Some people may think the Academy Awards is fashion's most important night of the year--Not me. I'm in the camp that would vote for the the first Monday night in May, when Anna Wintour and her handpicked co-chairs host the annual Met Gala aka, The Party of the Year.
Wintour, who has been chairing this star studded event, in what is now her 20th year, has successfully turned it into both a haute couture carnival and a blockbuster fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, (now deservedly named in her honor.)
Rumor has it, that if you are lucky enough to make the cut of the some 700 or so beautiful and famous, you dare not not show. Those who decline are never asked back. This is one party I might swap a kidney to attend...
As always, guests are requested to dress in the theme that reflects that year's exhibit. This year, it is China: Through the Looking Glass which examines the influences of Chinese fashion on culture over the years.
I attend several parties in the course of the a year that ask guests to dress in theme. I always do my best to at least do a nod of homage in my attire. To me it's just good manners and shows respect to my hosts. It takes a bit more effort, inevitably it adds to the fun and festivities. Of course, I'll also being weighing in on who got it right and who took the "costume" thing too much to heart...
It's going to be a long one, so for the sake of brevity, I will winnow it down to the Best and the Worst. Is there regular old fugly??? Absolutely, (Jennifer Connelly, Keri Russell, Kristen Wiig). Is there missed the mark, despite having a dozen stylists??? Yup, (Allison Williams, Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Alba.) Am I confused about the dresses that look like they should have been worn to a whole other event, like Elizabeth Banks turquoise cut-out Jersey Michael Kors???
