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 The Fashionable First Ladies of The Near and Middle East

Sheikha Divas
Fashion Queen: Rania of Jordan in Elie Saab

With all the bad news coming out of the Middle and Near East, I wanted to post something pretty about that region. Specifically, its First Ladies and their fashion sense. I know that some would argue that several of these women have (or have had) controversial or not-so-nice husbands, i.e., Iran and Syria, but that's not the topic here at NickVerreos.com. It's about fashion here. If I wrote a blog for BBC or CNN, then that's where I would discuss their shady husbands.Bell Sleeved: Farah Diba of Iran

In almost every interview I have done, I get asked "Who are your muses?" or "What inspires you?", and besides 1970s Pan Am Flight Attendants and Miss Venezuelas, I always mention Empress Farah Diba of Iran and Queen Rania of Jordan as muses of mine. It seems of late that the "new guard" of Queens, Princesses, Sheikhas and First Ladies from the Middle East are taking cues from the former Empress and becoming quite the fashion divas.
Here is my Fashion Tribute to the Divas of The Middle East:

The Old Guard:Of course, I have to start with Farah Diba, wife of the late Shah of Iran who was overthrown by the Iranian Revolution back in 1979. Here she is on the cover of Life Magazine back in 1959, announcing her engagement to the Shah. I didn't realize Life Magazine was the UsWeekly of the 1950s. In this Dior gown, she was already giving a hint of the Fashion Diva that she was to become.Come Fly With Me: I LOVE this photo of the Empress Farah Diba, looking like one of my other muses, a Pan Am stewardess. I am LIVING for the pillbox hat, crystal-trimmed suit and diamond pin. Effortless. Remind me why women don't dress like this anymore?Couture Diva: Princess Firyal of Jordan is also one of the "original" Divas of Middle East Fashion. She was married to the youngest brother of the late King Hussein of Jordan (therefore the title) but divorced him back in 1978 (scandal!). Back in the day, she was the Bianca Jagger of Princesses, partying at Parisian and Manhattan nightclubs, hobnobbing in Monte Carlo (the city not the hotel thank you very much). Besides being a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1992, she is also famous for being a front-row fixture during Haute Couture Fashion week (Couture darling, NEVER Pret-a-Porter) .

The New Guard: The Winning Queen Diva
Queen Rania of Jordan (in a gorgeous Stephane Rolland silk crepe ivory gown) at a recent visit to Rome with her husband, King Abdullah II

Of course, the title of the Queen of the Middle East Fashion Divas has to go to the stunning Queen Rania of Jordan. Every year, she tops all the "World's Best Dressed" lists and one can see why. She rarely gets it wrong when it comes to fashion. Queen Rania with Mayor Bloomberg of NY

She definitely has that fashion "gene".She wears all the top designers and is especially fond of Lebanese designer Elie Saab, whose gowns she is always seen in.

First Runner Up: Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned
Turban Happy: Sheikha Mozah is a serious fashion Diva. And I am adding her to my list of muses, like tomorrow! She is the second of three wives of the Emir of Qatar (I would hate to be the other two). Besides being the President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Qatar and a UNESCO's Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, she is also known for wearing Haute Couture (naturally) and her iconic turbans.
Carla Who: It's not easy to upstage Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the First Lady of France and former model. But I barely notice Carla when the Sheikha is around.Can You Get Out Of The Picture Please: Again, the Sheikha upstages another First Lady, Mehriban Aliyeva of Azerbaijan with a fabulous fitted suit and (of course) her trademark turban. Aliyeva--who is very stylish in her own right (more on her below)-- looks like her assistant standing next to her. Poor thing.

Rania Runner-Ups--Chic Ladies In Waiting:First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva. Above we saw her looking uncomfortable with the Sheikha of Qatar and in this photo, she's at a recent State Visit to Jordan meeting Queen Rania. You know she had to "step up" her fashion game if she had to stand next to her. First Lady of Syria, Asma al-Assad. She's tall, a size zero and loves to look glamorous and fashionable. No chadors in her closet. Many comment that she's a bit of a Queen Rania copy-cat and only had a heightened sense of style since the Jordanian Queen came into the scene. Whatever it is, who cares. She's out to dispute the myth that all women in the Middle East are covered from head to know and don't enjoy the so-called more frivolous desires such as fashion and looking fashionable.
Daytime Syria: Here she is giving you Daytime--with a capital D. Love this dress and the statement necklace. Ten out of ten "Nick Fashion Points".Princess Amira Al-Taweel is another "Mini Rania". She's a Saudi Princess married to global tycoon Prince Alwaleed Bin Talaal, nephew to Saudi King Abdullah and the 13Th wealthiest man in the world and she looks like a movie star.

Finally...An honorable "Fashion Mention" could go to Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco. I know, Morocco technically isn't in the geographic Middle East and in fact is in North Africa, but I am still including her. She is a "Rania Mini-Me" and as of late, has been seen sporting more fashionable ensembles straight out of Vogue as opposed to a Marrakesh Bazaar but she still loves her caftans and takchita.
Until next time my dear fashionistas--I'll be on the look out for more Fashionable First ladies, Queens and Princesses of the World in my ever-expanding quest to search for more NIKOLAKI muses. If you have any suggestions, feel free to "drop me a note" here...