Yesterday, I attended the press preview of the latest exhibition at the Met’s Costume Institute, which features the career of the legendary couturier Charles James. The exhibit, Charles James: Beyond Fashion, is a sumptuous look at the work of the forward-thinking couturier, including seventy-five of of his most notable designs. At first sight, James’s glamorous ball gowns swept me away with their sculptural lines and resplendent swaths of fabrics, setting a luxuriously romantic tone for the evening’s Met Gala.
Charles James Ball Gowns, 1948
Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph by Cecil Beaton, Beaton / Vogue / Condé Nast Archive. Copyright © Condé Nast
However, the fashions from last night left me shockingly disappointed as only a few attendees embraced the distinct architectural aesthetic redolent of Charles James. With a dress code that stipulated full evening dress and decorations for men, I fear that a number of the female guests did not get Anna Wintour’s memo on what to wear. Some celebrities decided to continue with last year’s punk theme (Kristen Stewart, Nicole Richie and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley come to mind), while others felt that embellished cocktail dresses quantified as full evening dress (no, they do not).
Of course, I’m not here to judge about their fashion choices but rather their jewelry. So these are my picks for best dressed and best bejeweled from this year’s Met Gala.
Karolina Kurkova
She NAILED it, absolutely nailed the Charles James-inspired look with her Marchesa midnight sculpted strapless satin organza dress. The structured volume, asymmetrical bodice and romantic hand-painted floral illustrations looked like they could be right out of James’ very own sketchbook. She looks phenomenal! Kurkova added a splash of sparkle with a Harry Winston 55-carat guipure diamond necklace and queen diamond ring, jewels worth more than $1 million.
Marchesa midnight sculpted strapless satin organza dress with organza flower details and hand-painted floral illustrations dress; Harry Winston 55-carat guipure diamond necklace and queen diamond ring.
Allison Williams
This form-fitting, elegantly flattering coral silk faille gown by Oscar de la Renta looked flawless on Allison Williams. The bold, bright color and rich fabric perfectly embodied the theme of the evening. Adding some vintage appeal to her look, Williams wore a Fred Leighton 19th century diamond laurel leaf necklace, a pair of round brilliant diamond studs (approx. 4 carats each), and a pair of 19th century diamond flower brooches worn in her hair. Divine!
Oscar de la Renta coral silk faille gown and coral silk Goa clutch; Fred Leighton 19th century diamond laurel leaf necklace, round brilliant diamond studs, approx. 4 carats each, pair of 19th century diamond flower brooches worn in the hair.
Dita Von Teese
Only Dita Von Teese could pull off such a sultry and dramatic number by Zac Posen. An overt ode to Charles James, the pale nude tone of the dress with crimson accents as well as the uber-feminine mermaid silhouette and its voluminous structured skirt fit the sensuous Von Teese to a T. Enhancing her updated old Hollywood glamour look, Von Teese wore a Van Cleef & Arpels Estate necklace from 1946 with diamonds, topaz, and enamel set in 18K yellow gold, Three Leaves Estate earrings featuring diamonds set in platinum and 18K white and yellow gold, and Oiseaux de Paradis ring featuring diamonds and pink sapphires set in 18K rose gold.
Zac Posen dress; Van Cleef & Arpels Estate necklace from 1946 with diamonds, topaz, and enamel set in 18K yellow gold, Three Leaves Estate earrings featuring diamonds set in platinum and 18K white and yellow gold, and Oiseaux de Paradis ring featuring diamonds and pink sapphires set in 18K rose gold.
Taylor Swift
The epitome of feminine, Taylor Swift was supremely pretty in pale pink in her gorgeous Oscar de la Renta blush satin faced organza dress with sequin and bead embellishments. With a beautiful bustle draped in the back, Swift’s look paid exquisite homage to Charles James. Keeping in tone with her gown’s hue, Swift wore a $1 million Lorraine Schwartz natural pink diamond cluster earrings and a $3.8 million fancy grey and vivid pink diamond ring.
Oscar de la Renta blush satin faced organza dress with matte gold sequins, pearl beads, silver lined seed beads, rose gold metallic threadwork leaves, and organza petal embroidery; Lorraine Swartz 1 million dollar natural pink diamond cluster earrings and 3.8 million dollar fancy grey and vivid pink diamond ring.
Blake Lively
If you needed any reminder of what glamour looks like, then take a lesson from blonde bombshell Blake Lively and her Old Hollywood-inspired look from the Met Gala. Pairing her blush sequined Gucci Première dress with jewels by Lorraine Schwartz, Lively left tongues wagging last night as she literally lit up the Red Carpet.
Gucci Premiere dress; Lorraine Schwartz ruby swirl drop earrings and a collection of ruby diamond rings.
Laurent Santo Domingo
The stunning socialite wore a carmine colored Oscar de la Renta dress that channeled Charles James effortlessly elegant and impossibly chic style. Arguably the most beautiful statement jewel of the night, Santo Domingo donned a magnificent necklace in the shape of a budding rose made by the uber exclusive Joel Arthur Rosenthal, or JAR. Superb!
Rosebud necklace by JAR © Michele Leight, Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Gisele Bundchen
Leave it to Gisele bring the sexy to the Met Gala. In a body hugging black lace Balenciaga number, the Brazilian model was radiant on the Red Carpet in a pair of beautiful Fred Leighton Colombian emerald drop and diamond earrings.
Balenciaga dress; Fred Leighton Colombian emerald drop and diamond earrings.
Anna Kendrick
Following the Black & White trend, Anna Kendrick sported a chic J. Mendel ivory and black silk faille dress with draped bustier cummerbund waist and pleated train. She finished her look with diamond jewels by Graff.
Kate Bosworth
Leaving little to the imagination in a sleek Stella McCartney pink spaghetti strap gown, Kate Bosworth added flourishes to her minimalist gown through jewelry: Ana Khouri Peacock pearl and diamond gold earrings, Stem gold and diamond necklace, and Petter gold and diamond bracelet; Vieri Lily Love rose gold pink tourmaline pave diamond ring; Sidney Garber gold and diamond chain link ring.
Stella McCartney pink spaghetti strap gown and mirrored clutch; Jimmy Choo Claire clutch; Ana Khouri Peacock pearl and diamond gold earrings, Stem gold and diamond necklace, and Petter gold and diamond bracelet; Vieri Lily Love rose gold pink tourmaline pave diamond ring; Sidney Garber gold and diamond chain link ring.
Claire Danes
The Homeland star hit a home run with her very Charles James-esque Oscar de la Renta dress and 19th century diamond pendant earrings from Fred Leighton
Here are a few more dream-worthy jewels from the 2014 Met Gala:
Lake Bell in Tommy Hilfiger dress; Christian Louboutin shoes; Reece Hudson clutch; Monique Pean diamond slice stud earrings, fossilized woolly mammoth tooth root and grey dinosaur bone collar necklace, fossilized woolly mammoth geometric signature ring, and fossilized woolly mammoth and black Guatemalan jade ring.
Jessica Paré in Michael Kors custom strapless black silk wool shantung bustle gown with white floral threadwork and sequin embroidery and black sandals; Fred Leighton diamond flower earrings in platinum c. 1950’s, a mid-century diamond bombe swirl cocktail ring in platinum, sapphire and diamond ring in platinum c. 1950, sapphire and diamond cross over bracelet in platinum c. 1930, diamond wave bracelet in platinum c. 1950’s.
Karlie Kloss in Oscar de la Renta F/W 14 gold lamé cloqué dress with lacquered feather embroidery; Stephen Russell diamond necklace, earrings and flower ring.
Sofia Coppola stacking Verdura’s “No. 61″ cuff in mammoth ivory set with a vintage faceted tourmaline and diamond brooch and “No. 63″ cuff in mammoth ivory set with a vintage Verdura sapphire and diamond “Ray” brooch
Lily Aldridge in Michael Kors custom strapless silver lamé draped dress; Stephen Russell jewelry.
Jessica Paré in Michael Kors custom strapless black silk wool shantung bustle gown with white floral threadwork and sequin embroidery and black sandals; Fred Leighton diamond flower earrings in platinum c. 1950’s, a mid-century diamond bombe swirl cocktail ring in platinum, sapphire and diamond ring in platinum c. 1950, sapphire and diamond cross over bracelet in platinum c. 1930, diamond wave bracelet in platinum c. 1950’s.
Anna Wintour went for a 19th century diamond floral necklace to match her Chanel dress