There is no better red carpet fashion event than the Met’s Costume Institute Gala. Period. End of story. It brings out the best designers, the best fashionistas, and the best crazies.
This year the theme was The Model as Muse, and, man…that just opens up a can of worms. Models of today and yesterday were out in full force, and while the spirit was clearly meant to be strongly celebratory, looking through the red carpet photos is also somewhat of a post mortem of modeling careers and the women who outlived their usefulness to the industry. But I digress.
The real beauty of the event is always that it’s for the real fashionistas - unlike something like, say, the Oscars, the point is not to look safe and pretty, but to be cogent to the theme and visually witty. There are always some trends present (for example, a lot of retro 60s looks this year), but the main purpose is to be original and bombastic.
The photo gallery in its entirety is definitely worth a look.
Kate Moss in and with Marc Jacobs, looking very muse-like indeed.
Anna Wintour channeling more Coco, less runway muse in a dreamy Chanel dress.
Jessica Biel goes tropicalismo in Versace Atelier with Justin Timberlake in William Rast on her arm. It’s certainly an improvement over her usual sad granny sack, although I’m not sure that Carmen Miranda was ever a model.
Sometimes you just need to let the pictures speak for themselves (or, in this case, babble incoherently). Madonna in Louis Vuitton and Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie.
Marion Cotillard with John Galliano in a surprisingly low-key Dior gown.
Iman looking appropriately goddess-like in Donna Karan.
I’m kind of loving Anne Hathaway’s retro bombshell look in Marc Jacobs.
Diane Kruger’s Chanel Haute Couture mini is adorably bubble bath like. Accompanied by Joshua Jackson in Dolce & Gabbana.
I don’t know if I ever want Amber Rose to stop dressing like a sexy robot from the future, so this strapless Carolina Herrera dress is a cruel cut indeed. With Kanye West in Louis Vuitton.
A Marni consortium of Carolina Castiglioni, Milla Jovovich, Consuelo Castiglioni, and Guinevere Van Seenus.
Lauren Hutton in and with Michael Kors. It’s a great look for hot lady of a certain maturity.
Kate Beckinsale in Marchesa with Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman.
Lou Doillon in Nina Ricci with Olivier Theyskens.
Shalom Harlow bringing it. And by it I mean the garbage and possibly a miniature horse. I like Shalom Harlow so I would like to think that she’s making an ironic statement of some kind.
Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson in and with Stella McCartney.
Note to Vera Wang: do not try to lend edginess to your designs by slapping some black lipstick on Rachel Weisz.
Jessica Alba with Michelle Obama favorite Jason Wu. I guess Michelle couldn’t make it.
Alek Wek looking insanely stunning.
In a bizarre yet wonderful turn of events, Agyness Deyn and Twiggy in Burberry Prorsum.
Coca Rocha in and with Isaac Mizrahi.
Doutzen Kroes in 3.1 Phillip Lim and Christian Louboutin heels, accompanied by Phillip Lim.
André Leon Talley. See Madonna comment.
Hilary Rhoda’s ensemble is beautifully coordinated without being overly matchy-matchy. In custom Thakoon.
Lake Bell got into the proper spirit of things in her Rag & Bone suit.
Oh noes, what have they done to Blair Waldorf?! Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton.
Roland Mouret with Catherine McNeil in his design.
And finally, a little something to haunt you in your dreams.
All photos: Style.com
