LIVE LONG PUNK

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Fashion Institute Annual Gala! 

Putting the capital F in Fashion. Your Oscars and Emmys are all about Hollywood, actors et al. Same with your Grammy's and the red headed step child that is the Tony's . Last weeks " nerd prom" is what it is - and every movie/store opening that has a red carpet - all about the people. Last night , The Met Gala is for us purists!
Fashion - and NYC baby - Miss Anna's night to shine. This one is not for the timid.

This years theme - and you need to know - the accompanying exhibit at the museum is :

PUNK : CHAOS to COUTURE

( I think I may see a problem )

One week ago , from the NYT : IT IS HARD ENOUGH for famous people to decide what to wear to the annual Costume Institute gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, fashion’s party of the year, even though Anna Wintour has been known to offer advice. But imagine the pressure facing guests at this year’s ball, on May 6, where the theme, as you might have heard, will be punk.

“No one has a clue,” said Cameron Silver, an owner of the Los Angeles vintage boutique Decades, who has been fielding pleas for hard-edged-but-will-land-me-in-Vogue fashion since the museum announced in September that the subject of its spring exhibition would be “Punk: Chaos to Couture.” What do you suggest to a client who can afford a $25,000-or-so ticket to the gala, but has nothing to wear? Stephen Sprouse from the 1980s? Or perhaps Vivienne Westwood’s “Cafe Society” gowns from 1994?

“We keep running into the same problem, which is that rich women don’t want to look punk, or grunge,” Mr. Silver said. “Not that many women want to look like Nancy Spungen.”  ( the rest )

Sid and Nancy, putting the heroin and chic in Heroin Chic

So there is your conundrum! You have not eaten in a month to dazzle on this the reddest of red carpets and what? Anna Wintour wants you to put on a garbage bag?? Of course everyone pictured Liz Hurley's iconic black Versace dress that she wore to the 1994 premier of Four Weddings and a Funeral ; punk goes Couture! 

A dress w/ its own extensive wiki page
( I love my people )

OR anything that Helena Bonham Carter has worn on any red carpet ( or for that matter just running out to buy cat food ) in the last 25 years....The importance of fashion in " the punk movement " can not really be overstated. Some say it started in Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's London store.

So, ready set 
PUNK :

Anna Wintour in Chanel Couture Spring 13

Yeah, not so much....

and its a bit shocking, because she was sooo 

right on target last year...

It's Chanel Couture, I'm some guy at a computer in freaking Mendon - I'm not really at a place to say anything, it is a lovely dress.... but as far FAR from anything punk - even punkish - as you can get. 

So, where do we , as fashion bloggers go from here, is there any merit to be given to those that did stay on theme, or do we just judge with " who had the prettiest dress " ?

Let's start with some of the ladies who DID read the invitation, 

Madonna attends the 2013 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in a Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci outfit paired with Casadei bright pink suede pumps.

Yeah, ok, she is not wearing pants - but she is Madonna - I love it - but I would.

Pure punk, pure Madonna.

 Miley Cyrus in Marc Jackobs.
I think this is the first time Miss Cyrus has been on the k+b, certainly when talking fashion, but this is right on the money. Very punk 2013 and very age appropriate! This was totally the winning look of the night.... I could not be more shocked...

Christina Ricci in classic Vivienne Westwood. Pure punk from the Queen herself. The only one who went there - LOVE it...

Anne Hathaway in a 1992 Valentino Haute Couture. See this is how you do it, Punk sans safety pins! With the bleach blond punkish locks...

Emma Watson in Prabal Gurung. Sort of punk - sort not, a good dress for her for the night - wear this while you are her age...

Sarah Jessica Parker attends the 2013 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in a Giles Deacon gown accessorized with a Philip Treacy hat and bag, Fred Leighton and Repossi jewelry, and Christian Louboutin boots.

Its a Philip Treacy mo-hawk... 

Donatella

bow down....

PART TWO

Ok, so the theme was pretty much ignored, happens -" I just don't feel like dressing as a Marx brother... " Fine - Let's just go with dresses that we like, and NOT punk, but fine for the event:

Ashley Olsen in vintage Dior.
Kyle, are you high?
No, and yes, it is beyond shocking that I have her on here,
but I really like this gown and overlay AND it totally " gets " the persona of the fey little billionaire.... The other one, not so much.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Valentino. Close to perfection and her signature color - not a thing remotely " punk " about it, but just plain pretty. Can't really go wrong there. At first I thought, too simple, then I saw more photos, photos, photos

Gisele in Anthony Vaccarello. Making being Mrs. Tom Brady and the highest paid model ever look good. But Kyle, you are about to go off on ladies who did not wear " apropriate " dresses to a Gala - that rule is for mortals - she is Gisele AND it is sort of on theme!

Ashely Green in Marchesa - really only here because Marchesa is totally ripping off McQueen, but a lovely dress, close to a < shocking> ball gown for a ball!

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Calvin Klein - nothing earth shattering here, a tiny touch of punk at the neck, but she just looks so fresh and bright here, a VAST improvement, getting her on the list. more photos

Bella Heathcote in Chanel - yeah, I dont know either, but this dress is LOVELY, looks very fresh and new , right for the event -

Not horrible, really - just far , far from right

ga·la  (gl, gl, gäl) n. 1. A festive occasion, especially a lavish social event or entertainment. see: especially

 Hailee Steinfeld in Donna Karan Atelier. This is a fetus. I am sure there was a sippy cup in the limo. Nothing wrong with it, pretty darn darling really, just wrong for this event. Well, as wrong as this child even being there...

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior. A beautiful dress ( other photos ) but if you are THE IT GIRL of the moment - whip out that bow and arrow and take Miley's look! But I do like her quote " I never went through a punk phase, I was a cheerleader " holding true realness....

 Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery in Burberry ( which had some KICK ASS mod/punk inspired looks that have been all over rc's all season...) who thought the theme was come as by far the best looking mother at PTA last month...

 Marion Cotillard in head to toe Christian Dior ( she works for them ) just stopped by on her way to the beach..... cowabunga !

Renee Zellweger in Prada. Joan Holloway called and wants her dress and hair back, please for us, try harder.








and with out a doubt, the worst dress of this night and many many many past and future nights, one of the 5 worst looks of all time.
Some back story here, Anna Wintour does not allow " reality stars " to attend this event. Since this one is GREAT with Kanyes love child and he was singing that night - she gets to come with him.
NOW , they had dinner over at the Wintour house the night before , so ANNA SET HER UP :

Kim Kardashian attends the 2013 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in custom Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci accessorized with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

PLEASE HIT TOM AND LORENZO for more , if you can the boys are close to breaking the internet with their posts of the night

and just a fast run down from huffpo -