PARTIES

Eastern Promises

by Vanessa Lawrence

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With a spring exhibition entitled “China: Through the Looking Glass,” it is only natural that the red carpet for the opening party be sprinkled with Asian decorative motifs and interpretations of Chinoiserie. And so the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala Monday evening brought out tropes expected and otherwise. Alongside honorary chair Silas Chou and co-chairs Jennifer Lawrence, Gong Li, Marissa Mayer (Yahoo sponsored the gala and the show), Wendi Murdoch and Anna Wintour, there was Sarah Jessica Parker in a fiery headpiece by Philip Treacy (not to mention a poppy-bedecked gown by H&M Conscious), Kate Hudson in a gold sequined, vaguely cheongsam-style Michael Kors number, and Georgia May Jagger in a robe-like concoction complete with phoenix embroidery. Of course, this being a party full of celebrities with spectacularly fit bodies (and equally healthy self-esteem), nudity was an equally omnipresent theme: Beyoncé in Givenchy, Kim Kardashian in Robert Cavalli by Peter Dundas and Jennifer Lopez in Versace Atelier proudly represented. But the unofficial consensus on a favorite seemed to lean towards Rihanna’s epic marigold fur-trimmed, embroidered extravaganza whose train stretched down multiple flights of stairs. Handmade by Guo Pei, who also has two stunning creations in the exhibition, it was one of the few representations of a look by an actual Chinese designer on the red carpet. Riri for the win on multiple counts. Here, all the looks from the gala.

1

Rihanna in Guo Pei

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

2

Sarah Jessica Parker in an H&M dress and Philip Treacy headpiece

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

3

Rita Ora in a Tom Ford dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewels with Tom Ford

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

4

Zoe Kravitz and Miley Cyrus in Alexander Wang

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

5

Sienna Miller in Thakoon

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

6

Uma Thurman in an Atelier Versace dress and Alexandre Birman shoes with Andre Balasz

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

7

Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen in vintage Dior by John Galliano

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

8

Matt Bomer

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

9

Solange Knowles in Giles with Alan Ferguson

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

10

Zhang Ziyi in Carolina Herrera

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

11

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Versace

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

12

Robert Pattinson and FKA Twigs in Christopher Kane

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

13

Poppy Delevingne in Marchesa

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

14

Vanessa Hudgens in an H&M dress and Gigi Burris Millinery veil

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

15

Sofia Vergara in Marchesa with Joe Manganiello

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

16

Selena Gomez in a Vera Wang dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewels

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

17

Wei Tang and Christopher Bailey

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

18

Miranda Kerr in Louis Vuitton

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

19

Taraji P. Henson in Balenciaga

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

20

Reese Witherspoon in Jason Wu and Tiffany & Co

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

21

Tonya Lewis and Spike Lee

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

22

Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis in Prada

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

23

Rachel Weisz in Chanel

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

24

Michael Kors and Kate Hudson in a dress by the designer

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

25

Ruth Wilson in Oscar de la Renta

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

26

Naomi Campbell in Burberry

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

27

Anna Wintour in Chanel

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

28

Wendy Murdoch in Oscar de la Renta

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

29

Mario Testino

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

30

Marissa Mayer

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

31

Lily Aldridge in a Carolina Herrera dress and Brian Atwood shoes

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

32

Roland Mouret and Maggie Gyllenhaal

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

33

Kim Kardashian in Roberto Cavalli with Kanye West

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

34

Francisco Costa and Lorde in Calvin Klein Collection

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

35

Kristen Wiig in Prabal Gurung

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

36

George Clooney in Georgio Armani and Amal Clooney in Margiela

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

37

Linda Evangelista in Moschino

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

38

Kendall Jenner in Calvin Klein Collection

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

39

Lily Collins in Chanel

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

40

Kerry Washington in Prada

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

41

Kris Jenner in Balmain

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

42

Karlie Kloss in Atelier Versace

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

43

Katie Holmes in Zac Posen with the designer

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

44

Karolina Kurkova in Tommy Hilfiger

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

45

Karen Elson in Dolce & Gabbana

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

46

Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

47

Jennifer Lopez in Atelier Versace

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

48

Katy Perry in Moschino

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

49

Jeremy Scott and Madonna in Moschino

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

50

Larry David

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

51

Justin Bieber in Balmain with Olivier Rousteing

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

52

Keren Craig, Elie Goulding, and Georgina Chapman in Marchesa

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

53

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

54

Julianne Moore in Givenchy

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

55

Josephine de la Baume and Mark Ronson

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

56

Jessica Chastain in Givenchy Couture

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

57

Joseph Altuzarra and Keri Russell, wearing a dress by the designer

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

58

Lauren Bush Lauren and David Lauren

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

59

Humberto Leon, Jessica Alba, and Carol Lim in Kenzo

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

60

Janelle Monae

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

61

Edie Campbell, Jamie King, Jason Wu, and Nicola Peltz in BOSS

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

62

Irina Shayk in Atelier Versace and Emily Ratajkowski in Topshop

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

63

Ivanka Trump in Prabal Gurung

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

64

Hannah Davis and Derek Jeter in a custom rag & bone tuxedo

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

65

Hailee Steinfeld in a Michael Kors dress and Beladora jewels

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

66

Beyonce in Givenchy

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

67

Ansel Elgort in a Tom Ford suit and Beladora studs

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

68

Emma Roberts in Ralph Lauren

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

69

Gong Li

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

70

Gigi Hadid in DVF

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

71

Alessandro Michele and Georgia May Jagger in Gucci

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

72

Gemma Ward

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

73

Elizabeth Banks in Michael Kors

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

74

Diane Kruger in Chanel

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

75

Alexander Wang and Lady Gaga in Balenciaga

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

76

Dree Hemingway in Coach

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

77

Donna Karan and Calvin Klein

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

78

Dianna Agron in Tory Burch

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

79

Cara Delevingne in Stella McCartney

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

80

Dakota Johnson in Chanel

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

81

Chrissy Teigen in St. John Knits with John Legend

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

82

Chloe Sevigny in J.W. Anderson

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

83

Bella Hadid in Topshop

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

84

Claire Danes in Valentino

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

85

Cindy Sherman in a Chanel Haute Couture dress and Repossi jewelry and Gaia Repossi in an Alaia dress and Repossi jewelry

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

86

Brie Larson in Dolce & Gabbana

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

87

Allison Williams in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

88

Chloe Grace Moretz in Coach and a Repossi ear cuff

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

89

Cher in Marc Jacobs

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

90

Caroline Trentini in Atelier Versace

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

91

Amanda Seyfried in Givenchy with Justin Long

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

92

Candice Swanepoel and Behati Prinsloo

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

93

Anne Hathaway in Ralph Lauren

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

94

Amber Valletta

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

95

Bee Shaffer in Alexander McQueen

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

96

Adrian Brody

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

97

Melanie Laurent

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

98

David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

99

Carina Lau in Schiaparelli

Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene