Beyonce, Anna Wintour, Sarah Jessica Parker

Honorary Chair of the Met Gala 2013, Beyoncé in custom Givency by Riccardo Tisci--She wore a two piece ensemble featuring a strapless very corseted bustier with an elaborately appliqued gold and black skirt with a high side slit and long dramatic train (naturally, it's Beyoncé!). She finished it all off with matching thigh-high boots and gloves. She looked very Toreador-Meets-Gothic-Vampira in this.

Last night was THE biggest--or at  least most FASHIONABLE--Red Carpet of the year: the Annual Met Gala. The Met Gala 2013 honored the opening of the Spring 2013 Costume Institute Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum.  The exhibition is titled "Punk: Chaos to Couture" and was made possible by Moda Operandi and with additional support provided by Condé Nast. It was curated by The Costume Institute Curator, Andrew Bolton and examines punk’s impact on high fashion from the movement’s birth in the 1970s through its continuing influence today. The exhibition opens May 9 and runs through August 14, 2013.

But let's get to last night's Museum's Costume Institute Benefit "Met Gala" which occurred last night: The one-and-only Beyoncé served as the Honorary Chair with Co-Chairs Academy
Award© nominated actress Rooney Mara; Lauren Santo Domingo, Co-Founder
of Moda Operandi; Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of Givenchy; and
Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue. This event is always a HUGE "Fashion Prom"--bigger than the Oscars--in terms of the Red Carpet Alta Moda that is seen. So, let's take a look:

Anna Wintour in Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2013 with her Daughter Bee Shaffer in Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring 2013--Anna Wintour said on the red carpet last night that she wanted to wear PINK because the color pink is the "Color of Punk" (who knew?), so she chose a very un-punk looking flower printed Chanel gown. Wintour's gown was a combination of two from Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2013 Collection:

 Anna Wintour had the Chanel Couture Atelier custom-make her a gown taking the print of "Look 43" (left photo) and the style/silhouette of "Look 57" (when you're paying for a $100,000+ Haute Couture gown, you can customize anything darlings)--Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2013

Her daughter Bee Shaffer wore...

Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2013--As you can see, Anna Wintour's daughter had the beading color of the gown changed and customized for her fitted "Mermaid Lite" silhouetted gown

Rooney Mara in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci--Rooney was one of the Co-Chair's of the Gala along with Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of Givenchy. Since he was one of the Co-Chair's, it wasn't by happenstance that many of the A-List attendees were provided with free Givenchy custom ensembles for the event. Actress--and Givenchy "muse" Rooney Mara--was his "date" to the event and naturally, she wore an ivory Givenchy gown with sculpted shoulders, long sleeves, plunging neckline and high center front slit. It was nice to see Rooney in something NOT black.

 

Co-Chair Lauren Santo Domingo in Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda--I thought Lauren looked elegant and very Italian Renaissance Principessa-like

Blake Lively in Gucci Premiere--Blake looks elegant and red carpet fab in this Gucci Premiere (Gucci's Made-to-Order Couture line) strapless gown with full tiered organza paneled detail. This gown could easily work for an Academy Awards red carpet, and it worked for last night's Met Gala

Katie Holmes in Calvin Klein--Katie looked very Grecian Goddess in this ivory chiffon halter-neck gown with falling side and back train. Very Aphrodite.

Cameron Diaz in Stella McCartney--Love this royal blue gown, it's simplicity and subdued elegance, the cut of the "cape", the color...I think this was a very good choice for Cameron Diaz.

Jessica Pare in Jason Wu Fall 2013--Actress Jessica Pare wore a silk top with falling over-pieces and skinny black pants. This was an outfit from Jason Wu's Fall 2013 collection but in a different color (it was shown in red, she wore royal blue). I think this was a bit of a mish-mash. On the runway this looked intriguing, had an 80's/early 90's vibe to it and looked quite chic as the model sauntered, but on Jessica...it didn't have the same impact; it just looked odd. What do you guys think?

Christina Ricci in Vivienne Westwood--Two words: Oh Huney! I think y'all would agree with me on this one. I know it's a Vivienne Westwood but it looks like a BAD PROM dress. And the matching copper hair...

Gwyneth Paltrow in Valentino Couture--Since PINK is the color of PUNK, makes sense People Magazine's "World's Most Beautiful Woman", actress Gwyneth Paltrow wore this bubblegum pink silk ziberline custom Valentino Couture gown. It had a high neck, long sleeves and sheer horizontal panels. I like the color of the gown, especially on Gwyneth (blonds can DEFINITELY wear this color!). I think the silhouette, however, might be a but "mumsy".  I can see this on a NY Socialite/Doyenne.

Anne Hathaway in vintage Valentino Couture--After the Academy Awards fashion-debacle-heard-around-the-world (remember how Valentino's PR people tweeted that she was wearing Valentino to the Oscars but instead she wore PRADA!), Anne Hathaway decided it would be smart to extend an "olive branch" to the Italian House and wear Valentino to this most important and high-profile red carpet event. Smart girl. It was a black see-through gown with sheer side panels and feathered details. It does have elements of PUNK and COUTURE for sure. I recognize this gown but cannot for the life of me place the collection. I think it's early to late 1990's Valentino Couture. So, I guess that might be considered "Vintage" in some circles. Not mine though, vintage for me means 50's/60's/70's maybe 80's. Just saying...

Amanda Seyfried in custom Givenchy--This silk chiffon printed gown has a lot of DRAMA to it, especially from the back with that long train; great for walking up those red carpeted Met Gala stairs!), semi-exposed back, and side cowl drape. Her hair and makeup looked great as well.

Emma Watson in Prabal Gurung--Actress Emma Watson went surprisingly SEX-a-Licious in this black one shoulder midriff-exposing side draped gown. I love the gown, but I think she still looks like a sixteen year old girl trying to look too sexy for her age. This gown could be better suited for a six-foot tall supermodel who can carry it off.

Kristen Stewart in Stella McCartney--Maybe I'm alone in this but, I think Kristen looks kinda good in this wine-red lace and satin jumpsuit from Stella McCartney. Her makeup and hair are FLAWLESS. At the very least, this is a 110% improvement from what she looked like back at the 2013 Academy Awards red carpet.

Uma Thurman in Zac Posen Fall 2013--Uma wore an apple green mermaid-shape Zac Posen gown, based on one of the gowns he showed for his Fall 2013 Collection at NY Fashion Week back in February.

Kerry Washington in Vera Wang--Kerry wore this purple flower printed damask gown with center front neckline inset and peplum detail, finishing it all off with long black leather gloves (I guess that was the "punk" element. Not sure about this on Kerry. I'll leave that up to you--my dear NICKVERREOS.COM readers--to decide if it's a "Hit" or "Punk Chaos" miss.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Giles Fall 2013--Always the Fashionista, Miss Sarah Jessica Parker was no wallflower at last night's Met Gala 2013. She wore a black, gold and ivory hand-painted dress from the British fashion house, Giles (designer Giles Deacon) and topped it all off (literally) with a Philip Treacy headdress reminiscent of a something you see from a Himalayan Kingdom. I think she looks fantastic. I love the completely mismatched plaid boots. Only someone with Sarah's confidence and style could pull off this look.

***UP NEXT: Part Two of the Met Gala Red Carpet! Much More PUNK-ish Couture (and CHAOS) from Models, Singers, and more Fashion Divas!

WHO WORE WHAT?.....The White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Red Carpet Part One: The Lace and Embellished Ladies

Fur Divas: Actress/Activist Sharon Stone in black gown with black fur cape and long black leather gloves. and U.S. Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour in gold fitted gown with white mink cape, White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 27, 2013 in Washington, DC

Last night was the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 27, 2013 in Washington, DC , or as insiders like to call it, the "nerd prom".  News Reporters/correspondents from all spectrum of media--from TV, to newspapers (what's that?) and bloggers--rubbed shoulders and ate and drank very close together (that room look too packed!) with Hollywood TV and film (and some reality star) A-listers.

 Conan O'Biren and First Lady Michelle Obama--White House Correspondents' Dinner 2013

I always wonder who pays for all this, who flies out all these Hollywood peeps, pays for the First Class flights and 5-star hotel suites and car services...Is it the White House? What part of the budget does that come under? The "Entertainment" budget? Oh it's just too much to think about so instead, I'd rather think about the FASHION, of course. Several "trends" emerged last night: such as Lots of Lace, Embellished Gowns and Floaty Chiffon, among others. Let's take a look:

The Lace Gals:

Model Irina Shayk: in Dolce & Gabbana--It's a bit "mumsy" for the super-gorgeous model and for my taste as well. Maybe she figured this wasn't the time to look like a Sexy Goddess (she's right) but she didn't have to look like "The Mistress" of a multimillionaire Italian Government Official in her "mourning gown".

Julia Louis Dreyfus in Dolce & Gabbana--HBO's "Veep" actress also wore Dolce & Gabbana to last night's dinner. But, in my eyes, this  purple lace strapless gown was much better than Irina's. Love the color and the fit is great. The green earrings are the right accessory, adding a different color story.

Arianna Huffington in Valentino Spring 2013 Resort--My Greek "sister" wore a black leather and lace gown from Valentino Resort 2013 Collection. Now, if this dress, on Arianna, looks familiar. You're right: she has worn in several times before...

First at the Vanity Fair Academy Awards Viewing Party in February (above, right photo) and most recently, last week at the "Time 100" event (above left photo). Gotta hand it to Huffington, she's a resourceful one and she loves to recycle. And I praise her because I have a very strong feeling that she actually (brace yourself!) BOUGHT this gown (unlike all the other ladies in this post).

Patricia Arquette--Wow, this is all things a MESS. Arquette wore a strapless, too-tight gown featuring sequined applique lace and tiered and sheared tulle ruffles. I feel for her "sistah's" --they are hurtin' up there. It is waaay too tight and I am scared that all the double-stick tape her "assistant" might have bought at JoAnn's ain't gonna help.

Actress Rebel Wilson--Rebel looks great in this embroidered and beaded lace dress with three-quarter sleeves. The v-neckline is just right (open up the neck ladies!), it cinches her in right under her bust (smallest part of the body!) and the fit-to-flare shape is flattering.  I am not a huge fan of this Navy Blue color on her (I would have preferred a stronger hue or something with a bit more sparkle). Also, I'm a stickler for hem lengths and this could have been a few inches longer.

Pageant Girl--"Nashville" actress Connie Britton also continued the Lace Trend at last night's White House Correspondents' Dinner by wore a bright blue lace "Mermaid Lite" gown from Temperley London. I just think she looks like a "Miss Tennessee" in this, or the Mother-of-the-Bride. Just because Lace is a hot trend for Spring doesn't mean you should be wearing it.I think this might have been a "miss". What do guys think?



The Embellished Ladies:

First Lady Michelle Obama in Monique Lhuillier--The First Lady wore this black gown with gathered bust and sequin embellished shoulder detail from designer Monique Lhuillier. I absolutely love the heavy sequin embellished detail at the shoulders, the slight cap sleeve/drop shoulder is so on-trend and the bust draping/twist knotting is delicate and well constructed.

"Scandal" Actress Kerry Washington in Wes Gordon Fall 2013--Washington, always the "Fashion Gal" went a little 80's style with this black and white dress from designer Wes Gordon. The halter gown features an asymmetrical "over dress" and is printed.

Amy Poehler in Basler--Basler--in case you didn't know--is a popular German brand. This beaded white gown is right on trend--from the covered shoulders, cap sleeves, slight peplum...it also fits Amy quite good.

Nicole Kidman wore a lavender silk chiffon Emilio Pucci gown with silver sequin and studded embellished  detail while attending the Bloomberg & Vanity Fair Cocktail Reception following the White House Correspondents' Dinner 2013 at the residence of the French Ambassador in Washington, D.C. I thought this gown was perfect for her--the color, silhouette and naturally she was on-trend with EVERYTHING!

Olivia Munn in Marchesa--"It Girl" of the moment, Olivia Munn wore this Marchesa silk chiffon gown with an  embellished bib and fitted waist. I like it. It's very 1970's Liz Taylor Meets Jackie O with a little bit of Grecian Goddess.

 

Claire Danes in Prada--I kike the gown but not the "Farah
Fawcett-Lite" hair. The "Homeland" star wore a baby blue high-neck
column gown with fitted waist and embellished sequined side trim. It's
elegant, classic yet modern at the same time.  

I especially love how her sides are exposed. Very simple design yet still impacting. I just think a chignon would have been better for this kind of gown, not this feathered late 80's do.

"Modern Family" actress Julie Bowen wore this Monique Lhuillier dress last night. It was a strapless devore velvet embellished dress with a slight high-low hem. I liked this on her. It was a bit unique, fit her perfectly and her accessories were right-on. Like Claire Danes, the hair was a bit of a "miss" for me.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend: Chrissy wore a one-shoulder gold and silver embellished gown from Kaufman Franco and looked flawless.  Speaking of flawless: Hello John Legend! They are a Super-Fab Couple for sure!



Up Next: Part Two of the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Red Carpet---The Chiffon and Structured Ladies and one HOT Double-Breasted Guy!