The Best & Worst Standouts of The Met Gala Red Carpet

Once again, all of the world’s best and brightest made it out to one of the most important nights in fashion. The Met Gala, an event that is made possible in no small part to Anna Wintour, Editor in Cheif of Vogue Magazine. Wintour, dressed in white Prada with gold accents, may have been an homage to the night’s theme: Chiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations. 

For the first time ever, Vogue hosted a livestream of the carpet, complete with interviews, backstage scoop, and previous years’ recaps. Though the picture quality, and the overall feed was a little shaky, the idea was sound and renewed interest in the Met Gala for those even outside NYC. Conversations on twitter, tumblr, and other social media sites were buzzing with questions for the celebrities, fan favourites, and social media savvy attendees posted pictures, comments and video from inside the event. 

As per tradition, the fashion was worth the wait. Celebrities like Debra Messing, James Franco, Dakota Fanning, Jessica Chastain, and Carey Mulligan were stunning but tasteful gathering media attention. Designers like Tom Ford, Vera Wang, Jason Wu, and Marc Jacobs (who arrived in a lace gown) took part in the event very excited to honour the great artists for the night.

Bold sillouettes and metallics ruled the carpet. White, gold and bright colours walked through the flashing bulbs causing a show. Some of my personal favourite standouts included Jessica Alba in a metallic Michael Kors, Ginnifer Goodwin in a bold coloured Monique Lhuillier, Elizabeth Cordry, and Dianna Agron in a green Carolina Herrera.

Jessica Alba

Ginnifer Goodwin

Elizabeth Cordry

Dianna Agron

Some less successful looks were peppered throughout the night. Usually one for dapper and polished red carpets, Glee’s Darren Criss looked a bit like the love child of Snooki and a Mattel Ken Doll. I’m not sure if the lights made him loo slightly plastic, or if he secretly was given botox, but his skin was extra waxy, and his hair who has seen a makeover from his Starkid days, was neither lazy Harry Potter, nor Grease Lightning. Dressed in Calvin Klein, the suit was beautifully made, but unfortunately made him look slightly ill-proportioned. After bumbling through his interview with the Vogue Correspondent, I wonder if Lea Michele would be willing to give him a few pointers about how things are done in the New York fashion scene. 

As for the ladies, while there were very many successes among the Red Carpet, my biggest disappointment was with Leslie Mann. Her Nina Ricci gown was neither bold in design or color, and the design was very distracting. The dress, a soft pale pink was a yawn to wear at one of the biggest fashion events of the season. Instead of keeping with the trend of clean lines and smart accessories, Leslie chose a gown showing straps (which I am still not sure is part of the dress or part of her bra), and covered in tulle in varying degrees of length. Her accessories did not save her look in the slightest, but instead made it very distracting. Instead of pairing her busy dress with simple pumps, which would have been my direction, she chose to wear a strapped peep toe that did nothing for her legs and her clutch after the dress is almost an after thought. 

In the future, I hope she comes to the Met Gala, in a simple but bold dress, killer heels and jewelry that screams “Pay Attention To Leslie” because sadly, she was lost in the kerfuffle, and I know she can do so much better.

After looking through all the fashion from the night, hundreds of dresses, thousands of pictures, only one dress stood out to me time and time again. Media darling Beyonce’s little sister (who after a baby and a successful career is no longer should be titled as such) stole my heart. Her bright yellow Rachel Roy gown turned heads, and the ever trendy peplum silhouette was rivaled by none. Her hair, naturally wavy gave her the signature Solange style we all have grown to know and adore. Her Edie Parker clutch flirted the flashblubs and won me over as Best Dressed. Solange Knowles may not be as big as her sister in Tinsel Town, but she was the It Girl of New York last night. 

Overall, the success of this year’s Met Gala was well received and we can hope as Vogue, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other affiliates strengthen their grasp on social media, next year’s Gala will be a life changing event for not only those who attend via the Red Carpet, but also for those who experience it online.

(Photo rights belong to Styleite & Pop Sugar)