[Originally posted at Vita.mn]Last night the 2011 Met Ball (the Oscars of the east coast) was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This year's ball honored British designer Alexander McQueen, who committed suicide last year, and Gisele Bundchen, Salma Hayek and Daphne Guinness were among the stars to choose Alexander McQueen designs. Here's my take on the best, worst, and most cracktastic looks of the night.
BESTDaphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen
Only quirky heiress Daphne Guinness - known for her over-the-top, but nearly always impeccable personal style, could pull off a runway look like this. Anyone else would look positively ridiculous. Also,
love the shoes.
Diane Kruger in Jason Wu
Diane Kruger is nearly always one of the best dressed on the red carpet, and is known for making slightly unusual choices. This is yet another striking, unusual red carpet look. The top is gorgeous, but the '40s siren thigh-high slit really makes it.
Madonna in Stella McCartney
Madge looked surprisingly sophisticated and graceful in this '40s-inspired stunner, and the red lip couldn't have been more perfect. The starred back train brings it to another level.
Florence Welch in YSL
Florence and the Machine's lead singer has become a breakout red carpet star as of late. Her attitude and edge really makes this '70s-inspired YSL look stand out.
Jennifer Lopez in Gucci
Bow down, bitches. Yes, this look is fairly ridiculous - she paired a hot pink gown with a hot pink feather bolero with a hot pink clutch and hot pink lipstick. But she's J.Lo, she can do that. She makes this look reek of glamour as only a diva could.
Dakota Fanning in Valentino
The 17-year-old fashion plate has been among the best dressed on the red carpet in the past year, and this floaty Valentino confection is no exception. It's still very youthful but imagine it on someone with an edgier, more sophisticated style like Florence Welch and it would work just as well.
Liv Tyler in Ginvenchy
After Cate Blanchett's stunning white and yellow Givenchy gown at the Oscars, Liv follows it up with this lovely design. Not as striking as Cate's, but I adore the layered, pieced-together look of the fabric, the ombre color effect, and the unusual yellow detail at the back. I'm sure this look will get her some nods of disapproval thanks to the yellow bum, but I think she pulls it off.
Eva Mendes in Stella McCartney
Capitalizing on the Studio 54 '70s vibe that's back in a big way this spring, Eva Mendes does her best Bianca Jagger.
Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen
Of the many neutral, dull dresses at the MET Ball this year, Sarah Jessica Parker's Alexander McQueen gown managers to avoid blandness thanks to a lovely cowl neck, three-quarter length sleeves and an interesting pattern to the subtle sparkle.
Bee Shaffer in Balenciaga and Anna Wintour in Chanel
Vogue's queen bee and her daughter Bee shine equally, Wintour in a stunning sequined Chanel gown and Shaffer in a very architectural, classic Balenciaga look. The structured train is very old Hollywood. (Though I think her hair and makeup are a bit too harsh.)
Mia Wasikowska in Thakoon
Another stylish newcomer to red carpet, Mia and her Thakoon satin beaded gown present the best side of young Hollywood - classic with a slight edge.
Michelle Williams in Miu Miu
There's been mixed reviews of Michelle Williams' avian gown, and she definitely could've stood to pump up the volume a bit, but I can't help but find the whimsical design adorable on her.
Ashley Olsen in Christian Dior
This Olsen sister took a risk with a simple black Christian Dior dress, brought up a notch with puffy sleeves and a high side slit. It's sure to be a controversial look, but she brought the glamour and that's what counts.
Shalom Harlow in Marchesa
I'm not usually a fan of Marchesa's sticky-sweet designs - which get a bit redundant in their similarity on the red carpet - but this one works for me thanks to the sheerness, unusual silhouette, inky black embroidery effect, and the fact that it's worn by Shalom freakin' Harlow.
WORSTBeyonce in Pucci
Pirate barmaid meets
The Little Mermaid.
Rihanna in Stella McCartney
Pippi Longstocking meets Elvira.
Miranda Kerr in Marchesa (with Orlando Bloom)
Sequel to
The Black Swan: The White Swan Stripper.Blake Lively in Chanel
Lady Liberty gets bodypainted.
Solange Knowles in Dries Van Noten
Magic Eye painting as dressed by someone who uses a seeing eye dog. (Don't even get me started on the hair and makeup.)
MOST CRACKTASTIC
Christina Hendricks in Carolina Herrera
First things first - fire your stylist. Seriously. There is no excuse to dress such an amazing body this way. And hair and makeup are godawful.
Christine Teigen in Chris March (with John Legend)
The Black Swan ditches ballet to become a flamenco dancer who becomes a stripper.
Frieda Pinto in Chanel
Um, WTF Karl Lagerfeld? This is unacceptable, even coming from you.
Andre Leon Talley in WTF??
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAWTF?!
Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton
This dress couldn't be any more wrong for the MET Ball. This is the place to really go all out glam - not wear a bondagey cocktail dress. Also, those buttons look silly, and it's just too much with the shoes. She's trying way too hard.
Mary-Kate Olsen
Merry Christmas! Love, Grandma.
Lucy Liu in Vionnet
A lampshade at a very expensive whorehouse.
AND IN A CATEGORY OF HER OWN:Iman in Stella McCarntney
Who else could pull off a gold lame jumpsuit? Only IMAN, dahling.
Naomi Campbell in Alexander McQueen
Yeah, she looks like an angel in a cracked-out Kanye West video, but she's Naomi, goddamn it. Bow down.
[Photo by Ellen Dahl Lawson]
