Eastern Promises
With a spring exhibition entitled “China: Through the Looking Glass,” it is only natural that the red carpet for the opening party be sprinkled with Asian decorative motifs and interpretations of Chinoiserie. And so the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala Monday evening brought out tropes expected and otherwise. Alongside honorary chair Silas Chou and co-chairs Jennifer Lawrence, Gong Li, Marissa Mayer (Yahoo sponsored the gala and the show), Wendi Murdoch and Anna Wintour, there was Sarah Jessica Parker in a fiery headpiece by Philip Treacy (not to mention a poppy-bedecked gown by H&M Conscious), Kate Hudson in a gold sequined, vaguely cheongsam-style Michael Kors number, and Georgia May Jagger in a robe-like concoction complete with phoenix embroidery. Of course, this being a party full of celebrities with spectacularly fit bodies (and equally healthy self-esteem), nudity was an equally omnipresent theme: Beyoncé in Givenchy, Kim Kardashian in Robert Cavalli by Peter Dundas and Jennifer Lopez in Versace Atelier proudly represented. But the unofficial consensus on a favorite seemed to lean towards Rihanna’s epic marigold fur-trimmed, embroidered extravaganza whose train stretched down multiple flights of stairs. Handmade by Guo Pei, who also has two stunning creations in the exhibition, it was one of the few representations of a look by an actual Chinese designer on the red carpet. Riri for the win on multiple counts. Here, all the looks from the gala.
Rihanna in Guo Pei
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Sarah Jessica Parker in an H&M dress and Philip Treacy headpiece
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Rita Ora in a Tom Ford dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewels with Tom Ford
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Zoe Kravitz and Miley Cyrus in Alexander Wang
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Sienna Miller in Thakoon
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Uma Thurman in an Atelier Versace dress and Alexandre Birman shoes with Andre Balasz
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen in vintage Dior by John Galliano
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Matt Bomer
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Solange Knowles in Giles with Alan Ferguson
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Zhang Ziyi in Carolina Herrera
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Versace
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Robert Pattinson and FKA Twigs in Christopher Kane
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Poppy Delevingne in Marchesa
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Vanessa Hudgens in an H&M dress and Gigi Burris Millinery veil
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Sofia Vergara in Marchesa with Joe Manganiello
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Selena Gomez in a Vera Wang dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewels
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Wei Tang and Christopher Bailey
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Miranda Kerr in Louis Vuitton
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Taraji P. Henson in Balenciaga
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Reese Witherspoon in Jason Wu and Tiffany & Co
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Tonya Lewis and Spike Lee
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis in Prada
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Rachel Weisz in Chanel
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Michael Kors and Kate Hudson in a dress by the designer
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Ruth Wilson in Oscar de la Renta
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Naomi Campbell in Burberry
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Anna Wintour in Chanel
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Wendy Murdoch in Oscar de la Renta
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Mario Testino
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Marissa Mayer
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Lily Aldridge in a Carolina Herrera dress and Brian Atwood shoes
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Roland Mouret and Maggie Gyllenhaal
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Kim Kardashian in Roberto Cavalli with Kanye West
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Francisco Costa and Lorde in Calvin Klein Collection
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Kristen Wiig in Prabal Gurung
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
George Clooney in Georgio Armani and Amal Clooney in Margiela
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Linda Evangelista in Moschino
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Kendall Jenner in Calvin Klein Collection
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Lily Collins in Chanel
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Kerry Washington in Prada
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Kris Jenner in Balmain
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Karlie Kloss in Atelier Versace
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Katie Holmes in Zac Posen with the designer
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Karolina Kurkova in Tommy Hilfiger
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Karen Elson in Dolce & Gabbana
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Jennifer Lopez in Atelier Versace
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Katy Perry in Moschino
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Jeremy Scott and Madonna in Moschino
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Larry David
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Justin Bieber in Balmain with Olivier Rousteing
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Keren Craig, Elie Goulding, and Georgina Chapman in Marchesa
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Jennifer Lawrence in Dior
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Julianne Moore in Givenchy
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Josephine de la Baume and Mark Ronson
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Jessica Chastain in Givenchy Couture
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Joseph Altuzarra and Keri Russell, wearing a dress by the designer
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Lauren Bush Lauren and David Lauren
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Humberto Leon, Jessica Alba, and Carol Lim in Kenzo
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Janelle Monae
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Edie Campbell, Jamie King, Jason Wu, and Nicola Peltz in BOSS
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Irina Shayk in Atelier Versace and Emily Ratajkowski in Topshop
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Ivanka Trump in Prabal Gurung
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Hannah Davis and Derek Jeter in a custom rag & bone tuxedo
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Hailee Steinfeld in a Michael Kors dress and Beladora jewels
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Beyonce in Givenchy
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Ansel Elgort in a Tom Ford suit and Beladora studs
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Emma Roberts in Ralph Lauren
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Gong Li
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Gigi Hadid in DVF
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Alessandro Michele and Georgia May Jagger in Gucci
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Gemma Ward
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Elizabeth Banks in Michael Kors
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Diane Kruger in Chanel
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Alexander Wang and Lady Gaga in Balenciaga
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Dree Hemingway in Coach
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Donna Karan and Calvin Klein
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Dianna Agron in Tory Burch
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Cara Delevingne in Stella McCartney
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Dakota Johnson in Chanel
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Chrissy Teigen in St. John Knits with John Legend
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Chloe Sevigny in J.W. Anderson
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Bella Hadid in Topshop
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Claire Danes in Valentino
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Cindy Sherman in a Chanel Haute Couture dress and Repossi jewelry and Gaia Repossi in an Alaia dress and Repossi jewelry
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Brie Larson in Dolce & Gabbana
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Allison Williams in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Chloe Grace Moretz in Coach and a Repossi ear cuff
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Cher in Marc Jacobs
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Caroline Trentini in Atelier Versace
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Amanda Seyfried in Givenchy with Justin Long
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Candice Swanepoel and Behati Prinsloo
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Anne Hathaway in Ralph Lauren
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Amber Valletta
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Bee Shaffer in Alexander McQueen
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Adrian Brody
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Melanie Laurent
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene
Carina Lau in Schiaparelli
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene