The Costume Institute Met Ball 2010

Awards Season and Fashion Week seem like long, distant memories so thank God for the Costume Institute Gala/Met Ball. Finally, after a long and hideous drought we have images of beautiful fashion to salivate over. No, just me?! The annual Met Ball theme for 2010 is ‘The American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity’. To be honest, I wouldn’t have a clue what to wear, thankfully a whole army of celebrities (and their stylists) decided pretty dresses were fitting the theme. Nude and metallic were the most popular choices when it came to the dresses, although there were still a few who dressed in failsafe black. White was a welcome change as were patterns. 

Sarah Jessica Parker in Halson, quelle surprise. She looks amazing in this metallic dress from Halston Heritage. The loose shape makes it look so easy and comfortable, but being metallic and slightly sheer, it’s still hot and red carpet worthy. 

Emma Watson was flying the flag for Britain in this custom made Burberry dress. I love the pleating/ruffle detail and the sexy one shoulder/slit combination but her hair looks like mine when I’ve just woken up! A dress like this deserves some glamour. 

Diane Kruger normally dresses so prettily on the red carpet, but she’s gone for ultra minimal with this Calvin Klein dress. I’m not too fond of the top part, but the bottom bit and the little train makes me think of a calla lily. Beautifully simple look though. 

Nicole Richie is simply glowing in this metallic Marc Jacobs dress. Metallic works well with the simple shape. 

I think a patterned dress is literally a bold choice on the red carpet, but I this this dress really works on Eva Mendes. The shape itself has been done for the past few seasons but I think the print makes it work. 

Dree Hemingway looks perfect, not as dressed up as most of the red carpet attendees but with those perspex heels and backless jacket from CK Collection, who cares?! So chic.

I’ve got to admit, I do love a big dress on the red carpet which is probably why I love this Zac Posen creation on Doutzen Kroes. The bodice looks amazing and those oversized sheer shoulders must be DIYed on something somehow…

Camilla Belle does look gorgeous and radiant in this Jason Wu dress which looks like it was made for her. But I think it’s more appropriate for something like the Oscars. 

Sienna Miller looks amazing in her Emilio Pucci dress, and her man-candy isn’t half bad either! The super low front and shredded, feathery look may not be to everyone’s taste but I like it. 

I can sometimes be overly critical of dark dresses on the red carpet, but I love this CK Collection asymmetric dress on Zoe Saldana. Sometimes you just need to keep it simple and put a gorgeous dress on a beautiful girl without frills, pouffs, pleats, bows or ruffles. 

It’s good to see Blake Lively wearing something age appropriate, I’m still slightly scarred from images of her wearing a horrid gown from a few seasons back. The colour of this Marchesa dress is perfect on her. Totally contradicting my previous comment, I love the pattern and ruffles on this dress!

Love this Burberry dress on Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. She is far too gorgeous for her own good! I think the belt wrapped around the waist works really well and dresses it down just a touch. 

I like daring looks at the Met Ball, and Alexa Chung was plenty daring! Shunning a stereotypical dress in favour of this Phillip Lim tux was a good move.

Marion Cotillard is definitely in my top 3 looks from the Met Ball. Absolutely stunning dress. It’s similar to Diane Kruger’s dress but I like this much more. 

The Marchesa girls and Eva Longoria look stunning, I love the icy shades and the fact that Georgina Chapman is 6 months pregnant and wearing feathers! Eva’s dress is lovely but the length has puzzled me a little, not quite full length, it feels like it’s ended abruptly. 

I want this Versace dress! It makes Alessandra Ambrosio look chic, stunning, daring and sexy all at once. What more does a girl need from a dress?