Costume Institute Gala: Superheroes and Super Duds

Christinaricci_givenchyhautecoutur The theme for Monday night's Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala was one for indulging in childhood reverie. However, Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy saw fashion and Hollywood's top figures mixing on the red carpet, displaying both extremes of the style spectrum and varying participation in the theme. Some had fun and played along but most simply appeared dressed in fabulous gowns, not all that different from any other prestigious red carpet event. (Why be so timid of costume, it's right there in the name!)

Then there were The Others. Whatever is the opposite of fabulous, they were it. Shockingly, many of the offenders were the designers themselves. And there were some who deserved their own category for their erm, interesting looks.

So, starting with some of the best frocks of the night we have a super-svelt Christina Ricci (top left) doing superhero to perfection, courtesy of Givenchy Haute Couture's fresh and lovely take on Wonder Woman's evil-fighting gear. Now on to the rest, up, up and away:

Anna Wintour in Chanel Haute Couture (what else?) channeling the X-Men's character Storm, brilliantly capturing the spirit of the event. (Her hair is always as smooth as glass. She's not human and her hair stylist can't be either.)

Anna's Wintour's daughter Bee Schaffer in Nina Ricci

Daphne Guinness and L'Wren Scott, in L'Wren Scott (I just love L'Wren's skin-tight black sequins on her 6'3" frame, she's today's Wonder Woman.)

Raquel Zimmerman in Thakoon Panichgul, with the designer

Now for the worst (assuming, I think correctly, that these are not just unflattering angles). We have Donna Karan in her own design (left). Her face says it all. And Vera Wang also in her own design. With that sagging saddlebag of fabric this dress truly does wang.

We know what the real crime here is but Melania Trump's Vera Wang flouro-magenta nightmare would even be too much for Barbie, it's total WAG territory. Karen Elson had to get Jack White (in Marc Jacobs) home before the sun came up:

And lastly, the solo categories:

Dress mostly likely to do it for Axl Rose: Stephanie Seymour (no designer credit given, hmmm...)

Most literal interpretation of the Superhero theme: Max Azria (bless)

Coolest: Lou Doillon in Marni (because she just is)

Real-life Superhero (if TV is considered 'real life'): Lynda Carter/Wonder Woman in Carolina Herrera, deflecting imaginary bullets with her golden cuffs of fury (I bet her hair would have done an equally good job):

The No one should be allowed to look like this in a dress category: Tom Brady (in Leonardo Dicaprio's hair) with Gisele Bunchen in Atelier Versace (like it matters who did the dress)