Julie Macklowe in Zang Toi, Zandra Rhodes, Madonna in Givenchy, Sarah Jessica Parker in Giles Deacon

Since 1948 the Metropolitan Museum of Art has hosted the Met Ball (also known as the Costume Institute Ball) to fete the opening of the fashion exhibit at the Costume Institute.  Every year, the event has a theme that attendees are encouraged to channel with their chosen attire.  This year’s theme was deemed Punk: Chaos to Couture and that got the fashion world in a bit of a tizzy.  A stripped down rock starting between 1974 and 1976 characterized by DIY principles and sub-culture rooted in anti-establishment and rebellious youth, would fashion’s elite really relate to the theme seeing as some of them hadn’t even been conceived when punk was present?  The red carpet proved to be a bit of a crap shoot, which was made especially apparent when Hailee Steinfeld referenced Avril Lavigne as “punk.”

Some ladies played it subtle by simply accessorizing with studded jewelery or faux-hawk coifs.  Dramatic dark smokey eyes and deep berry lips were also favored on the red carpet.  But the real stars of the red carpet were the women who really went for it.  Anne Hathaway went full blown blonde, SJP sported an exquisite mohawk headpiece by Philip Treacy, and Madonna said, “to hell with pants!” in Givenchy.  Rooney Mara, Nina Dobrev, and Minka Kelly were the perfect mesh of modern and punk embracing the look in sexy lace and smoldering makeup.  While Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, and Amanda Seyfried were stunning, they veered to the side of safe.  Which can’t be said for some like Coco in Emanuel Ungaro, a tie dyed Elle Fanning, and a seemingly confused Olsen twin.  And I’m left wondering if some of these ladies didn’t get the memo or are just party poopers who simply ignored the theme altogether.

So, who got punk and who got punk’d?

Perfectly Punk:

Donatella Versace, Anne Hathaway in Valentino, Rooney Mara in Givenchy, Lauren Santo Domingo in Dolce & Gabbana, Minka Kelly in Carolina Herrera

Miranda Kerr in Michael Kors, Emma Watson in Prabal Gurung, Dakota Fanning in Rodarte, Carolyn Murphy in Nina Ricci, Allison Williams in Altuzarra

Punky Pants:

Kristen Stewart in Stella McCartney, Nina Dobrev in Monique Lhuillier, Jaime King in TopShop, Jessica Biel in Giambattista Valli

How Supermodels Do Punk:

Karolina Kurkova in Mary Katrantzou, Gisele Bundchen in Anthony Vaccarello, Anja Rubik in Anthony Vaccarello, Cara Delevigne in Burberry, Brooklyn Decker in Peter Pilotto

Punk Princesses:

Julianne Hough in TopShop, Taylor Swift in J. Mendel, Blake Lively in Gucci, Gwen Stefani in Maison Martin Margiela, Amanda Seyfried in vintage Givenchy

Pretty, but not Punk:

Gwyneth Paltrow in Valentino, Anna Wintour in Chanel, Kate Upton in Diane von Furstenberg, Kate Beckinsdale in Alberta Ferretti, Heidi Klum in Marchesa

 Pieces of Punk:

Jaime King, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Lawrence

Emmy Rossum, Sienna Miller, Jessica Alba

You’ve Been Punk’d:

Ashley Olsen in Dior, Elle Fanning in Rodarte, Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs, Nicole Richie in TopShop, Nora Zehetner in Marchesa

Coco Rocha in Emanuel Ungaro, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Gucci, Christina Ricci in Vivienne Westwood, Beyonce in Givenchy

Who were your favorites?

xx,

WhyDid

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The best way to get through the next two months of below freezing temperatures is to plan ahead.  Plan vacations, plan summer shares, plan spring wardrobes… One of Spring 2013′s trends was the minimalistic and graphic use of black and white shown by everyone from Marc Jacobs to Balmain to Michael Kors.  A long time fan of bold black and white, I am happy to report that this really is one of those trends that would be hard to get wrong… (though I’m sure someone is capable of screwing it up).  You can opt for an actual black and white print or simply pair black and white separates to achieve the look that is clean, crisp, and classic.  Throw em for a loop by accessorizing the look with a red lip or bright bag.

Sophia Webster Yayoi Patent and Leather Sandals, $635, Sass & Bide The Big Go Sequin Tank, $180, 7 for All Mankind Cropped Slim Cigarette in Black & White Gloss Stripe, $198, Cambridge Satchel Two Tone Satchel, $172

xx,

WhyDid

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This past Monday, the Super Bowl of fashion, the Met Gala happened in New York City.  As any good fashionista knows, you better arrive dressed to impress or risk being on every news media outlet’s worst dressed list.  And deck themselves out is precisely what this year’s A-list did.  While there are always a few stand out trends (like Wintour in white and a smattering of sunshine-y yellow), the one trend that seemed to catch everyone’s eye… and breath… was the see through gowns showing off some skin and some seriously gorgeous gams.

To some, this excess of skin may be offensive, but I personally have no problem with it… so long as it’s done with taste rather than haste.  I grew up in a kind of “naked house” (it was mostly me and mom… so there was no need for modesty).  I’d wear a tissue if I could get away with it and as a matter of fact, I have a dress that I reference as the “tissue dress.”  I get it though, one can take a little bit of chic cheekiness and turn it into just a lot of cheek.  And while I’m not put off by the female body, some people just don’t appreciate some good side boob and are abhorred by the mere trace of a nipple.

So would you don one of these daring dresses?

xx,

WhyDid

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We are so attached to our computers and smart phones, it seems nearly impossible to even get through a dinner without someone (or everyone) picking up his or her phone to text, Tweet, check-in, or share a photo.  It begs me to ask the question- have we become TOO social?  And have we forgotten what the word “social” really means?

• Is it time to “drop the social“? [Mashable]
• We rely on computers and devices and social networks for just about everything.  So much so that Facebook is preparing for a $100B IPO and they really have you to thank. [Mashable]
• Since you spend so much time there, have you ever thought about how people look at your Facebook profile? [Mashable]
• Facebook is a little too big for you?  Try out Path.  A social site with a cap of 150 friends.  It’s like an intimate dinner party- except without the dinner… or the party.  [HuffingtonPost]
• Think it’s just for sharing what you ate for breakfast?  Au contraire!  Twitter is the new place to find a job. [DashBurst]
• For instance, WhoWhatWear is hiring a Social Media Manager. [Fashionista]
• Fashion not your thing?  Stat.us will help you keep up to date with all your sports scores.  Thank goodness. [TechCrunch]
• Remember when media meant making a commercial?  Check out the first Marc Jacobs commercial here.  [Elle]
• Speaking of commercials, even they have become “social” as shown here with this “Choose Your Own Adventure” commercial by Madewell [T Magazine]
• Is all this social chatter making you feel ill?  Good news!  A new site called Doximity will help you find a doctor [TechCrunch]
• Even the tech geeks are sick of geeks at this point.  That’s why they’re packing up and headed for the Big Apple. [BetaBeat]

Perhaps it’s time to put down our gadgets and make real life connections– with the people who are right in front of our faces.  Sure we are all “connected” but are we really “connecting” at all anymore?

xx,

WhyDid

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The gorgeous and well groomed came out to strut their stuff down the red carpet for the MET Ball this evening.  Where most red carpets are a bit of a bore, the Costume Gala always proves to be  more interesting seeing as it is thrown by the fashion elite (you don’t see Anna Wintour at the Grammy’s).  Each year, the gala is themed and this year was “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty.”  Talk about one hell of a week for McQueen creative director, Sarah Burton.  A royal wedding followed by the year’s biggest fashion fete.

Above Tory Burch and Taylor Swift (in J. Mendel) slipped into their red carpet best and while both look absolutely beautiful (thanks for ditching that side swept ‘do, Taylor!) they look uncomfortably similar.  These dresses look like they could have been cut from the same cloth (oh yes, pun intended).

Tory and Taylor weren’t the only lookalikes this evening.  Quite a few starlets, and style icons were seen wearing similar get ups.

Ginnifer Goodwin in custom Top Shop, Barbara Walters

Too easy.

Rosie Huntington Whiteley in Burberry, Brooklyn Decker in Michael Kors

Two blonde supermodels, one color. I love Rosie Huntington Whitely.  She’s absolutely beautiful and I do love Brooklyn’s dress.  I just wish they could have swapped outfits.

Kate Hudson in Stella McCartney, Jessica Alba in Ralph Lauren Collection

No, this is not season 4 of Teen Mom Goes to Prom.  These are just two very pregnant actresses dressed in prom gowns for the gala.

Dakota Fanning in Valentino, Fergie in Marchesa

Speaking of teens… why is Fergie dressed in the same outfit as seventeen year old Dakota Fanning (who is very much age appropriately dressed)?

Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen, Renee Zellweger in Carolina Herrera, Gwyneth Paltrow in Stella McCartney

Seems that slinky metallics were all the rage for the over 40 set.  I can’t help but think these dresses look awfully similar to Anne Hathaway at the Golden Globes…

Freida Pinto in Chanel, Janelle Monae, Anna Dello Russo in Alexander McQueen and egg hat

Three perfect examples of why women should stick to womenswear and stay away from menswear.

Chrissy Teigen in Chris March, Beyonce in Emilio Pucci, Lucy Liu in Vionnet, Christina Hendricks in Carolina Herrera, Demi Moore in Prabal Gurung, Kirsten Dunst in Chanel

These six sexy black widows actually all ended up on my worst dressed list… just mere coincidence that they’re all in black.  Preparing for their fashion funeral perhaps?

Gisele Bunchden in Alexander McQueen, Dianna Agron in Michael Kors, Saorise Ronan in Rodarte, Kristen Stewart in Proenza Schouler, Emily Browning in Marc Jacobs

I’ve organized these ladies in red from “red hot” to “red not even kind of a little bit. uh uh.”

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu, Christina Ricci in Zac Posen, Bar Rafaeli, Ashley Greene in Donna Karan, Lily Aldridge in Ralph Lauren Collection, Leelee Sobieski in Vionnet

These six stunners got their red carpet looks right.  They are each wearing one of the above trends or themes that were so popular at this year’s MET, but they got it right rather than oh so wrong. These beauties were able to separate themselves from the savages.

xx,

WhyDid

Photos via JustJared & Huffington Post

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