"Women dress alike all over the world: they dress to be annoying to other women".
Elsa Schiaperelli
And never was this quote more aptly illustrated than on the Costume Institute Gala red carpet last night where each fresh limousine arriving outside the New York Metropolitan Museum dispatched a woman vying to look better than the woman before her. The annual gala organised by Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, celebrates the opening of the Met's yearly fashion exhibition. This year's exhibition Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations honours two of the greatest Italian doyennes of fashion, Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada.
Each year the gala draws a glittering crowd of models, Hollywood starlets, pop princesses and anyone who's anyone in fashion. Often dubbed the "Oscars of the East Coast", the gala is undoubtedly one of New York's top social events and the red carpet is renowned for showcasing cutting-edge looks, fresh from the catwalk. However, while Oscars' fashion requires high glamour with a measure of decorum, the Met Gala is an evening to up the high fashion ante and flaunt your style credentials. It's without a doubt our favourite red carpet of the year to scrutinise and last night's certainly didn't disappoint.
So, here's our round up of the best dressed, the worst dressed and the highly commended for bringing high fashion to the red carpet and owning it...
Best Dressed
Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren
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Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana
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Kate Bosworth in Prada
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Carey Mulligan in Prada
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Rooney Mara in Givenchy
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Emma Stone in Lanvin
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Worst Dressed
Kristen Stewart in Balenciaga
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Leighton Meester in Marchesa
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Mary-Kate Olsen in The Row
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Kate Upton in Michael Kors
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Anja Rubik in Anthony Vaccarello
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Chloe Sevigny in Miu Miu
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Dakota Fanning in Louis Vuitton
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A* for Rocking High Fashion
Elizabeth Banks in Mary Katrantzou
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Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen
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Christina Ricci in Thakoon
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Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe
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And we couldn't help noticing a few trends springing up...
Capes
Hot on the heels of Gwyneth's show stealing Oscars look, last night's red carpet was draped in capes. From Lana Del Rey in vampy Altuzarra to Anna Wintour in cropped, luxe, white fur, right through to Bianca Brandolini d'Adda in shimmering liquid bronze Dolce & Gabbana. We're loving Superhero Chic!
Yellow
After a pretty monochrome set of awards ceremonies this year, there was a notable riot of colour last night. Schiaparelli pink was not surprisingly a popular choice but its a tough colour to pull off. Karlie Kloss was our pick of the bunch in Jason Wu, which struck just the right balance between sickly and sexy with slithers of black lace overlaid against the pink. But our favourite of the brights was yellow. From Solange Knowles' daffodil hued Rachel Roy gown and Emma Roberts' yolk yellow Escada to January Jones' buttercup sculptural Versace, these girls were putting the zing into spring (despite the cold, wet weather).
Prada
Unsurprisingly, the label of choice last night was Prada. Host, Anna Wintour began proceedings by elegantly gliding onto the carpet in a white Prada gown embellished with a gold lobster - a tribute to Schiaparelli's infamous Dali Lobster dress. Co-hosts, Carey Mulligan and Gwyneth Paltrow also both wore Prada, the latter showing more than a hint of controversial side-boob... Milla Jovovich wore a fabulous 20s inspired scarlet Prada gown and Jessica Biel, flashing her new engagement ring also wore Prada but we really wish she'd loose the unflattering fringe.
Backs
By the amount of spine on show yesterday evening, it's clear that the back is back. Rihanna in Tom Ford, Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe and Renee Zellweger in Emilio Pucci all covered up in front to go low at the back. Inbuilt corsetry/ a modest bust a must for pulling off this look - watch and learn Kate Upton.
Granny Dressing
High necks, long sleeves and floor-skimming hemlines. There was a definite sense of buttoned-up granny-chic amongst the A-List last night. At first glance we felt that Lilly Collins' Valentino gown was too old and dowdy for her but the more we scrutinise her look, the more we like it - definitely beats the tacky, too low-cut, too tight, too high thigh-split dresses at the British Soap Awards last month. Also channeling Octogenarian style were Sarah Jessica Parker in Valentino and Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte.
Feathers
Birds of a feather flocking together seemed pretty apt last night. Feathers ruled the roost with Kate Bosworth in ombre feathered Prada and Chanel Iman in feathered Tom Ford. But a dusting of feathers around the hem was the key look. Beyonce sent jaws dropping in an embroidered, sheer Givenchy gown trimmed with black and purple feathers, Cate Blanchett came over all black swan in Alexander McQueen and Diane Kruger opted for yet more Prada but this time a violet feather hemmed gown with a boho silhouette.
Vampy Lips
Black cherry was the hue on many a starlet's lips last night. Lana del Rey, Kate Bosworth, Leighton Meester and Camilla Belle all plumped for a plum pout. Camilla Belle told journalists that she'd mixed three shades of lipstick to get just the right shade - let's hope it didn't require too many touch-ups through the night..
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