Parties with dress codes and themes are not uncommon. But what if the theme of the most luxurious party of the year was "punk"?
The annual opening party for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute exhibition in New York, also known as the "Met Ball" or "Met Gala," attracts many designers and celebrities in glamorous attire.
The dress code here is, of course, "formal." However, this year, in line with the exhibition's theme, fashion celebrities who are regulars on the red carpet seemed to be racking their brains over how to express a punk spirit while wearing couture dresses.
Punk-style hair and makeup, jewelry, dresses adorned with safety pins, studs, chains, zippers, and animal prints. Many celebrities showed off their beautiful bodies and rebellious spirit in bold cut-out dresses that reflected the trend. Sarah Jessica Parker, the iconic New York actress, chose a digitally printed dress by Giles Deacon, accessorized with thigh-high tartan boots and a mohawk headpiece by Philip Treacy, the Irish hat designer known for his eccentric designs. While the look was met with mixed reviews, it was an anarchic outfit that only Sarah Jessica could pull off, truly impressive. Actress Rooney Mara, known as the muse of Riccardo Tisci, one of the event's committee chairs, wore a white lace dress by Givenchy, of course. While the dress may appear elegant and couture, the zipper was a key design feature. Sienna Miller paired her white dress with a studded biker jacket and hair ornaments by Burberry Prorsum. The real punk princesses were actress Christina Ricci and model/actress Lily Cole, who appeared in dresses by the queen of punk, Vivienne Westwood. Anne Hathaway, who was hailed as the "most stylish" of the night, exuded star presence in a vintage Valentino dress, but also exuded punk style with her trending blonde hair style, inspired by Debbie Harry. The Prabal Gurung dress worn by Emma Watson, Anthony Vaccarello by Gisele Bundchen, Balmain by Kate Bosworth, Rodarte by Dakota Fanning, and J.Mendel by Taylor Swift are all available for purchase through Moda Operandi, an online retailer sponsoring the exhibition. Also, Topshop will be releasing dresses worn by Nicole Richie and Jourdan Dunn in September.
