The Best Dressed / Met Gala 2015

So, Monday night in NYC saw the fashion industry elite and an endless amount of celebrities flock to one of the biggest red carpet events of the year (and one of my favourite red carpet events), The Met Gala.
 

This year the Costume Institute exhibition, organized with the Department of Asian Art is titled; 'China: Through The Looking Glass'. This exhibition will be exploring how western fashion has been influenced by Chinese aesthetics and how China has been a source of fashionable imagination for centuries. The exhibition will feature over a hundred examples of haute couture and avant-garde ready-to-wear as well as Chinese art which makes it a must-see exhibition if you are in NYC between now and August 16th.
 

Which brings me back to the reason for this post; the best dressed at the 2015 Met Gala. Now, I have said before that when it comes to this event I think people attending should embrace the theme of the exhibition and incorporate it into their outfit for the evening. I mean, it's not that often one gets to dress up in avant-garde couture and dripping in diamonds. Although, I have to say given this years theme which is representing a country- its heritage and culture, I was curious to see how people would be dressed because incorporating such a theme into an outfit could easily go into the territory of tacky fancy dress, borderline insulting.
 

But, I was pleasantly surprised to see many attendees embracing the Chinese aesthetics, some wearing Chinese couturiers (like Rihanna in that stunning Guo Pei coat, that took 2 years to hand-make) and the majority wearing western designs with strong Chinese influences (such as Sarah Jessica Parker in a dress she co-designed with H&M).
 

So, here's my pick of the best dressed from the fashion industry's biggest event of the year, the 2015 Met Gala.

Enjoy!

 

Karolina Kurkova in custom Tommy Hilfiger, Judith Leiber clutch and Giuseppe Zanotti shoes.

 

Rihanna in Guo Pei couture, Guo Pei headpiece, Cartier necklace and Christian Louboutin shoes.

Joan Smalls in Roberto Cavalli by Peter Dundas with Chopard jewels. 

Anna Ewers in custom Balenciaga.

Sarah Jessica Parker in custom H&M with Cindy Chao and Jennifer Fisher jewels and a Philip Treacy headpiece.

Kate Hudson in Michael Kors with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and an Edie Parker clutch.

Janelle Monae in custom H&M with Nicholas Kirkwood shoes.

Ziyi Zhang in Carolina Herrera with Cindy Chao jewels.

Zoe Kravitz in Alexander Wang with Chopard jewels.

Liya Kebede in 3.1 Phillip Lim with Harry Winston jewels.

Anne Hathaway in custom Ralph Lauren with Repossi jewels.

Naomi Campbell in custom Burberry with Verdura jewels.

Georgia May Jagger in Gucci.

Jessica Chastain in Givenchy Haute Couture with Piaget jewels.



Photo credit: Vogue / Zimbio / Style.

2015 Golden Globe Awards - Best Dressed

Award season officially kicked off last night with the first of the big ceremonies- The 72nd Golden Globe Awards and with that brings plenty of celebrities bringing their A-game to the red carpet.

I've mentioned on here before, how much I love award-season and I always like to watch Live from the red carpet on TV to get the first glimpse of what everyone has chosen to wear and which designer.

This year wasn't the most spectacular year for red-carpet looks, nothing really stood out as a 'wow' look, especially nothing as 'wow' as Lupita Nyong'o at last years ceremony, wearing that stunning red Ralph Lauren caped-gown. Of course, there were quite a few that I liked including looks from Diane Kruger, Jessica Chastain, Julianne Moore, but my absolute favourite was Emma Stone's look. She wore a custom Lanvin jumpsuit with embellished bodice and a pretty floor-length bow draped from the waist. I just loved the choice of a statement jumpsuit, which stood out from all the dresses and gowns and as a girl myself who would choose a great pair of trousers or a jumpsuit over a dress anytime, Emma definitely got my best dressed of the evening.

Here's my other best-dressed favourites from last nights Golden Globes Awards -

 

Emma Stone in custom Lanvin with Christian Louboutin shoes.

Diane Kruger in Emilia Wickstead with Marina B & Kwiat jewels and an Emm Kuo clutch.

Julianne Moore in Givenchy Haute Couture with Chopard jewels.

Helen Mirren in Dolce & Gabbana with Chopard jewels.

Jessica Chastain in Atelier Versace with Piaget jewels.

Reese Witherspoon in Calvin Klein Collection.

Leslie Mann in Kaufmanfranco with Kimberly McDonald jewels and a Salvatore Ferragamo clutch.

Gina Rodriguez in Badgley Mischka with Chopard jewels.

Felicity Jones in Dior Haute Couture with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels.

Taylor Schilling in custom Ralph Lauren with a Salvatore Ferragamo clutch.

Emily Blunt in custom Michael Kors with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

 

 

 

Photo credit: Zimbio

The Best Dressed / Met Gala 2014

Monday in New York night saw the 2014 Met Gala bring the glamour and fashion elite to town. This years gala was all about kicking off this years Metropolitan Museum of Art's Exhibition which is celebrating master couturier Charles James who is considered to be one of the best Haute Couture designers who in his time made some of the most breath-taking sculptural gowns and tailoring. So taking all that into consideration and the fact that Oscar de la Renta was a co-chair of the gala benefit, who in my eye is the modern day king of ball gowns and evening wear and the intvite said 'white-tie and decoration' - I would instantly think the theme for the evening would be old Hollywood glamour with plenty of these beautiful ball gowns I have spoken of because how often does one get to dress up in a ball gown? Well sadly not everyone took the theme into consideration which I have to say annoys me every year, because if I was to be invited to the Met Gala I would fully embrace the theme and I feel more should do so [mini rant over]. Saying that, this year was one of the most disappointing fashion-wise as there wasn't as near as many ball gowns, sparkle or old Hollywood glamour that I wished there was going to be and after seeing the attendees I didn't have a clear favourite by the end just a few that I liked. My favourites were the ones who fully embraced the theme like Liu Wen, Dita Von Teese, Karolina Kurkova (my favourite who always brings her A+ game every year) and Arizona Muse. I did however love a lot of the looks of the night even though I didn't think they suited to the event intended that doesn't stop me from thinking the looks were dramatic and beautiful. So here's who and what I liked-

 

 

Karolina Kurkova in Marchesa with Harry Winston jewels.



Dita Von Teese in Zac Posen with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels.



Liu Wen in Zac Posen with David Yurman jewels.



Arizona Muse in Ralph & Russo with De Beers jewels and Smythson clutch.



Joan Smalls in custom Vera Wang with jewels by Effy and Dana Rebecca Designs.



Rihanna in Stella McCartney with jewels by Yeprem, Jacob & Co, Cartier and Dionea Orcini.



Beyoncé in Givenchy Haute Couture with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.



Beyoncé & Jay Z both in Givenchy Haute Couture. (Because together they look great)



Lily Donaldson in Burberry.



Georgia May Jagger in Thierry Mugler.



Laetitia Casta in Givenchy Haute Couture.



Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture with Fred Leighton jewels.



Cara Delevingne in Stella McCartney with Cartier jewels.



Erykah Badu in Givenchy Haute Couture (that coat is EVERYTHING)



Lily Aldridge in Michal Kors.

Janelle Monae in Tadashi Shoji with Jimmy Choo heels.



Photo credit: Zimbio



Red Carpet: Costume Institute Gala 2013- Best Dressed

As us lovers of fashion know The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute (in New York) holds a gala each year celebrating the opening of  the fashion exhibit of that year. Each year has a theme and this year the theme is "PUNK: Chaos To Couture" and even though the theme can merely be a starting point for attendees fashion choices that night, I usually love to see and attendee take that theme, run with it and use it to create the most incredible costume that basically people don't get to wear all that often. So when I first heard the theme of this years Costume Institute Gala was Punk I must admit I got a little excited at the prospect of all the Avant-garde costumes and outfits that would be displayed on the red carpet and also the thought of seeing an abundance of Vivienne Westwood designs. Sadly I was underwhelmed and the fashion choices of a lot of the attendees of Monday's gala, not may people seemed to understand what Punk really is and how to interpret it and not to mention how there were only three attendees from what I could see wearing Vivienne Westwood. Even though this years red carpet was slightly underwhelming, I still managed to pick out more than a few looks that I loved on the night, here's my choices of best dressed (in order of favourites).



Anja Rubik wearing Anthony Vacarrello & Repossi jewels.
Anja and Miley Cyrus seemed to be the only two people of the night who really understood the Punk theme- that it's an attitude, a presence and not just about wearing crazy make-up and over styling an outfit that so many people in attendance did.

Miley Cyrus wearing Marc Jacobs dress & Eddie Borgo jewels.
This is complete pefection to me, it's the best Miley has ever looked I think and I never thought I would say Miley is one of my best dressed at the Met Gala, but she is. She completely got the punk look right, the dress fits pefectly and sure it's quite refined and simple but that's what makes it a beautiful look from head to toe, even the cray cray punk hair.

Sarah Jessica Parker wearing a custom Giles dress, Philip Treacy headpiece & custom Christian Louboutin boots.
Making Carrie Bradshaw proud, this is what I imagine Punk Royalty would look like, SJP looks incredible and the custom plaid Louboutin boots are awesome. Enough said.



Detail of the Philip Treacy headpiece.



Anne Hathaway wearing a vintage Valentino dress.
I'm not usually a huge fan of Anne and her red carpet choices but this I loved. I never thought blonde hair would suit her either, but it does. I also think this look would not have worked so much without the blonde hair so I give her credit for making that bold change. This is Haute Couture Punk and I'm getting strong Annie Lennox circa 1980's vibes from this look. 



Giovanna Bataglia wearing Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda.
I love this entire look and even though some people might think it's not quite Punk, I think it's more of a soft, feminine, Haute Couture type of Punk. She looks beautiful.

Joan Smalls wearing Tom Ford (pictured with the designer)
She looks flawless as always, very rarely gets it wrong on the red carpet.



Gisele Bündchen wearing Anthony Vacarrello dress & shoes, David Yurman jewels.
I love this dress and I only wish she had done something more exciting with her hair or makeup, both look great but it's the Costume Institute Gala, she could have gone a bit more edgy. But I had to post the picture below as well to show how incredible she looks (she had her second baby only a few months ago, WOW)



Cara Delevigne wearing Burberry Prorsum.
Now- I do not care for her chosen hairstyle, I think she should have work it up in some way, and I don't like the choice of clutch either. So you would wonder why is she one of my best dressed, well I love that dress it's striking and has an effortless look about it, and the studs look so cool.



Sienna Miller wearing Burberry Prorsum, Maison Michel headpiece with Repossi, Eddie Borgo & Genevieve Jones jewels.
This is the best Sienna has looked in a long time, I think her recent fashion choices haven't been memorable, but this is stunning. Laid-back, effortless Punk.



Taylor Tomasi Hill wearing Thom Browne dress (pictured with the designer) & Alaia shoes.
Feminine, princess-like Punk. Love the print on the dress and also the spike detail on the shoulder straps. Beautiful.



Leelee Sobieski wearing Dior Haute Couture.
I agree nothing Punk-ish about it but it's absolutely beautiful. The embroidered sheer sleeves/gloves take this dress for simple to striking and elegant instantly.



Karolina Kurkova wearing a Mary Katrantzou dress & Manolo Blahnik shoes.
 Kaarolina was my ultimate favourite last year at the Gala wearing that incredible Rachel Zoe sequined gown with matching turban. This year she wasn't my favourite, but I love Karolina, I do like this look and she looks stunning.



Rooney Mara wearing Givenchy Haute Couture.
It's not Punk looking, it looks bridal-ish and very like Givenchy looks I've seen many times before but, the dress fits beautifully and it suits her usual 'style'. I just wish she could have gone more stand-out and edgy with her look because she is one of the few people that could actually pull it off well. Oh well, she still looks beautiful.



Christina Ricci wearing Vivienne Westwood Couture dress, Salvatore Ferragamo clutch & Casadei shoes.
I love nearly the entire look. The clutch is way too big and casual for the event and I don't care for the limp hair-do. On the other hand the dress look great on her petite frame and accentuated her  shape in all the right places and the shoes and the sheer stockings really bring the look together.
 



Madonna wearing Givenchy Haute Couture & Casadei shoes.
This is more of a Punk costume rather than Punk influenced but still at least she embraced the theme. This is Madonna after all and she looks pretty incredible even though I wish her ass wasn't hanging out, it's time to put that away.

 

 

Photo credit: Vogue US, Vogue China, Vogue.fr, Zimbio