DivaDebbi's Love and Loathes at The Met Gala 2016

Rihana, entering the Met Gala last year dressed in homage
 to the the theme of the exhibit, "China through the Looking Glass"

This is it Lovelies.  The most coveted night in fashion of the year.  The Academy Awards used to hold the title, but ever since Anna Wintour of Vogue took over the reigns, the "First Monday in May" has grown to eclipse it.  In April, a documentary of said name debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Sartorial heaven, make no mistake.

If one did have an extra $30, 000 to attend, what is actually a bonanza benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, the chances of attending are still nil. Wintour herself, approves every guest, even if they are to be seated at a corporately sponsored table, which goes for $275,000. 

What does result is a heady brew of some of worlds most elite icons of fashion, film, art, music, sports, politics, media and business,  (Apple is a sponsor this year.) There is a theme every year, and guests are encouraged to seek inspiration from it.  This year's theme is Manus x Machine and examines how technology continues to influence designers.

Wintour's Co-Chairs this year are Taylor Swift, my pretend boyfriend  Idris Elba and Jony Ive (the male Chief of Design at Apple. Your welcome.) If you want more scoop, Vanessa Friedman of the NY Times did a fabulous piece on the Met Gala . Even she, an insider, sounds like she will be watching with her nose pressed up on her ipad with the rest of us.

This year, the Red Carpet is also be shown live on the E Channel starting at  7pm ET , which illustrates how much of a spectacle this annual  cultural benefit as become I wonder if Anna vetted the hosts as well...I'm not certain Ryan Seacrest would exactly be her cup of Da Hong Pao. 

So enough chit chat, let the fun begin!

Trends emerged quickly; silver, gold, brocades, white, dark lips, sleek hair.
My top picks go to the women who look sleek, modern and a tad futuristic, with at least a passing nod to theme.

Balmain, Marchesa, and Atelier Versace had and outstanding night as did American design icons Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger. There is also something kind of wonderful, when two knockouts are also produced by retail giants Topshop and H&M, who serve up affordable fashion for every budget. I'm traditional. It's a gala. Unless  your Taylor Swift...short for me is a NO. Oh and one last thing, I never, ever comment about Ms. Wintour...nothing good could possibly come from it.

Model Karolina Kurkova's Marchesa dress below, came with a battery pack, with lights that twinkled in different colors based on fan's tweets!  Too boot, it was beautiful. 

All and all a spectacular spectacle...

A+

Taylor Swift, nearly unrecognizable, with a new platinum bob
and black lips, in Louis Vuitton

Poppy Delvigne in Marchesa

Gigi Hadid and the Weekend (who will be performing)
in Tommy Hilfiger 

Zendaya in Michael Kors

Brie Larson in Proenza Schouler (though I loathe the shoe choice, lip and hair)

Hailee Steinfeld in H&M

Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace

Kylie Jenner, spectacular in Balmain

Kendall Jenner in Atelier Versace
(Surely these two were adopted)

Beyonce san J- Zee in embroidered latex couture Givenchy
Now that is genius, not to mention the body that got poured into it

Cindy Crawford in Balmain
Let's just leave it WOW!

Lupito Nyong'o in Calvin Klein
with an unfortunate Madge Simpson do.

The always divine Naomi Watts in Burberry

Lea Seydoux a knock out in Louis Vuitton

Olivia Wilde with a baby bump in Michael Kors

A- Beautiful but no trace of theme

Allison Williams, her best yet.

Naomi Harris in Burberry

A newly engaged Kate Upton in Top Shop

Jessica Chastain

Rosie Huntington-Whitely in Ralph Lauren

The (F)ails

Emma Stone- A Fashion A Lister, Risk Taker and Modern Style Icon

Emma Stone in Dolce and Gabanna
(BTW, WTF was the design duo thinking, recently denigrating surrogacy and in vitro fertilization???)

There are a few young Hollywood stars who consistently get it right on the Red Carpet; to wit, Emma Stone, Emmy Rossum, Taylor Swift and Shaliene Woodley.  One of the great things about not being aligned contractually with one fashion house, (like Jennifer Lawrence and Dior), is the opportunity to explore a variety of looks.

What I adore about all of these women's style, is that they appear effortlessly, confident in their own skin. Largely, I think because  they have an innate sense of their own best looks, they will not be dissuaded to wear clothes that don't resonate with them for the sake of trend.

Grammy's 2014: The Lady and the Tramp

Taylor Swift resplendent in  Gucci

Taylor Swift
Beautiful makeup and on trend side swept bangs and ponytail

Taylor swift arriving in Gucci and performing in Alberta Ferretti

I would like to share a few thoughts about Sunday night's 2014 Grammy Awards and some of you may not like them; for starters I was absolutely blown away by how feminine, beautiful, modern, yet regal Taylor Swift looked on the Red Carpet.  This is how to dazzle. Stars, young and old and their stylists, need to take notes.

Everything was perfectly balanced;  her dress hair, makeup and jewelry to create an overall elegance that so often eludes women, who should frankly, know better. It all goes to prove that a woman can look ravishingly beautiful, with nary a boob in sight.

I have never considered myself to be a prude or a feminist, but I didn't quite get the whole Bey/ Jay Z thing. I'm not saying she didn't look incredible, she did, and I think she is a very talented  performer, especially having seen her perform live... But really peeps, this show began at 8:00 pm on network television and there were kiddies watching:

DivaDebbi's 2014 Golden Globe's Report Card

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting the 2014 Golden Globes
Neither of them ever looked better than  whoever styled them

Oh what a night! What emerged as trends were gowns in shades of poppy, rouged lips, metallics and minimal earrings and statement necklaces.   There were quite a few swoon worthy knockouts; pitch perfect, dress, hair and makeup and accessories.  Well done ladies...and gentleman.

 Let's take a look:

A+- The Untouchables-

Bradley Cooper in Tom Ford
Need I say more???

Congratulations to Cate the Great. Her performance in Blue Jasmine was as stunning
as this Armani Prive gown, front, back and center. Extraordinary!!!

Naomi Watts
on trend in a glistening metallic Tom Ford gown.
Understated yet breath taking

Congratulations to Robin Wright- Not only was her work in House of Cards memorable
but so was her elegant Reem Acra gown. Perfection.

Olivia Wilde
 gloriously pregnant in Gucci

The incomparable Helen Mirren
 flawless in Jenny Packham

Taylor Swift pretty in a pink Carolina Herrera....
Take that Miley.

Kate Beckinsale
Radiant in Versace Atelier

Amy Poehler in Stella McCartney
Congrats on your GG and also for being most improved on the
Red Carpet.  Always a B-, Amy truly stepped up her game.
Keep it up Girl.  You are on fire....

The Great Elizabeth Moss
looked incredible in this sublime J. Mendel gown.
I never heard of the series she won her award for, but
if she was half as good as all her years on Mad Men, she was deserving.
I love this.

Lupito Nyongo 
in Ralph Lauren. True it was reminiscent of Gwyneth in 
Tom Ford, but oh, that color, that smile! Heavenly.

Jessica Chastain in Givenchy
This is how black is done. 

Caitlin Fitzgerald in Emilia Wickstead...(who???)
I am crazy about this actresses work on Masters of Sex. She has
a gorgeous Grace Kelly vibe on the show and it resonates here with
this charming choice.  I'm looking forward to seeing more of Caitlin...
and Emilia 

Margot Robbie in Gucci
We saw plenty of her in Wolf, I would have been happier with less leg

The B- and C+ team-

Sometimes too much is too much; Sophia Vergara, Uma Thurman, Mila Kunis, Lizzie Caplan, Julianna Margulies, Allison Williams, Laura Dern, Sandra Bullock...


And too little is too little; Reese Witherspoon, Julia Louis Dreyfuss, Kerry Washington, Michelle Dockery, Amy Adams.

The EF team-

Zooey Deschanel Chanel
just click you heels three times and say...

Julia Roberts in Dolce and Gabanna
I'll have a Gin & Tonic please...

Drew Barrymore, pregnant,
in Carolina Herrera Marzipan

Tina Fey in Carolina Herrera with Prom Hair
Reads like a bad Lilly Pulitzer flamingo print

Hayden Panitierre in (off the rack) Tom Ford
for Jantzen swimwear, fresh from the pool

Emma Thompson
all she's missing is Miss Poppin's umbrella

Jacqueline Bisset
Such a beauty at one time! This just made me sad. Awful hair
and  splotchy makeup in a tulle Hefty bag circa 1982 and
a PayLess clutch.  Tragic.

Jennifer Lawrence
in a Dior Tube Sock

Lena Dunham
in an Acidic Yellow Zac Posen
OUCH. That smarts...

The Carpet Bagger
Paula Patton in Stephane Rolland
Did you EVAH???

There you have it...who did you love??? Who did I miss???  Who was your worst dressed of the night???

Such delicious fun. What I wouldn't give to be a Hollywood stylist.  The pressure to look good is enormous, yet savvy Red Carpet veterans like Julia and Jennifer can still muck it up...

And don't we just love that???

xox,

DD