Red Carpet Style – Met Ball 2011

As everyone and their eyebrow stylist probably know, the Met Ball went down last night in New York. I’m not too keen on blogging about red carpets but this IS one of fashion’s biggest nights so I’ve decided to round up my favourite looks of the night. What we need to get out of the way is that the most exciting McQueen creations are part of the exhibition ‘Savage Beauty’ which was opened with the Gala. So the red carpet choices may seem a bit disappointing at first but, well, that’s the reason why attendees couldn’t draw on unlimited sources. I *may* update this post over the course of the day as more pictures become available but at the moment I feel like I’ve seen every single one of them! Let’s dive straight in:

Liv Tyler in Givenchy Couture

This was probably my favourite look of the night. I LOVE the colour and how she just screams ‘spring’. The little wings in the hip area are cute and just the right size. The back of the dress is exquisit and the styling is flawless: perfect hair, make-up (look at that skin!) and accessories.

The best of the rest in no particular order:

Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen

Of course she was one of the privileged ones to wear McQueen tonight. I like this look so much because I expected her to overdo it but she turned up looking polished and classy and lovely. Well played, SJP!

Michelle Williams in Miu Miu

This is quite a departure from her usual angelic look. I like the silhouette it gives her and the little birds are adorable. Not so keen on the make-up. I think it ages her a bit and makes her look blotchy. Or something. I can’t quite put my finger on it but I think I would have preferred some colour somewhere. The lips maybe?

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu

Oh Diane! She rarely gets it wrong, doesn’t she? I even like her hair this time which I sometimes just can’t bring myself to do. In close-ups the bodice is spectacular!

Daphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen

THE most ravishing dress that was allowed outside of the exhibition! This is the McQueen I adore so much, it’s out-of-this-world beautiful. And wasn’t that exactly Lee’s thing? Daphne got dressed in a window at Barney’s by the way.

Dakota Fanning in Valentino

This is not a dress I’d choose for myself but it’s so great on her. I always get a little excited when one of those young Hollywood things dresses her age. Would have preferred it styled differently, tho. Especially the hair.

Christina Ricci in Zac Posen

Now this is probably a controversial choice. But my point is: if you can’t wear a dress like this to the Met Ball, where can you wear it? This is not something I’d recommend to anyone going to some random black tie event. But this is a fashion party and taking a risk is appreciated. Far too few of them actually do it. Look at that amazing teeny-tiny waist it gives her. Well I guess she has that teeny-tiny waist but the dress accentuates it nicely. And it’s dramatic! The timing for that dress is just right and Christina is quirky enough to pull it off. It could be awful on someone else. I shall name no names.

Blake Lively in Chanel

I’m usually not keen on Blake’s choices, Chanel or otherwise. This is a girl who manages to push her boobs out in every single outfit and that cheapens it immediately. But here everything is nicely contained and she is actually quite sexy here! The lace/appliqué suggests just enough. The only thing I’m not down with is her new hair colour. I hope it’s for a role! (Ha, who are we kidding…) Red hair naturally coincides with fair skin for a reason. With a tan it’s way too Essex for my taste and even when you are groomed like her it looks quite trashy. *rant over*

Last thoughts

I loved Lucy Liu’s Vionnet but it didn’t work on her tiny frame. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Stella McCartney would have looked great on Diane Kruger but she already had a beautiful dress. Without being too crass, it made Maggie’s boobs look saggy. Another honorary mention goes to Madonna who managed to look the best we’ve seen her in a while in a slick star-covered Stella McCartney number. Shame she insisted to shove her boobs up to her chin. The fit of the dress could have been better too. Speaking of Stella… She always dresses her girls so well and seems to wear what’s left. Tory Burch seems to have a *slightly* different approach.