All The Backstage Gossip From The Met Ball 2014
It turns out that even Anna Wintour can’t force celebs into white tie and ballgowns with white gloves.
Even though the theme of this year’s Met Ball 2014 was ‘White Tie With Decorations’, only a few of the star attendees actually went for Charles James-era glamour, with full skirts, long gloves and decorations.
So what’s the backstage gossip from fashion’s night of nights?
The most popular designers were Riccardo Tisco of Givenchy and Stella McCartney, both of whom had a host of ladies following them around in their designs all evening.
However, everybody was astonished when Kim Kardashian didn’t show up in Tisci, as she did last year, but in a high-split Lanvin that flashed her underwear inadvertently. Have the fashion BFFs had a split of their own?
Another underwear-flasher (or not): Zoe Kravitz in custom Topshop. She wore a thigh-high split too, but spies at the party reveal that she wasn’t wearing underwear, and that many party-goers got more than they bargained for….
On that theme: Cara Delevingne, one of Stella’s ladies in an elegant Fred Astaire-esque jumpsuit, had personalised underwear, which she showed off on Instagram before the show (obviously). Also on Instagram is a photo revealing that she had a moment with Lily Allen on the changing table of one of the ladies’ bathrooms during the Ball.
And even though men were allowed to wear medals, some didn’t take up the opportunity – David Beckham didn’t bother to wear his, even though we know he has it lying around. Mario Testino, however, donned his OBE with pride, complete with purple sash.
What about the jewels? Kendall Jenner (above left), in too-tight custom Topshop, flaunted an 82-carat Chopard platinum necklace, while Colin Firth and his wife Livia (above right) also turned up dripping in Chopard diamonds – he a watch, she earrings and a huge 186-carat diamond collar.
But the winner of the jewellery contest has to be Karolina Kurkova (centre), who wore $1 million Harry Winston jewels. We’re jealous.
It turns out that the Met Ball’s ‘pairings’ of designer and muse were all set up by the formidable US Vogue editor Anna Wintour – and woe betide anybody who made another choice.
“The level is control is amazing,” a source told the Hollywood Reporter before the red carpet. “If Michael Kors is coming, Anna is deciding which celebrity will wear Michael Kors and which Michael Kors outfit the celebrity will wear.”
It looks, however, as if there were more than a few rebels on the night who went against the dress code. Tellingly, the people who kept to the dress code were models – who rely on Wintour for work in US Vogue.
Does this mean that Wintour is losing her clout among the famous? We’ll keep you posted.
And after Gwyneth Paltrow famously declared that she was ‘never going again’ after last year’s ‘hot, sweaty’ Met Ball, this year’s was far more exclusive – with the price tag for a ticket nearly doubling.
The cost? A heavy $US25,000. Ouch.
What Will Kim Kardashian’s Wedding Gown Look Like?
With reports Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are now officially married under US law, rumours are heating up about Kim’s wedding dress – or dresses.
The pair will marry in over-the-top style in France this week, and it’s shaping up to be a very fashionable set of parties.
Under French law, religious marriages must contain two ceremonies – the civil one in a registry office, and then the walk down the aisle. So if Kim and Kanye want a lavish church ceremony, they’re going to need to go through their paces twice.
And we can bet that Kim won’t wear the same dress twice.
Givenchy was thought to be the designer of choice for one or both the dresses. Riccardo Tisci, the designer, is best mates with Kanye, and designed Kim’s infamous Met Ball gown from last year when she was heavily pregnant.
However, now that she’s turned up to this year’s Met Ball in Lanvin, the question is up in the air.
We already know Kim’s style from her second marriage to Kris Humphries – she wore Vera Wang then, and it was all strapless gowns, huge trains and ruffled silhouettes.
So what’s Tisci’s wedding dress style?
He’s all about detail and gorgeous embroideries with off-the-wall elements. His wedding gown for Christina Ricci was see-through with delicate details and cut-out sleeves, and the long-sleeved, layered lace gown he produced for Vanessa Traina had an interesting addition: visible zippers across the front.
Even the simpler gown he designed for Lara Stone’s nuptials had an edge: gold chains in the straps and bodice.
Lanvin’s style is more elegant and traditional – and, tellingly, Kim wore Lanvin on her record-smashing Vogue cover with Kanye, which has now sold over half a million copies in the US alone.
What do you think – will she go traditional, or opt for a more edgy look for her wedding day?
Alexa Chung On Normcore: ‘It’s The Most Offensive Thing’
Ever heard of normcore? It’s the new buzzword in fashion – and some people aren’t taking to it very well.
Normcore is otherwise known as ‘downtime’ or ‘off-duty’ fashion: anything designed to fit in rather than stand out and look unique.
It’s caused rabid interest from fashion commentators, who think it means we’re done with looking ‘cool’ or striving for originality, and just want to be one of the crowd.
But Alexa Chung came out swinging about it in an interview this week.
“It’s the most offensive thing,” she said. “I didn’t recognise it as a category of dressing, it’s just how people dress.”
She added, “I know friends of mine who were included in the first article [where it was discussed] who were quite outraged by that.”
So what annoyed Chung?
“It’s weird when you’re just existing and people outside it gather you up and take away any unique vibe you thought you had. They’re like, ‘It’s a trend!’ and you’re like, ‘What? No, I just exist.'”
What do you think: are we past trying to look cool, or is it all just a phase?
