From The Straits Times    |

The annual Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala (Met Gala) in New York City, is definitely the most extravagant fashion party of the year. Thrown by the first lady of fashion, Anna Wintour, it’s my favourite red carpet show and definitely the only fashion event that really matters.

Each year, the party has a theme, and the creme de la creme of the fashion industry are encouraged to dress in a way that honours that.

The theme for Met Gala 2016 is “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”. It refers to the dichotomy between handmade haute couture and machine-made fashion.

1. Alexa Chung

 

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My spirit animal, and my personal winner for the night. Her sartorial awesomeness is just beyond me, I can’t think of a best-dressed list that would be complete without her. Eschewing trains and taffeta, she nailed it with a Thakoon bejewelled pant suit with a low neckline. She was oozing laid back luxury with a hint of cleavage as icing on the cake.

2. Karlie Kloss

 

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This white Brandon Maxwell (a very new New York based designer) custom design has an incredible cut-out design that flatters her every curve. She’s also carrying the most theme perfect clutch named Scintillator by Lisa Perry and artist Leo Villareal. It’s encoded and powdered by LED lights that make it capable of creating a sequenced and illuminated light display.

3. Lady Gaga

 

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To be honest, I miss the over the top Lady Gaga that sent me into a shock mode every time she appeared on the red carpet. Not the classiest outfit, but definitely a show stopping one. I am liking this intricate and dazzling Versace outfit that resembles a robot.

4. Kendall Jenner

 

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She’s cementing her fashion icon status in the fashion industry, one red carpet at the time. I am so glad she took a break from the Balmain army and went in her own own sartorial direction with this sexy-skin, sheer, cutout Atelier Versace gown that showed skin from all angles. She completed the look with a sleek updo and simple sandals, allowing the modern dress to do all the talking.

5. Kate Hudson

 

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Kate Hudson completely shut it down with this super classy futuristic gown. I am so impressed with the precise detailing on the dress. Who says that futuristic fashion has to look like a costume? Don’t you want this as your wedding dress?

6. Gigi Hadid & Zayn Malik

 

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This duo is taking the world by storm, one kiss at a time. They debuted red-carpet romance at the 2016 Met Gala. Gigi Hadid looked great in her custom Tommy Hilfiger gown (just look at the amazing spangled embroidered corset underneath) while Zayn Malik sported a sleek Versace suit with metal arms. A very flattering dress, but not sure about the armoured arms. It’s more medieval instead of futuristic, no?

7. Beyonce

 

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Her album has been on repeat ever since the release, but not sure if Queen B managed to slay it on the red carpet this year. She obviously looked stunning and unstoppable (I mean, only she can make a full body condom look so good), but the Givenchy latex dress reminds me too much of a cross between Lady Gaga’s outfit for her Born This Way performance at the 2011 Grammy’s and Kim Kardashian West’s pink latex dress she wore for a endorsement appearance.

8. Madonna

 

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Not surprised at her daring red-carpet choice; it’s a another step further away from being best dressed after from last year’s awful graffiti gown. If this is her view of the future, I am not sure if I want to be part of it. Oh, my eyes!

9. Alicia Vikander

 

She might have recently won an Oscar for the best supporting actress, but she’s not doing so well in the fashion department. She looks a bit confused in this Louis Vuitton number. Too many materials going on in a weird mash-up of colours, and that pair of boots makes her look a little stumpy.

10. Sarah Jessica Parker

 

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Carrie Bradshaw is known to be a fashionista, but I am not sure if that’s the case for Sarah Jessica Parker. After last year’s fiasco (yes that very awkward culturally inappropriate headdress), she appeared this year in an athleisure inspired Monse suit… which was really bland and boring. She looked like she was running an errand in the morning after a night of crazy partying.