Alexander McQueen has been the name on everyone’s lips for the past few days and all that talk culminated in a celebration of his life and life’s work at last night’s Costume Institute Gala. The Metropolitan Museum’s ode to McQueen entitled “Savage Beauty” opened to great adoration as friends of the designer, including Daphne Guinness and Sarah Jessica Parker, walked the red carpet in his breathtaking creations. Click through to see some of my favorite looks and tell me who you think stole the show.
The Met Gala is like the World Series of red carpet events; you see more daring, more gorgeous and more couture ensembles on the Gala attendees than any Oscars ceremony you could dream of. Between the models, the starlets and the editors, it’s a whirlwind of gorgeous fashion and equally gorgeous people. And not to take away from the real celebration of the night, Alexander McQueen, who’s creativity, vision and talent won’t soon be forgotten.
Iman, SJP, Gisele Bundchen and Salma Hayek were just a few of the ladies who attended the Gala in amazing McQueen ensembles.
Sarah Jessica Parker, Hilary Rhoda, Salma Hayek
Naomi Campbell, Karen Elson, Iman
Daphne Guinness, Gisele Bundchen with husband Tom Brady
Co-host Stella McCartney outfitted her fair share of Gala ladies as well.
Naomi Watts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Livia Giuggioli (in eco-friendly, recycled Stella) with husband Colin Firth
Budding style star Hailee Steinfeld, the designer in her own creation, Rhianna looking ah-may-zing
While a few others (including the evening’s host, Anna Wintour) chose Chanel.
Anna Wintour in Chanel Couture, Freida Pinto, Janelle Monae
In a sea of neutrals, these three ladies stood out in punchy neon looks.
Brooklyn Decker in Michael Kors, Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein with designer Francisco Costa, Ginnifer Goodwin in Topshop Unique (Yep, you read that right. Not Gucci, TOPSHOP! I love it.)
Nobody pulls off a gold dress quite like a blondie.
Elizabeth Banks in Tommy Hilfiger, Kristen Bell in Tory Burch, Diane Kruger in Jason Wu with the designer
Emma Stone continues to absolutely kill it on the red carpet – this Lanvin choice is no exception (and how about those hot pink lips!?).
Tory Burch in vintage Jean Patou, Emma Roberts in Michael Kors, Emma Stone in Lanvin
Elettra Wiedemann, daughter of Isabella Rossellini, had designer Prabal Gurung rework a gown once worn by her grandmother, Ingrid Bergman.
Elettra Wiedenmann in Prabal Gurung, Florence Welch in YSL, Liv Tyler in Givenchy Couture with designer Riccardo Tisci
Some Gala attendees were still feeling a bit of Royal Wedding fever with their dramatic hear wear.
Demi Moore in Prabal Gurung with hat by Philip Treacy, Anna Dello Russo in Alexander McQueen, Yoko Ono
Christina Ricci channeling her inner dark bombshell in Zac Posen almost stole the show.
Ricci in Zac Posen, Mia Wasikowska in Thakoon, Emily Browning in Marc Jacobs
And my best dressed award of the night goes to Vogue’s Hamish Bowles (with Ricci a close second) in Alexander McQueen with custom Christian Louboutin brogues!
Shalom Harlow in Marchesa, Hamish Bowles in Alexander McQueen, Karolina Kurkova in Jean Paul Gaultier
Prior to the Gala, close friend of McQueen Daphne Guinness put on a performance show of sorts as she got dressed for the event in the window at Barney’s Madison Avenue store.
If you can’t get to New York to see the exhibit for yourself, Fashionista has a great review from contributor Long Ngyuen as well as pictures of some of the over 100 dresses on display at the museum.
Any major McQueen fans out there? What was your favorite collection or look from the designer? Has McQueen’s work inspired any of your own sewing or design projects?
Photos courtesy of Style.com, New York Magazine and Google Images
May 9, 2011, 06.59 PMby msnew007
Sarah Jessica Parker can do no wrong!
May 8, 2011, 08.26 AMby pambox
love the daphne guinness and christina ricci dresses. i have to say i always find sarah jessica parker massively overrated,and i feel the same about this dress – it just doesn’t seem that great to me, and i’ve never seen why she’s seen as a fashion icon, but to each their own. i also really don’t like rihanna’s look – dress or hair – and most disappointing i think, that fabric is really gorgeous but the cut just doesn’t give it anything to work with. ginnifer goodwin’s dress is also fantastic, great colour, sexy cutouts but not looking tarty or too much skin. i also love frieda pinto’s and liv tyler’s dresses, and hamish bowles’ suit is just ridiculously awesome.
May 8, 2011, 01.21 AMby designerroya
I love his designs! He was so inspirational!
May 6, 2011, 10.04 AMby marrrija
Let’s see.. I liked: Gisele Bundchen, Liv Tyler in Givenchy Couture and Ricci in Zac Posen. And the dress Daphne Guinness wore.. that one is numer 1. :)
May 4, 2011, 11.57 PMby freakusbzzz
Mia Wasikowska and Shalom Harlow in Marchesa is amazingly unique
May 4, 2011, 02.41 PMby nettie
My sister and I already have a date to see the show together! My favorite is Diane Kruger, who looks effing amazing in everything! I love Rihanna’s hair and makeup, I wasn’t a huge fan of the dress though. Christina Ricci is hot! This look works well on her small frame and with her dark hair. I like the McQueen pantsuits on Anna Dello Russo and Hamish Bowles!!
May 4, 2011, 01.53 PMby ichigogirl
My favourites above are: Daphne Guinness, Gisele Bundchen and Sarah Jessica Parker. One cool, one Va-va-voom and one really elegant. I probably won’t be able to go, I wouldn’t mind a few more pictures from the exhibition further down the line ;-)! Oh, and regarding if Queen has inspired anything I’ve made yet, no, which is really weird since I LOVE his work and have loads of pictures from his shows in my inspiration folders. I hope it will in the future though. Maybe his creations were too complicated? Maybe I just wanted to keep them in my fantasy, as a future treat, a piece of candy to suck on for a little longer…
2 Replies
May 5, 2011, 06.17 PMby themisslinds
Gisele can wear a paper bag and still look like a million bucks – it’s really not fair. As for Daphne, she can do no wrong in my book.
May 6, 2011, 01.41 PMby ichigogirl
Hehe, themisslinds, that’s probably true. But I think anyone who can fill up and/or fit into that dress would look a million bucks in it, it’s so gorgeous!
I actually think the SJP dress is harder to pull off, it would make most people look pale and shapeless. Me for example… :-)
May 4, 2011, 12.17 PMby ladykatza
I’m heading to NYC in June for my birthday. TOTALLY going to the exhibit.
May 4, 2011, 11.41 AMby wzrdreams
I can’t wait to see this exhibit!