School of frock - Met Gala edition

Yesterday's annual Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, aka the Met Gala, in New York City produced a mixed bag to the theme of Charles James: Beyond Fashion. 

DISTINCTION

BLAKE LIVELY, A+

Gown: Gucci Premiere

How I've missed the Gossip Girl star on the red carpet. After what seemed like an eternal hiatus, the blonde bombshell floors us in a flawless silk chiffon blush mermaid gown featuring plunging neckline, sweeping train and sparkly rose gold paillettes. It's old Hollywood glamour at its finest and definitely an easy A.

DIANE KRUGER, A

Gown: Hugo Boss

Like Lively, the German actress also rocked a captivating metallic creation. Despite it not screaming "look at me", she still looked heavenly in this shimmering patterned ice-blue column gown with pleated overlay.

SUKI WATERHOUSE, A

Gown: Burberry

My inner princess is sighing and swooning at such a frothy, floaty fairy-tale frock donned by the lucky British model. I just want to rub my face in those endless blush tiers!

KAROLINA KURKOVA, A-

Gown: Marchesa

Now THIS is a Met Gala statement gown. The Czech model is totally selling the dramatic sculpted silhouette and painterly white floral print, and the teal work of art's jaw-dropping extravagance is undeniable.

PASS

EMMA STONE, B+

TOP AND SKIRT: THAKOON

Perhaps it's the hot pink hue or contemporary styling, but you've got to hand it to the US actress for standing out just by wearing an understated, super-simple two-piece get-up.

BEYONCE, B

Gown: Givenchy

It's refreshing how the US pop star dialled it down for once and steered clear from her usual OTT red carpet looks. There's something charmingly retro about this sheer black beaded peplum ensemble complete with matching veil.

RITA ORA, C-

Gown: Donna Karan Atelier

Shoes: Casadei

She just can't help herself, can she? The British singer should have just left the ethereal matte gold sequined silk tulle gown alone, but ruined it with Vegas strip club-worthy strappy pumps and armbands.

LUPITA NYONG'O, D

Dress, clutch and shoes: Prada

Now that she's won an Oscar, the Kenyan actress had to let the ball drop eventually. She's a walking dreamcatcher in this awful emerald-green flapper-inspired net dress featuring a crazy number of glass beads, crystals, feathers and chandelier drops, but that silly headpiece is the real deal-breaker.

FAIL

KATIE HOLMES, F

Gown: Marchesa

The US actress put the "costume" in Costume Institute Gala all right - either that or she's been watching too much Beauty And The Beast on DVD with Suri. Alas, Holmes is far from being the "Belle" of this ball despite going full-in Disney princess, because her crinkled yellow off-the-shoulder ballgown is more beastly than beautiful.

KATE UPTON, F

Gown: Dolce & Gabbana

Hey, didn't I just flunk her last week in my column? Anyway, it's impossible to give the US model-actress a pass when she insists on turning up as a tarty saloon waitress from the Wild West who just collected her PhD. Oh wait, I mistook the explosion of flowers on her head for a doctoral tam. Still, a disaster nonetheless.

This article was published on May 7 in The New Paper.

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