The biggest red-carpet event in the fashion calendar just took place the other night, as the East Coast’s version of the famed Vanity Fair Oscar party generated just as much star power, yet this crowd of fashion’s elite ruled The Met Ball- the annual springtime Costume Institute Gala- where they celebrated the opening of the Metropolitan Museum’s fashion exhibit Punk: Chaos to Couture. This glamorous extravaganza was the most sought-after destination in New York on Monday night , where this year’s honorary chairperson Beyonce, along with co-chairs designer Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy and the uber chic actress Rooney Mara, helped reap millions of dollars at what is considered a critical fundraiser for the museum, which has been a mainstay since 1948.
Hosted by Vogue’s style arbiter Anna Wintour, this gathering of glitterati was compiled by Wintour herself, as she hand-picked each guest with the discerning scrutiny of a militant fashion dictator- for which she is revered. Commemorating leaders in the punk movement, such as Stephen Sprouse and Sid Vicious, guests included punk royalty Vivienne Westwood and Debbie Harry, as well as a plethora of movie stars and supermodels who were paired with designer dates. Jennifer Lawrence arrived with Dior, Julianne Moore wore a custom Balenciaga design from her date Alexander Wang, and the Fanning sisters- Elle and Dakota- were escorted by another pair of sisters- Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy.
These punk inspired outfits are now offered to the public by way of Moda Operandi’s The Spotlight Project, where you will see brands teamed up with the online fashion e-tailer, offering their celebrity approved red-carpet creations. So even though you may not happen to be Sarah Jessica Parker- my vote for best dressed in Giles Deacon, whose mohawk was provided by milliner Philip Treacy– newly blonde Ann Hathaway, Madonna, or even Ms. Wintour for that matter, you can always re-create that night while going punk for a day at The Met. And of course, the most pressing question on everyones mind prior to this event has now been answered. Yes, Kim Kardashian finally made the list and was allowed to hike up all those stairs…looking very pregnant in Givenchy. Good thing she made it in safely. May 9 through August 14, 2013
