGE APPROPRIATE

Anna Wintour in Chanel Haute Couture

Don’t care what anyone says, Anna looks fierce. Wish she would have been in McQueen, but that’s really not her style. Chanel 4 Life.

Hailee Steinfeld in Stella McCartney

She has yet to make a mistake. She has invested in a very, very good stylist.

 

WORST. JUST THE WORST.

Christina Hendricks in Carolina Herrera

Leighton Meester in Vuitton

This causes me great pain since I love Leighton (ok, Blair) and Vuitton, but too severe.

Blake Lively in Chanel with Karl Lagerfeld

Finally, she looks really terrible. My disdain for Blake Lively is well known, but she still looks a mess, even in Chanel and even with the Kaiser as her date. Woof.

Jennifer Lopez in Gucci

Ok, again, not a J.Lo fan, nor was I sold on this Gucci collection. Would have loved to have seen one of the two-tone looks on her, instead of this cranberry cocktail of disaster. Marc looks like he’s having a good time, though.

Solange Knowles in Dries Van Noten

In theory, it should work – youthful prints and whimsy with a young girl. Um, no.

 

SIMPLY THE BEST (ALSO KNOWN AS THE STELLA MCCARTNEY FAN CLUB)

Gwenyth Paltrow in Stella McCartney

It’s not fair. It’s just really, really not fair.

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Stella McCartney

It sparkles. It’s navy. I like.

Ginnifer Goodwin in custom Topshop.

LOVE the color and the accessories. Wish it was on someone with softer, more romantic hair, but girl still rocks it.

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu

She’s got the face, the bod, a gorgeous dress, and Pacey. Best couple for sure, but she can stand out without her man. Well done, you.

Liv Tyler in Givenchy Couture

I wasn’t crazy about this collection, but it looks simply angelic on her. I wish someone got a back shot – these gowns deserve to be shot from the back!

Margherita Missoni and Joy Bryant in Missoni

Not only are these two age-appropriate, but they’re fun and fancy-free. Appropriate with whimsy, not drama. They both are lovely women with great personalities and it’s great to see it come through in their gowns.

Ashley Olsen in vintage

Love. Love. Love. Love.

 

The night was for McQueen, who was represented in all the good (Shalom Harlow, Sarah Jessica Parker) and bad (Naomi Campbell), but second place went to Stella McCartney who literally dressed half the attendees by my count. Tory Burch had quite a few lovely ladies in her gowns, and I’d say it was a successful public showing of her evening capabilities. Knowing people who have dressed these people and having dressed one myself, I know what time and effort goes into preparing  someone for this event, regardless of how famous or infamous you are. Kudos to all – can’t wait to see the McQueen Retrospective!

big McQueen butterfly kisses