MET BALL 2012 BEST AND WORST

After last year's outstanding efforts from the fashion elite to celebrate the epic Alexander McQueen retrospective at the New York Met, this year's Met Ball had a lot to live up to. The theme this time, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, brought out lots of Prada, lots of couture and of course lots of humdingers!

I'm normally pretty on the ball with putting posts like this up at the appropriate time, but JEEZE-OH I've been busy! So much so that I've not had a spare moment to filter these pics into my usual FASHION WINS and FASHION FAILS respective piles. Until now!

So, yeah, I've found myself a spare 5 mins so let's DO THIS THING and you can all just ignore the fact that by now it's pretty much old news. Deal.

WINS

Carey Mulligan

I think what's making her face look all weird is actually the reflection from those massive shiny scales. Not ideal for a red carpet event with paps galore, but anyhoo Carey pulls this so-wrong-it's-right UBER-SEQUINED Prada number off immaculately. I love that someone quite demure in personality often  goes for such dazzling, daring sartorial choices. Joyful juxtaposition.

Florence Welch

Here's Flo in a McQueen creation which ticks all her red carpet gown requirements: ethereal, quirky, off-white, witchy, chiffony, goth bride, whimsical and show-stopping. Her formula ain't broke so I'm super glad to see she ain't fixing it. Stick to what you do best love.

Lana Del Rey

Loads of folk picked this as a worst dressed but I totally love it. The silvery sequined number would be stunning on its own but the addition of the cape pushes this into just the right side of the dark and macabre - think sexy, glamorous Count Dracula. Plus, I'm REALLY hoping this will spark a cape trend for winter party dresses cos that's one bandwagon I'm more than happy to jump on cos of my bingo wings.

Ginnifer Goodwin

Orange is such a contentious colour, but when you get it right MAN can it look amazing and Ginnifer's fitted number with high-necked detailing is a case in point. Ginnifer almost always smashes it and rarely gets the recognition, which is kinda pants...

Mia Wasikowska

Another Prada effort, another total win (except it could have been doing with a few inches off the length, no?). The tomboy in me is loving this more under-stated style of gown, while the girly girl is excited to see that pretty embellished collars are apparently going nowhere fast.

MIA

Again, another fashion fail for most, but I think MIA looks SO COOL here! Although her impressive barnet gives me major hair envy, I think something like a slicked-back Croydon face lift might have been more appropriate so we could see the gorgeous print on that fab skirt-suit, but whatevs, she's just rocked up not giving an EFF and I love that.

Emma Stone

There's something totes 90s about this tomato-red Lanvin dress which majorly appeals. I love Emma looking so young and fresh and clearly having fun. Cute as a button. Plus, lol at her date, Alber Elbaz who's come as an unnerving Elvis/Austin Powers hybrid.

Christini Ricci

Sometimes, even if you're petite, swamping yourself in masses of fabric can actually work, and ESPECIALLY if you're Christina Ricci. Remember her dress last year? I think I actually prefer this custom Thakoon number if that's possible. Totally statement, over the top,and tongue-in-cheek.

FAILS

Chloe Sevigny

Oh Chloe, I hate to see you age :( sadly the combo of your "mom" haircut and orange fake tan have combined here to make you look positively DOWDY and even that daring cut-out dress can stop it. Sob. Can't we just freeze her in 1996 and wheel her out at these things? I'd prefer that.

Alexa Chung

Don't get me wrong, I understand what's SUPPOSED to happen here, but maybe it's a testament to my encroaching middle-age that I can't help inwardly screaming TAKE OFF THE WHITE SHIRT! It's too editorial a look and I just don't think Chungy can pull it off on the red carpet. Just looks wrong.

Marc Jacobs

The clutch, the bockies, the white buttons, the shoes... I guess it's an attempt to get papped and in that case I suppose it's a win of sorts, but let's be honest, it's a FAIL AT LIFE, Marc.

Gwyneth Paltrow

YAWN I was so bored by this until I noticed the sideboob - now I'm majorly disturbed and repulsed. Stop flaunting your rock-hard, sinewey body already, Gwyn, it's CREEPY!

Kristen Stewart

OF COURSE. How could we leave out KStew, once again taking the prize for most awkward red carpet poser in the universe here in this frankly FUGLY dress which does her no favours and actually makes her look a little chunky round the hips. Plus, those shoes... Why? WHY?! I do like her hair though. Still, everything below the eyes is wrong. Is that actually a GRIMACE?

So those were my best and worsts, what do you think, have I been unusually harsh/kind? There were a few I was just a bit MEH about, including (and it hurts me to admit it) my love, January Jones in a bright yellow effort with weird peplum and blah hair. She didn't look bad - duh, not possible - but nor did she WOW me. Excited for her next effort to blow me away. Also, special mention to Kirsten Dunst who wore a crazy Rodarte skirt suit which reminded me of something Tilda Swinton would rock. Still in two minds about that...

Thanks for sticking with me guys, sorry this is really late. I still have an event post and product review to go up at some point soon, plus a guest blog for another website, plus my real actual life to contend with (still waiting to hear back about my BIG NEWS ahh!) and I know I've been slacking a bit so soz. It's been playing on my mind and I promise to get the finger out a bit more over the next wee while.

ALSO, I recently hit 110,000 views which is a BIG DEAL for me so once I've picked something awesome I'm going to do a giveaway too. Keep 'em peeled!

THE MET BALL - BEST AND WORST

Just a quick yin cos I'm currently the online editor for us masters students' assessed Newsweek BUT I couldn't not share with you my picks for the best and worst dressed at last night's MET Gala in New York.

The BEST:

Crystlal Renn - Channeling Black Swan slightly, no?

 Adore your swagger pal, but please stop telling folk you're plus size - blatant LIE.

Christina Ricci can be very hit or miss and I fear that on anyone less quirky than her this might have looked ridonculous, but as it is she smashes it in this sexy LBD.

I hummed and hawed over Dakota's mad dress for ages but I've definitely settled on a win. Love the loose, laid-back hair and glad shes gone for no jewellery as less is more with a fussy frock like this.

I actually overlooked Isabel Lucas in this stunning gown and headpiece with matching earrings... Shame on me! LOOK at it! Totally gorgeous. I do feel the vibrancy of the red carpet takes away from the overall effect of the dress though, and I would love to see this look shot against a white background. It's coral, no? Loving the little tassel on the bag too - it's all in the detail.

70s-TASTIC, Eva, gwaan yer bad self! So sexy in Stella McCartney. Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen Eva Mendes looking bad...

Daphne Guinness was just one of the guests who chose to pay homage to the late, great Lee McQueen. This gown is straight off the runway and seems made for Miss Guinness here. Perfect.

Ignore Jennifer Hudson - sorry pal but your effort is passable at best (and I preferred you with more meat on yer bones) - and let's just concentrate on Vera Wang... Mesmerising, no? Fabulous colour for her skin tone and can't get enough of those long, straight locks.

Lol @ my last rant about how I'm so NOT into Chungy, but even I have to admit that the burd's got balls to wear this tricky but STUNNING Christopher Kane dress to an event like this. Again, on anyone else I'm not sure it would have worked but she pulls it off. Fine, fine, props to Alexa...

Love the length of the dress, love the shoes, love the scraped back hair.

Would like to see a darker eye on Leighton Meester here, but overall it really works. I always enjoy shots of Leighton on the red carpet - never afraid of trying something different. Props!

Now, unfortunately, for the WORST:

Oh dear, Christina. I'm sure this is just a bad photo and that you in fact DIDN'T wander around all night looking like you'd fallen off the special bus... But really! First thing I'd be doing here is cutting off those weird half-sleeve things - they just look strange and totally ruin it for me. But I don't feel too bad bashing Miss Hendricks here, she's been looking WAY TOO HOT for her own good recently!

Dakota got it right, but shame her little sister Elle Fanning got it so wrong. I like that she's pushed the envelope a bit, and that she's wearing something of a shorter length, but the overall effect is weird and coupled with that strange pose she looks like some kind of creepy doll.

 It's a bit too fussy and overworked for me. And flats?! Just no.

Something about the colour of this dress on Jessica Stam makes me want to puke in my mouth. It's not really THAT bad I suppose, but I just do not have the stomach for a sugary-sweet dress like this today. And coupled with that hair and the overly smoky eye, it's a thumbs down.

Christ almighty, Rihanna, who is your event stylist? This is just latest in a long line of red carpet horrors... The horrendous side plait is killing it for me - far to asymmetrical for a dress like that. The earrings and shoes are nice, but that's literally about all I can even muster to say.



Soooo what do you guys think - have I left anyone vital out?