Last night's Costume Institute Gala: Pretty, confusing, but also sad

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

It's hard to know what to make of an event like last night's Met Gala. It is a little like the East Coast Oscars, except there are no awards and guests are supposed to dress in costume. (But then they rarely do. It's kind of like the old joke that no matter whether a devil or a nurse or a witch or a cat, women just dress like sluts on Halloween. Here, most of the women just look different forms of fancy). Anyway, the theme of this year's party, set by Vogue's Anna Wintour, was "Superheroes." Which is really fun idea—that was interpreted in offbeat color combinations or with capes or tiny embellishments like stars or leopards. After the jump, everything that was pretty, confusing and just kind of sad.

The Pretty:

Eva Mendes: As usual, perfect, low-key hot.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Giselle should not be allowed to have this body.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty images

I like Beyoncé's subdued-feminine dress,
her cool 20's-esque bag and doesn't she
look genuinely happy, too?

Andrew H. Walker/Getty images

I have to say, inviting Lynda Carter was genius.
(and she's wearing gold wrist bands!)

Andrew H. Walker/Getty images

Eva Longoria Parker totally annoys me, but
she looks fantastic in this sculptural purple dress.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Mary J. Blige: Love the jewelry, love the super
glamorous black satin, love your funky blond bob.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

The Confusing:

This one is hard. Katie "Kate" Holmes has
great hair and I like her gold chains. It's just
that the dress has an unflattering cut and it's
weirdly shiny and she's wearing nonsensical
blue shoes.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Naomi Watts's outfit is like half good,
half dumb. I wish the dress was shorter. I wish
that star was more thought out. Is she supposed to be
Superhero Marilyn Monroe?

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

It's not totally horrible, but I think I just don't
understand what the heck Kimora Lee
Simmons's dress has to do with anything.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty images

This is why this is confusing: There's just nothing
special about Julia's dress. It's not even ugly. She's
so pretty and this just makes her look thick around
the middle and older than she is. And blah.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

The Sad:

Tilda Swinton, this is no kind of dress for a
woman who is brazen enough to have a husband
and a younger lover and not give a damn if
anyone knows. You're sexier than this dowdy
lace-ness and that creepy red star is not
helping the situation.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty images

Two things. Christina Ricci: 1. Please gain weight.
2. This red panties getup was a very bad idea.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty images

What Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen
are wearing hurts my feelings.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty images

I get it, Sarah Silverman. You're not like a style queen.
Just hire someone to tell you that striped gloves with
a big polka dot skirt is NOT OK.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

I'm calling this sad, but only because I am sure,
SURE that gorgeous Scarlett can do better than this
boobs-popping-out, all-one-washes-you-out-
color, ballerina mess.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty images

From the Community…

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Posted by Kelly R Tue May 6, 2008 10:51am PDT

This article was really mean....

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Posted by schasawildone Tue May 6, 2008 11:14am PDT

everyone has an opinion on what another should look like and usually the ones that are dishing out the opinion is the one that is just SAD!! :D that's my opinion

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Posted by sshurtz Tue May 6, 2008 12:25pm PDT

I must agree with the writer. These women have plenty of money, not to mention the endless list of designers who are begging them to wear their dresses. They should at least make an attempt to look in the mirror to see that their dress fits and their hair done up. I mean come on.... did Katie get dressed in the dark? Red dress and blue shoes. What it this... the 4th of July? Julia, There are plenty of inexpensive girdles that do just fine for a woman that has issues at her waist line, not that you do but there is that possibility from the looks of this dress.

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Posted by manda Tue May 6, 2008 12:39pm PDT

I love Julia Roberts! She is beautiful!

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Posted by capitao@y7mail.com Tue May 6, 2008 1:38pm PDT

Julia is always Julia and Scarlett is wonderful in any outfit and any mood.

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Posted by girly4224015 Tue May 6, 2008 3:09pm PDT

hit girl 4224015

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Posted by lucylou Tue May 6, 2008 4:13pm PDT

RIGHT ON Jennifer Romolini!!! It's about time someone calls a fashion disaster what it is!! Your analogy of these women hits the fashion nail right on the head! !!!! Kudos

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Posted by DillyDalia Tue May 6, 2008 9:07pm PDT

i think the quirky "sad" ones are an homage to the superhero theme. not too much of a stretch. esp. kate holmes' red/blue- she's totally superman!

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Posted by DanaC Wed May 7, 2008 6:09am PDT

You are funny. And true. I enjoyed this.

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Posted by shine Wed May 7, 2008 6:36am PDT

In defense of Katie H, this was a "superheroes" night, correct?? I think that idea is what she was trying to show off- the red dress, blue shoes, gold wrist band/bracelet?? Who does that remind you of?? Superwoman. and, we all know, that you have to be a Super Woman/Super Hero to be married to the likes of Tom Cruise.
Shine

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