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| Elle Macpherson - spectacularly and fabulously negotiating the Met Gala staircase in flats |
The Met Gala is my Super Bowl.
Or maybe, a better analogy - my Grand National and Kentucky Derby all rolled into one. Well, we ARE talking frisky, high strung, long legged fashion fillies.
Fashionistas forced to negotiate a long flight of stairs in gowns and high heels; being blinded by flashbulbs; all the while trying to make it look effortless, might not exactly be a steeplechase - but it's not that much of a stretch. And seriously, it's much more fun to watch.
Fashionistas forced to negotiate a long flight of stairs in gowns and high heels; being blinded by flashbulbs; all the while trying to make it look effortless, might not exactly be a steeplechase - but it's not that much of a stretch. And seriously, it's much more fun to watch.
Like any sports fan, anticipation and excitement builds long before the actual event - at the beginning of the season really. The positives and negatives of each contender are endlessly discussed and meticulously researched; opinions are read; bets are placed. It's the same for me.
In fact, my mind starts to race, months before the actual event, held each year on the first Monday night in May.
But here's where the sports analogy fails and this is the reason the Met Gala is such a spectacular event to watch.
Each year the rules of the game change.
The theme of the Met Gala reflects the chosen subject or theme of that year's Costume Institute exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and one must dress accordingly.
This can go spectacularly awry, and many a thoroughbred has fallen at the first hurdle.
Take for example, Gwyneth Paltrow at last year's "Punk: Chaos to Couture", trying so hard to be clever by incorporating a slash and a "punk-ish" hot pink color, but looking instead like a Pepto Bismol preppy princess - and oh so very boring.
Or poor pregnant Kimye - who just wore her very own couch fabric and look liked one too. Or Madonna, who worse than being either "boring" or "tasteless" made the fatal fashion faux pas of turning up in a punk inspired Halloween costume.
But here's where the sports analogy fails and this is the reason the Met Gala is such a spectacular event to watch.
Each year the rules of the game change.
The theme of the Met Gala reflects the chosen subject or theme of that year's Costume Institute exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and one must dress accordingly.
This can go spectacularly awry, and many a thoroughbred has fallen at the first hurdle.
Take for example, Gwyneth Paltrow at last year's "Punk: Chaos to Couture", trying so hard to be clever by incorporating a slash and a "punk-ish" hot pink color, but looking instead like a Pepto Bismol preppy princess - and oh so very boring.
Or poor pregnant Kimye - who just wore her very own couch fabric and look liked one too. Or Madonna, who worse than being either "boring" or "tasteless" made the fatal fashion faux pas of turning up in a punk inspired Halloween costume.
Ah, but those are but a few of the fashion fails. What about the winners? Those that adhere to the given year's theme, but pull off a look that is both fashion forward and beautiful? I give you as an example Sienna Miller in Burberry spiked jacket and headband the same year. Now, how cool is she? Sienna is first passed the post by a furlong.
And so, this brings us to 2014, and in stark contrast to last year, the Met Gala will be a tribute to the first couture designer of the fashion world: "Charles James: Beyond Fashion"- a designer famous in the 1940's for his classically feminine and beautifully draped ball gowns...
The dress code for this event has already caused a stir amongst men, as it has been requested they wear "White Tie and Decorations" i.e. the most formal evening wear of white tie and tails and top hats. For women, floor length dresses will be a must.
But how to interpret this look without being too literal? And how to be elegant and modern? How to negotiate that super long staircase and not trip over your enormous dress?
How to give a nod of reverence to Charles James without looking like a giant cupcake?
I'm on the edge of my seat...
