There was a new trend to be seen Monday night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala: women in elegant trousers suits, as well as androgynous versions of tailcoats. And while short is the new long, the traditionalists also turned out in spectacular evening wear—Annette de la Renta, in her husband’s white lace column and pale green taffeta coat looked the way people expect people to dress when they have style. So did Lauren Santo Domingo, whose own de la Renta, a white suit with romantic Edwardian sleeves, was embroidered all over with bows.
Everyone looked smashingly glamorous, from Isabel Lucas in Proenza Schouler (including the knee-high boots) to Beyoncé, who had been working all day in the recording studio, but decided at the last minute to come to the gala—just an hour before the evening began. Ask the new mom about her baby, Blue Ivy, and she lights up. “She’s four months old today, and she’s just got the most delicious little cheeks,” she said. Jay-Z stayed home, so mother came out solo wearing a Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci sizzler—comprised of feathers and exaggerated black embroidery—that took 350 hours to make.
Kirsten Dunst wore pumpkin, the most unexpected color of the night, in the form of Rodarte’s dressy dinner suit while Amber Heard, who came with Zac Posen, channeled a very sophisticated tone of clay in a form-fitting dress.
