0 Red Carpet Report: Met Ball 2012--Best DIVA Dressed and the "Kooky Red Carpet Award" Goes To...

The Met Divas!

Beyonce in Givenchy Haute Couture: Miss Beyonce knows how to make an entrance. The above photos are evidence of this. She certainly made a Diva-like entrance--worthy of putting RuPaul AND ALL her "Drag Race" contestants to shame--in this over-the-top bespoke design from Givenchy Haute Couture. The gown featured delicate embellishment hand-sewn into a silk tulle structure, covering the "important parts" which then ended in a flourish of black and violet-colored feathers.

The train was a "Train to End All Trains" and needed to have little Givenchy Haute Couture "flower girls" holding it up. Under it all, one could see a very fitted and boned inner structure --like a Super Couture Spanx--in nude coloring cinching it all in--and making it look as if she was naked underneath. Beyonce's body looked amazing, lest we forget just less than 4 months ago, she gave birth to her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.

Cate Blanchett in Alexander McQueen Fall 2012: Actress Cate Blanchett looked like a feathered Princess in this McQueen gown from Sarah Burton's Fall 2012 collection for the brand. On the runway, this black mermaid-shaped gown was also shown with a feathered tried "Super" Cape, steal-grey sunglasses/visors and an oversized metallic belt. Cate and her stylist wisely decided none of that was needed. It's a perfect example of "From Runway to Red Carpet Reality".

Amy Adams in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2012: Adams looked like Rita Hayworth in this one-shoulder gathered white silk Grecian Goddess gown with a black side midriff panel and finished off with a gold lame bow-tied belt. Loved the gown; loved the hair, the simple and elegant gold clutch. She looked RICH.

Nina Dobrev in Donna Karan Atelier: I thought Beyonce had taken the "Train to End All Trains" Award, however...say "hello" to actress Nina Dobrev. I'll begin by saying that I really like this gold and black bias-cut one-shoulder gown with open back and side cowl detail. But it was the over-the-top train here that was distracting for me. While I LOVED the feathered train on Beyonce, and felt it looked harmonious with the rest of the gown; like the perfect ending. Here, on this gown, it just seemed unnecessary. Is it just me or why do I have a need to get a pair of scissors?

Sofia Vergara in Marchesa Spring 2012: Vergara wore a silver sequined embellished strapless gown with a cascading peplum from Marchesa Spring 2012 collection. One of her best red carpet looks yet; very on-trend, not too "Va-Va-Boom"; perfect clean center-parted hair. Muy bien Sofia.

  

Ashley Greene in Donna Karan Atelier: This strapless gathered gown looked SUBLIME on Ashley. So pretty, so Grecian, and so could be a fabulously chic wedding gown as well.

Bianca Brandolini d'Adda in Custom Dolce and Gabbana: In case you are wondering who this GOLDEN DIVA is, well kids, let me "school" you. She is the daughter of Count Rodrigo Tiberio Brandolini d'Adda and Princess Georgine de Faucigny-Lucinge et Coligny. She is also a descendant of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. In other words yes, she's royal blue blood and loves fashion and has the money to look fabulous. She decided to not blend in at Monday night's Met Gala as seen from her "Cleopatra Has Arrived" cape-and-gown gold paillette ensemble from Dolce and Gabbana.

 

China Chow in Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture: Leave it to China to give a little bit of Glamour, a little bit of whimsy, a little bit of art, all wrapped in one gown. The details are subtle but impacting.

 

 

Diane Kruger in Custom Prada: I'm sure not a lot of people liked this, but I did. This purple colored "nightgown" with feathered hem was fun and very "Couture Boudoir"...she looked like she was about to slam FIVE Dirty Martini's in some fabulous house party she was hosting  in Palm Springs in 1969. And for that: she got my Fashion Vote!

 

Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen Fall 2012: Florence And The Machine singer Florence Welch didn't disappoint on Monday night--fashion-wise--when she showed up in this tiered and super-embellished design from Alexander McQueen Fall 2012 collection. Welch, in fact, arrived with the designer Sarah Burton as one of her muses. Now, I thought Florence was a tall woman, but noticing where this dress hit the runway model (mid leg/way above the ankle), I'm guessing that model is an over 6 footer!

And The "Met Gala 2012 Red Carpet" Kooky Award goes to....

 

Christina Ricci in Thakoon: Well, well, well, I decided to wrap my Met Gala Red Carpet BLOG postings with a BIG BOW. As in--take a look at Christina Ricci's oversized silk organza back bow! This dress, by Thakoon, designed by Thakoon Panichgul (who was her date incidentally) featured a below-the-knee, laser-cut embroidery/applique silhouette and then an exuberant organza neckline ruffle that then ended up in THAT big ol' bow. I can't imagine how much tulle is stuck inside that bow to hold it up! This seriously looks like a sketch/design I would have done when I was ten before I realized I had to design for real women!! Somewhere in the World a fierce Drag Queen is mad at herself for not thinking--or designing--this out-of-control dress.

0 Red Carpet Report: Met Ball 2012: Cocktail Dresses

Short Dress Met Ball Madness...

In my last post, I highlighted some of my Top Picks of the Costume Institute "Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations" Gala Met Ball 2012 red carpet last night--in particular, the MODELS and how they "worked it out". This post here is more about a certain "trend" of sorts on last night's red carpet: short cocktail dresses. Lots of actresses--and a model here and there--chose to don dresses that did not go to the floor, or have a train, or were Ball-worthy.

So here are The Cocktail Girls:

 

Emma Stone in Lanvin: Red, beaded, U-necked dress with thin straps and pouffy skirt section. The dress is Custom and it was designed by Alber Elbaz of Lanvin. I think she looked great. Loved the "messy" bouffant and the lack of "fussy" jewelry" (the dress has embellishment enough!). Not sure about those clunky black pumps. Although, they have become a big trend lately. What do you guys think? Are they OK or distracting? Let me know.

Carey Mulligan in Prada: How do you say FABULOUS in Italian?? Favoloso? If, so yes, it's FAVOLOSO. Mulligan is wearing Custom Prada (of course she is wearing Prada, the Italian Fashion House is on the Museum Exhibition's TITLE!) The oversized gold-and-silver paillete A-line shaped halter-neckline'd dress is "Jetsons" FAB! I just can't get enough of it! I know that if a dress like this were to retail, it would be about $15,000-$25,000--I would love to see the $159 department store version.

Kristen Stewart in Balenciaga Fall 2012: Designed by Nicolas Ghesquiere, Balmain's Creative Director/House Designer, it's from the Balenciaga Fall 2012 Runway show but instead of the color-blocked white midriff panel, it was red on Kristen. A lot of people on the "internets" are huffing & puffing about this look on Stewart but here's a SHOCKER: I like it! It's very neo-punk late 80's/early 90's and I get it. The paillete abstract-print top section combined with the color-blocked leather pencil skirt is a great look--especially for her. I also like that she paired it with the same shoes that were worn on the runway show. Good job Miss Kristen! Although I will say that I wish she would have done a bit more with the hair and make-up.

Melania Trump in Marc Bouwer Couture: Well darlings, I don't even know where to begin. But I will: let's just begin with the fact that she has a fabulous figure. I mean, seriously! I am a little "On the Red Carpet Fence" with this look. I love the silhouette, the way it fits (especially on Mrs. Trump) but it's the "I'm doing a Lady Gaga Pointed Shoulder Avant Garde" thang, which throws me off. My personal outlook on this look is that it didn't need to go there. I would have loved structured architectural shoulders. But PAGODA-shaped ones. Not sure. What do you guys think?

Alexa Chung and Karen Elson in Marc Jacobs: Two Fashion Girls doing the Marc Jacobs look. Chung's mid-thigh look is from the Marc Jacobs Fall 2012 and Elson's is from the Spring 2012 one. Who did Marc Jacobs best? Let me know.

Chloe Sevigny in Miu Miu Fall 2012: Miu Miu, as we all know, is the "lower line" of Miuccia Prada's Prada line. Sevigny wore a high-neck dress from the Miu Miu Fall 2012 Collection. ON the runway, it was shown over a black blouse. She wore it by itself. It's very "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In" TV Show. I would have LOVED to have seen Goldie in this...back in 1972.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Prada: Side Boob-age Alert. Yes, Miss Gwyneth--whom I just LOVE--gave some side-breast--at last night's Costume Institute Met Ball. The very short high-low duchesse satin  dress was a Custom Prada. In other words, not available at boutiques. And Thank God for that. The halter neckline at the sides needed about an inch to an inch and half added. How, the masterful Prada Pattern-maker/Fitter missed that is beyond me. So, therefore I figure that it was intentional. But why? Maybe for the fact that we are discussing it right now???

 

Kate Bosworth in Prada: Here's the thing, she looks great. Nothing wrong with this feathered "flapper girl" halter-neckline'd Custom Prada dress. The strappy heels are very 1979 Studio 54 (LOVE) and so is that rectangle clutch purse. 

 

Joan Smalls in Balmain with the designer, Olivier Rousteing: Finally, I added a model to this posting. I know, I did my "Models on the Met Gala Red Carpet" posting HERE, but Joan Smalls wore a mini dress. So, therefore, I felt she belonged here. For me, Smalls can do NO WRONG. This dress, is what every HOT female soldier of a FASHION DICTATOR'S Army. Now, can we DISCUSS this young (only 25!) good looking head of the House of Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing?? Looks like he may be the new Fashion Dictator!