WHO: Marion Cotillard
WHERE & WHEN: 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – PUNK: Chaos to Couture on May 6, 2013.
WEARING: Head-to-toe Christian Dior Haute Couture

MY VERDICT: Hmm, I wasn’t expecting this. I didn’t think Marion would stick to the “punk” theme too closely, but I didn’t think she would ignore it completely. I think I may have psyched myself up with my wish list picks because a soft pastel strapless asymmetric cocktail dress was a major let-down. It’s funny because, on a normal day, I would probably love this Dior Haute Couture light pink, coral and yellow silk and tulle bustier cocktail dress on her. This just wasn’t the time nor place.

Marion tried to do something with her edgy by having it styled in angled bouncy curls. She finished off her look with red nails, soft makeup, a white clutch and a pair of houndstooth ankle strap pumps—both also by Dior.

Yep, no punk in sight. I dig her rose gold earrings though.

WHO: Elizabeth Banks
WHERE & WHEN: 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – PUNK: Chaos to Couture on May 6, 2013.
WEARING: Atelier Versace dress, Brian Atwood shoes and clutch & Kara Ross jewelry.

MY VERDICT: I was looking forward to seeing what “Catching Fire” star Elizabeth Banks was going to wear the MET ball this year. I had hoped for a dress by Versace, and that’s what Liz ended up going for–although it wasn’t from the Fall 2013 collection that I thought we’d see a lot of, but from the Spring 2013 Atelier line.

Liz hit the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art wearing the shimmering gold metallic tuxedo jacket mini dress. | continue reading..

WHO: Kate Beckinsale
WHERE & WHEN: 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – PUNK: Chaos to Couture on May 6, 2013.
WEARING: Alberta Ferretti dress, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, Edie Parker clutch & Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

MY VERDICT: Black was the obvious dress color choice for the punk themed MET Ball this year, but Kate Beckinsale opted for red to switch things up a little bit. The 39-year-old actress hit the scarlet carpet for the annual fashion soirée wearing a custom red strapless asymmetrical dress by Alberta Ferretti. I liked the angled drama of the hem and fold over detail at Kate’s waist.

She wore her long hair up in her favorite high-volume ponytail style; it’s something we see from her often, but the ‘do was needed as it showed off Kate’s electric diamond triple arrow statement earrings by Lorraine Schwartz–she also wore a ring to match! Sharp lined smoky eyes, a black Edie Parker “Jean” black box clutch and matching strappy Giuseppe Zanotti completed her look.

There were some rock ‘n roll elements here—zero punk. To be fair, I wouldn’t have expected her to wear a costume either.

WHO: Jennifer Lopez
WHERE & WHEN: 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – PUNK: Chaos to Couture on May 6, 2013.
WEARING: Michael Kors dress, Jimmy Choo shoes, and jewelry from Dana Rebecca Designs & Rona Pfeiffer.

MY VERDICT: JLo brought the drama! Leave it up to Jennifer to hear the words “punk theme” and show up in something that’s not really punk at all–but, will still cause a scene. Oh wait, maybe she actually hit the nail on the head. The “Live It Up” singer arrived wearing a custom black cheetah patterned, sequin-embroidered gown by Michael Kors with long sleeves and a daring open back. I liked the gradient effect of large and smaller embroideries as it showed off Jen’s figure rather than widening it.

She accessorized all in black, naturally, | continue reading..

WHO: Jennifer Morrison
WHERE & WHEN: 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – PUNK: Chaos to Couture on May 6, 2013.
WEARING: Donna Karan Atelier dress, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes & Jherwitt jewelry.

MY VERDICT: Oh my mohawk! Just like Hailee Steinfeld, Naomie Harris and Emmy Rossum, “Once Upon a Time” star Jennifer Morrison was clad in a one-of-a-kind dress from Donna Karan Atelier. She wore a reptilian black lace on nude gown with asymmetrical cascading flounce motif on one hip and shoulder with a micro strap detail. I think it’s a beautiful creation, and probably one of the best looks I’ve seen on the actress. The back reminded me of Nina Dobrev’s dress last year.

It didn’t really call out “punk”, but there was still something still rough and sexy about it that captured the theme more than Emmy’s did. When Jennifer styled her long blonde locks into a braided faux hawk with looped edges, it played off the dress rather than being out of place. In a nutshell: punk wasn’t fully there, but it wasn’t non-existent either.

She finished with a black clutch, matching Giuseppe Zanotti platform pumps and custom jewelry by Jherwitt.

WHO: Naomie Harris
WHERE & WHEN: 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – PUNK: Chaos to Couture on May 6, 2013.
WEARING: Donna Karan Atelier dress, Edie Parker clutch & Nola Singer jewelry.

MY VERDICT: Naomie Harris has to be one of the most beautiful women in film. The “Skyfall” actress made a grand arrival at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the PUNK: Chaos to Couture gala where she donned a dramatic one-of-a-kind Donna Karan Atelier gown. I loved the use of color here; there were a lot of black and white gowns on the red carpet–and certainly a fair share of tartan, but there was something so unparalleled about these cobalt and violet ombré hues.

Naomie’s pleated silk chiffon dress featured a sweetheart neck and asymmetric straps that transformed on its way down from elegant draping to a show-stopping black ruffled train mixed with silk organza and tulle. It wasn’t blatantly punk, but you can see the influence breaking through. | continue reading..

WHO: Hailee Steinfeld
WHERE & WHEN: 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – PUNK: Chaos to Couture on May 6, 2013.
WEARING: Donna Karan Atelier dress, Jimmy Choo shoes & bag, and Eddie Borgo jewelry.

MY VERDICT: Hailee was such a punk rock princess at the MET ball this year! The 16-year-old “Romeo and Juliet” actress took a brighter turn with the theme by wearing a pretty one-of-a-kind bone leather corseted dress by Donna Karan Atelier, which featured a crinoline underskirt. The classic tea length design was toughened up with all over sparks of oxidized antique gold safety pins and studs. This was a completely unique way to incorporate one of punks most famous fashion embellishments and have it suit Hailee’s usual ladylike approach to evening wear.

It wasn’t overwhelming, it didn’t stray from the theme, and obviously–it looked great on Hailee. | continue reading..

WHO: Cara Delevingne
WHERE & WHEN: 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – PUNK: Chaos to Couture on May 6, 2013.
WEARING: Burberry Prorsum

MY VERDICT: Cara made her look very hard to top when she arrived at the MET ball in New York City wearing a totally badass black long sleeve custom-made Burberry gown with a gold studded upper body surrounding a dangerous plunging neckline.

This dress is too good. I think many were nervous about the PUNK: Chaos to Couture theme this year and didn’t really know how to approach it, and that’s why the majority were either not punk at all or they were–for lack of better words–in something that could double as a Halloween costume. | continue reading..

WHO: Blake Lively
WHERE & WHEN: 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – PUNK: Chaos to Couture on May 6, 2013.
WEARING: Gucci Première dress, Christian Louboutin shoes & Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

MY VERDICT: I couldn’t imagine Blake missing the annual gala this year considering her new releationship with Gucci as the face of the Gucci Première women’s fragrance. The 25-year-old former “Gossip Girl” actress arrived on the red carpet wearing a dramatic Gucci Première pale green silk georgette strapless gown with silver and matte black feather motif embroideries. The smooth bodice highlighted Blake’s figure before the gown turned into heavy layers of black organza that cascaded into a full train.

Did Blake stick with the PUNK: Chaos to Couture theme? I don’t think so. However, this dress is a work of art and she looked beautiful wearing it. Having a eye-catching gown didn’t limit the things that Blake was willing to do with the rest of her look, and that’s why she opted for smoky eyes, long chain earrings from Lorraine Schwartz, and a long bubble binding ponytail that reminded me of Princess Jasmine from Disney’s “Aladdin”.

Overall, I found the choice to be absolutely perfect for the MET ball–just not this year.

WHO: Emmy Rossum
WHERE & WHEN: 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – PUNK: Chaos to Couture on May 6, 2013.
WEARING: Donna Karan Atelier dress, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes & Irit Design jewelry.

MY VERDICT: Emmy was one of the many stars that decided to wear a really beautiful dress and add punk elements in later with hair and makeup. The “Shameless” actress arrived at the gala wearing a stunning one-of-a-kind Donna Karan Atelier platinum embroidered ravished lace gown with silver silk liquid lamé lining.

The v-neck gown was draped with tulle and featured exquisite beaded fringe along the back.

I can honestly say this is one of the nicest dresses I have ever seen Emmy wear, but it wasn’t punk to me. It was actually pretty far from it. It was obvious she tried to make up for the lack of rock influence by opting for structured dramatic eyeshadow and a braided hairstyle. I’m pretty sure she was going for a mohawk, but it would have been cooler if she had done it with buns.

Emmy finished with fishnet nail art, delicate Giuseppe Zanotti sandals, and cool webbed gunmetal jewelry from Irit Design.