Marc Jacobs donned an unconventional ensemble at the 2012 Met Ball, while Coco Rocha stood out in lemon yellow and hot pink vintage Givenchy and Berenice Bejo knows how to play it up on the red carpet with show-stopping baubles.
The fashion designer stunned onlookers at the exclusive Costume Institute Gala in New York when he walked the red carpet wearing a see-through black lace shirt dress teamed with white boxer shorts.
He said, ”It’s just a lace dress… I just didn’t wanna wear a tuxedo and be boring.”
The designer, known for his eccentric style, accessorised the shirt dress with a black clutch bag and a pair of heeled buckle shoes from his latest Autumn/Winter collection.
He also claimed his outlandish outfit paid homage to famed designers Miuccia Prada and the late Elsa Schiaparelli, who are the subject of the Costume Institute’s exhibition ‘Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations’, because he felt Miuccia in particular would appreciate his ”unconventional” stance.
He explained, ”I think Miuccia Prada is such a celebration of the unconventional and so it felt like, appropriate, somehow. They are two women [Schiaparelli and Prada] who I have always loved the work of; I mean Elsa Schiaparelli is one of my all-time heroes and Miuccia Prada continues to be a hero of mine. I am looking forward to seeing the exhibition.”
The model was among the guest at the lavish New York event and deliberately arrived early so she wouldn’t be overshadowed by more famous attendees.
Coco – who wore a Givenchy pantsuit once worn by the late Dame Elizabeth Taylor – said, ”Of all the events, I have to say the Met Gala red carpet is most daunting. You have cameras on both sides of you all the way up a red-carpeted staircase. If you turn to one side, the other side boos. You really can’t win.
”Once people learn your name they all begin screaming for you.
”I’ve made the mistake in years gone by of showing up a little late to the event, right when the Beyoncés and J. Los of the world are having their moment – then you have photographers screaming for you to get out of the way! So this year I came nice and early.”
Coco, 23, usually likes to do her own hair and make-up but is happy to draft in help for the Met Gala because it is so important.
She revealed in a blog for People, ”I usually do my own hair and makeup for events but for the Met Gala I pay out the big bucks. Everyone who is anyone is there so you want to put your best face forward.”
However, despite having 12 people on hand to assist, Coco ended her preparations with a mundane task – ironing her husband James Conran’s shirt.
She said, ”After about four hours of hair and make-up we realised that James, my husband, had a wrinkled dress shirt so I did some very last-minute ironing like the Suzy Homemaker I am.”
The ‘Artist’ actress favours a more low-key look in her everyday style but is happy to don jewellery for high-profile events because she thinks it is important to live up to the expectations of being a star.
She said, ”I don’t usually wear jewellery but it’s part of the character you have to create when you go to a red carpet.
”It’s very important to play the game and give people something a little bit more glamorous and you know, not too normal. I love it when actors make you dream a little bit as they used to do.
”In my real life I’m totally different. That’s what’s funny. When I’m promoting a movie or doing awards I have to be one Berenice but you can’t wear Louis Vuitton dresses or Chopard earrings to pick up your kids or buy milk.”
The 35-year-old beauty will attend the opening and closing ceremonies at Cannes Film Festival this year and is already planning what accessories she will wear.
She told Britain’s HELLO! magazine, ”I’ve already chosen two Chopard pieces for Cannes. Earrings and maybe something for the hair. The Chopard Red Carpet 2012 Collection for Cannes is beautiful. I like the rings, the pink stone is so beautiful.”
