Best Dressed - Met Ball 2013

Well, last night was the "Oscars" of fashion, the annual Met Ball gala for the Costume Institute.  This year's exhibition is "PUNK: Chaos to Couture".  From the pictures I've seen of the exhibit, it looks pretty weak, I feel like we've seen this before with the McQueen and the Anglophile shows of years past.  Time to do something completely different next year, please.  The red carpet looks were pretty weak too, not many brought the punk and those who did seemed a bit forced and random.  Anyway, here are the looks I liked (punk or not punk):

Naomie Harris in Donna Karan Atelier with an Edie Parker clutch (obsessed with these clutches) - hands down my favorite look of the night.

Jessica Pare in Jason Wu (with Jason Wu)

Blake Lively in Gucci Premiere

Honorable mention for actually bringing a punk vibe (in a high fashion way) - Sarah Jessica Parker in custom Giles, Philip Treacy headpiece and custom Louboutin shoes

What do you think?  Did you have any favorites?

Images via Style.com

The Met Ball Best Dressed

Okay first of all with the Costume Institute highlighting both Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli with this exhibit, I expected a bit more quirk.  I mean both designers are known for their whimsy, artistry and fun.  I really was hoping for someone to bring the pink and I mean the Schiaparelli pink (that blue tinged hot pink that is the stuff of dreams.  That one-more-drop-of-blue-and-it's-almost-purple-pink).  How sad was I, that the only lady who got anywhere close was Julianne Hough(?) - props to her stylist for hopefully, deliberately paying homage to Ms. Schiaparelli.  I was also secretly hoping for some vintage Prada numbers from years past - like maybe an evening gown made from that lipstick print that I covet so from years gone by.  Oh well.  Miuccia should really call me, I have a scary encyclopedic knowledge of Prada stuff from like 1995 until now.  That's 60% of my brain to be honest.  Prada and SpongeBob - it's sad really.  Anyhoo, here's what I liked from last evening:

Karolina Kurkova looking amazing in Rachel Zoe Collection

Ashley Greene in Donna Karan which was a little safe but still stunning

Kristen Wigg in Stella McCartney, I love the color and the length

Angela Lindvall in Prada (psst this is what I was looking for, a bit of that Prada quirk that I adore)

Julianne Hough (with Seacrest) in Carolina Herrera, great dress, perfect color.

Paula Patton in Vera Wang, the color is fab on her

Cate Blanchett in Alexander McQueen

Leslie Bibb in Zac Posen, sure the print is a little "upholstery", but she's so gorgeous it totally looks amazing (I'm loving the coral/orange lips and nails)

Ginnifer Goodwin in Monique Lhuillier the color and cut is perfect on her (that neckline!).  Is her hair looking a little weird lately, I love a pixie cut but this one almost looks like a painted on Ken doll's hair.  Needs some texture maybe?

And I only include Gisele and Tom so I can say (in Brazilian accent) "My husband can't throw the ball and catch the ball." (post Super Bowl rant)

Images via Vogue.com

NYC Museum Report - Richard Serra Drawings: A Retrospective

Contributor Laura Johnson checking in again with another exhibition report. Laura is a gifted textile designer and colorist with 20 years of experience who lives and works in Manhattan. Because we all can't live in or visit NYC regularly she'll be checking in from time to time to report about exhibits and other interesting tidbits happening there.

There's another show worth visiting right down the hall from the McQueen show at the Met. Richard Serra Drawings: A Retrospective is a wonderful show of large scale drawings by the artist Richard Serra. I have seen his sculptures quite a few times, and it was wonderful to discover that many of his drawings have the same physical impact as his large sculptural works.

Richard Serra is one of the preeminent sculptors of our time. He was born in 1939 and is best know for his large scale metal sculptures. His show at MOMA in 2007 was a huge event (it has been said the museum renovations were done to accommodate this very show).
Top image via Met Museum and bottom image via MOMA

NYC Museum Report - Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty at the Met

Today I'm so happy to welcome a new contributor to my little ol' blog.  My dear friend and former colleague Laura Johnson.  Laura is a gifted textile designer and colorist with 20 years of experience who lives and works in Manhattan.  Because we all can't live in or visit NYC regularly she'll be checking in from time to time to report about exhibits and other interesting tidbits happening there.  I know I always love hearing her thoughts about these things and I wanted to share them with you all too!  So without further ado, we will begin with the biggest exhibit with the most buzz going on right now - Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty at the Met's Costume Institute (which Laura has been to TWICE - I'm so jealous)!  Take it away Laura...
 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is packed these days, everyone is going to see the Alexander McQueen show, and for good reason. If you are in the NYC area, I highly recommend making the time and battling the crowds (try a weekday; I heard there was a 45 minute wait one Saturday). The exhibit is extremely theatrical. Each room is a unique setting, completely transformed with music and sounds accompanying the work. It almost feels as if you are traversing a fun house of sorts.


In the first room you see an amazing collection of his tailoring, including some wonderfully low slung pants. There is a Cabinet of Curiosities room that has an amazing selection of accessories. Videos play on the walls from some of his most dramatic runway shows. As you continue from room to room you see work that is technically amazing, beautiful, torturous and ethereal. There is so much talent on display. For a man who died at 40, what a body of work he left behind. You leave feeling almost stunned by it.

Dress, No. 13, spring/summer 1999

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

 Here's how it was created on the runway.

Corset, Dante, autumn/winter 1996-1997

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

Jacket, Joan, autumn/winter 1998-1999

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

Dress, Widows of Culloden, autumn/winter 2006-2007

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

Dress, The Horn of Plenty, autumn/winter 2009-2010

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

Ensemble, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, autumn/winter 2002-2003

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

"Oyster" Dress, Irere, spring/summer 2003

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

All images via The Met

Met Gala Best Dressed

I know you've probably seen these a few times already in the ol' blogosphere, but here are the looks I loved from the Met Costume Institute Gala last night. (pssst - a little secret, I'm trying to figure out how to plan a trip up to NYC to see this exhibit before it closes in July.  I mean I'm such a McQueen fan, I don't know how I could not see it.  The only issue is that next few months are jam packed, so it's not looking good.  But I'm gonna try, try, try.)

Gisele in Alexander McQueen

Amanda Brooks in Giambattista Valli

Taylor Swift in J. Mendel

SJP in Alexander McQueen (I see you Andy Cohen!)

And this lady, is having one heck of a year so far!  (As Andy would say, "Mazel!" - don't act like you don't watch Bravo.)

Sarah Burton in Alexander McQueen

On a personal note, the blog will still be limping along through this month.  I've got oodles going on behind the scenes and I'll spill all the details when I can.  Meanwhile, I'm still here but the posts will be not as frequent until things settle down a bit.

Images via Vogue.com

I Want This! - Limited Edition McQueen Scarf

Yeah, you can just add this to my ever growing list of wants.  It's a silk scarf created to coincide with the Met Museum's Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition and will be available at McQueen's stores in May for $495.  I love the colors and of course I always love the signature McQueen skulls.  Gorgeous!
(and here's a little secret, I wouldn't wear it, I would frame it. Shhhhh)

 Image via Alexander McQueen via Harper's Bazaar blog

Met Gala 2010 - my picks for best dressed

Yeah, so I'm late to the party (I mean, gala), it's not the first time.  I'm sure you've seen these images thousands of times already, but here are my likes:

Amber Valetta in Roland Mouret

Brooke Shields in Michael Kors (with Michael Kors)

Camila Belle in Jason Wu (with Jason Wu)

Julianna Margulies in Narcisco Rodriguez (with Narcisco Rodriguez)

Oprah in Oscar de la Renta (with Oscar de la Renta)

Tory Burch

Vera Wang (does this woman ever age?)

Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein

There you go, my two cents.  I'm having a blah week, can you tell?  LOL!

Images via WWD

Happy Weekend (with Costume Institute preview)!

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!  WWD has a small preview of the Costume Institute's "American Woman" exhibition.  Go here for a slideshow.  See you next week!

Image via WWD photo by Kyle Ericksen

Christian Dior - Couture Spring 2010

Oh, how I love a Dior Couture show (see here and here).  Such fantasy and over-the-topness (is that a term?), John Galliano never ceases to amaze me.  How I would love to, just once, put on a Dior Haute Couture ballgown.  Dare to dream.  Here are my favorites from the Spring 2010 Couture (make a mental note of the colors): 

The dress above totally stirred a memory of a dress in the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute that I have seen:

House of Dior "Junon" (F/W 1949-1950)

Am I right?!  The skirt part is very similar.  The little blurb on Style.com said that Galliano visited the Costume Institute for research.  He loves to pay tribute to Monsieur Dior, while making it modern, which is lovely.  Valentino's new design team should take notes!

Images via Style.com and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (last image)