The Met Gala — it is to fashion what the Oscars are to film, and every year the biggest designers and their muses put on a dazzling display at the New York event. This year was no exception. Leading the way was Anne Hathaway and her couturier of choice, Valentino. The Oscar-winner stormed the ball in a vintage black Valentino gown featuring daring sheer panels and feathered sleeves. She also rocked brand new blonde tresses and smoky eyes to bring even more edge to her ensemble at the Punk: Chaos Meets Couture-themed soiree.
"Oh my god! I love it!" squealed her Devil Wears Prada co-star Emily Blunt as she greeted the actress. Anne had taken inspiration from Blondie rock chick Debbie Harry. Speaking about her vintage 1992 Valentino gown, "I couldn't believe it when he (Valentino) sent me the picture because he asked me if I wanted to wear archive… He said, 'Well, have you ever done anything punk darling?' Princess maybe!," laughing Anne told Vogue. "He sent this one and I said, 'Oh my god, i love it, it's fabulous! First and only choice as soon as I saw it…I took the chaos thing as far as the couture would allow. "Anne and Valentino are a fashionable force to be reckoned with. She chose the Italian designer to create her romantic, off-the-shoulder wedding gown when she tied the knot with Adam Schulman last year, and more often than not turns to her friend for her major red carpet appearances. The one blip in their long-standing collaboration came at this year's Oscars when Anne decided last minute not to wear her planned her Valentino gown after seeing a photo of Amanda Seyfried's dress and deciding they were too similar. She publically apologised to the famed designer in a statement — and clearly all is now forgiven.
Another designer-muse partnership enjoying a red carpet evening out together was Katie Holmes and Francisco Costa. Katie glided into the ball on the arm of the Calvin Klein designer wearing one of his designs, an edgy halter neck white gown with a shredded train. Madonna pulled out all the stops to shock in a design by Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci. She embraced the anarchic theme wearing a pair of ripped fishnet stockings, a tartan studded jacket and leather gloves. The superstar, 54, said she was a fan of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen "and that whole era", but said she didn't want to be too literal. "I wanted to do my own thing, put my own twist on it," she said. Other formidable partnerships arriving at the Met Ball included Jennifer Lopez and Michael Kors, Uma Thurman and Zac Posen, and Jessica Biel wearing a design by Giambattista Valli, the man behind her pink wedding dress. The actress was also sporting a faux septum piercing in honour of the evening.
Katy Perry stepped out with D&G's Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in a cathedral-inspired dress created for her by the duo, while Johnny Depp's new flame Amber Heard chose a creation by Peter Dundas.Other stars attending the event included Gwyneth Paltrow, who decided not to walk the red carpet with husband Chris Martin, best friends Cara Delevingne and Rita Ora, Miley Cyrus, Sienna Miller, Nicole Richie, Sarah Jessica Parker and Beyonce, who all unleashed their inner punk princesses for the occasion.
