China Dolls!
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| Anna Wintour wearing a pagoda shouldered Chanel Haute Couture (All photos: Vogue.com) |
Just when you think that the Met Ball could get any bigger, or more high profile, Anna Wintour outdid herself this year. The guest list was especially impressive. Truly, anyone who is ‘anyone’ was there (or as Julie Macklowe observed, “everyone who you have ever heard of is there”). From A List movie stars (George Clooney, Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne), politicians (former Mayor Michael Bloomberg), bona fide sports legends (Derek Jeter), to legendary songstresses (Madonna, Rihanna, Lady Gaga) and celebrated bad boys (Justin Bieber arrived wearing an embellished Balmain jacket). I mean, let’s put it this way, where else can extraordinarily beautiful and well turned out women like Amal Clooney (in Martin Margiela), Jennifer Lopez (in dragon emblazoned Versace with Donatella tailing her all evening), and Jennifer Lawrence (in Dior Haute Couture) almost get lost in the crowd?
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| Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior Haute Couture |
That being said, Beyonce and Kim Kardashian (in barely there gowns that left almost nothing to the imagination) were not among those who ‘faded’ into the crowd, although they stood out without even sticking with the ‘theme’ of the evening. Speaking of which, I am a sucker for a good theme, and this event (THE ultimate costume party in the world) is always a fashion spectacle of major proportions where guests traditionally take the theme seriously (as well they should). This year, the exhibition and central theme (“China: Through the Looking Glass”), seemed to have inspired many guests to get creative and really do their homework. Some took it more literally than others, and admittedly with varying degrees of success.
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| Chloe Sevigny |
Truth be told, it didn’t always work, and sadly, in some cases, the ensembles looked as though they were purchased somewhere in Chinatown (as was the case for Chloe Sevigny, Julie Macklowe, and Sarah Jessica Parker). In the case of the latter, the dress was actually H&M, accessorized with a fantastical head piece, and regardless, she does always manage to pull it off..
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| Lauren Santo Dominto in Proenza Schouler |
Among those who got it right: Anna Wintour looked sensational in her face framing, pagoda shouldered flame red embroidered haute couture Chanel, and her daughter Bee looked beautiful in a maroon and white oriental floral gown with train. Lauren Santo Domingo looked gorgeous in Proenza Schouler’s yellow satin dress embroidered with oriental black and white flowers (her husband Andres is not bad himself!)
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| Amy Fine Collins |
I thought Lady Gaga (who is pregnant) made a wise choice with her graphic and dramatic black and white Balenciaga floor length coat. Black and white was also the color theme of Madonna’s calligraphy imprinted dress. And I really loved Amy Fine Collins’ Thom Browne designed dramatic cape ensemble (it mixed a menswear inspired black and white houndstooth pattern with a bold, colorful and graphic Eastern inspired floral).
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| Karolina Kurkova |
Emily Brunt looked elegant in Prada’s eastern inspired dress and cape ensemble. Karolina Kurkova was a knockout in a very short lacquer red satin dress with wide kimono like sleeves, accessorized with gold sandals (the straps curved up her ankles like snakes). Red beads covered Sienna Miller’s Thakoon dress and jacket (which was accented with black rope and tassels).
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| Zendaya |
Young actress Zendaya made a bold choice with Fausto Puglisi’s red and black short satin dress with train, which was appliqued with a sun. Speaking of bold choices: Solange Knowles’s sculptural Gilles Deacon (it framed her face like a glorious fan).
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| Cher and Marc Jacobs |
And let’s not forget Cher, who still looks great at the age of 69. Wearing Marc Jacobs, she arrived with the designer, who I must applaud for doing his bit to ‘endorse’ the older woman. But alas, while he has been bringing them to this event as of late (last year he brought Jessica Lange), he has yet to feature one in his ads, or put one on his runway.
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| Rihanna |
And finally, no doubt Rihanna always does her homework diligently, she never disappoints, and she knows how to make a grand entrance. It took three people to get her up the steps in her show stopping haute couture fox trimmed yellow satin embroidered gown, designed by Guo Pei. I actually met the shy 45 year old Beijing based designer yesterday, and took a picture of her standing next to her gorgeous blue and white porcelain inspired haute couture gown. Hmmm, she never mentioned that she was dressing RiRi. But then again, she doesn’t speak a word of English! I have a feeling that might have to change, as she is definitely in the spotlight!
