The biggest night in fashion rightfully has the biggest, most beautiful, and most breathtaking ball gowns. And with this year’s Met Gala celebrating Charles James, “America’s first couturier,” known for his grand and elaborately structured designs, the fashion could only get bigger, better, and bolder.
Below are the top 10 belles who truly embodied the three Bs—big, beautiful, and breathtaking—with their ball gowns at the 2014 Costume Institute Gala. This is white-tie dress code perfection mixed with a dash of Met Gala fashion creativity done right:
1. Sarah Jessica Parker in Oscar de la Renta
Sarah Jessica Parker stuns in a custom Oscar de la Renta ball gown featuring a black velvet peplum and a white satin skirt at the 2014 Met Gala (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
Second to walk the red carpet after Anna Wintour, Sarah Jessica Parker set the bar high in her custom Oscar de la Renta ball gown, which had a black velvet peplum and a white satin ball skirt.
A row of white-covered buttons, a large check design, and the designer’s red signature on the hem made the back as photogenic as the front.
Sarah Jessica Parker attends the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
2. Karolina Kurkova in Marchesa
Karolina Kurkova dazzles in a dramatic, floral-print Marchesa gown with a tent-like silhouette at the 2014 Met Gala (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
With its expansive tent-like silhouette and captivating floral print, only a supermodel like Karolina Kurkova could have made this Marchesa Spring 2011 gown so breathtaking.
Karolina Kurkova attends the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
3. Liu Wen in Zac Posen
Model Liu Wen stole the spotlight in a Zac Posen creation.
Model Liu Wen resembled a Charles James goddess in a strapless ball gown from Zac Posen’s Fall 2014 collection (Credit: Jennifer Graylock / INFphoto)
The paneled structuring made the ball skirt even more voluminous.
Liu Wen attends the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Liu Wen’s Instagram)
4. Dita von Teese in Zac Posen
Ever the inspiring muse, Dita von Teese brought old Hollywood glamour in a Zac Posen mermaid gown with red-orange accents like only she can.
Dita von Teese attends the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
5. Emmy Rossum in Carolina Herrera
Emmy Rossum was springtime epitomized in a Carolina Herrera gown with pink-and-blue flowers printed against a cheery yellow background.
Emmy Rossum attends the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
6. Sarah Silverman in Zac Posen
Sarah Silverman was the surprise of the night, channeling pure elegance in her bordeaux-colored Zac Posen ball gown.
Despite her sophisticated look, she couldn’t resist cracking some jokes. When a reporter asked how her dress felt, she humorously replied, “It feels like f—king second skin.”
Sarah Silverman attends the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
7. Maggie Q in Zac Posen
Maggie Q looks sensational in black, and she knows it. She completes the list of Zac Posen muses with her stunning black cap-sleeved gown featuring a dramatic, curtain-like draped ball skirt.
Maggie Q attends the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
8. Karlie Kloss in Oscar de la Renta
Karlie Kloss exudes elegance in an Oscar de la Renta fall 2014 strapless gown with intricate gold embroidery at the 2014 Met Gala (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
Karlie Kloss took us back to more glamorous times in her Oscar de la Renta fall 2014 strapless gown with gold embroidery. The supermodel couldn’t help but show a touch of her playful personality through black leather opera gloves.
Karlie Kloss attends the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
9. Hailee Steinfeld in Prabal Gurung
Hailee Steinfeld looks sophisticated in a monochrome Prabal Gurung gown with a racerback cut and inseam pockets at the 2014 Met Gala (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
A racerback cut and inseam pockets made the formal ball gown appropriate for 17-year-old Hailee Steinfeld. Her Prabal Gurung piece also had the same Victorian-themed row of buttons at the back, just like in Sarah Jessica Parker’s gown.
Hailee Steinfeld attends the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)
10. Ashley Olsen in Gianfranco Ferré and Mary-Kate Olsen in Chanel
Many might disagree with our choice of putting Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen on our list, but they truly owned their floor-length gowns.
Ashley’s military-inspired vintage Gianfranco Ferré frock received structuring from a bustle at the back. Mary-Kate’s vintage Chanel gown with formal pinstripes contrasting with the casually tied self-belt made us choose it over other traditional ball gowns.
Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen attend the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Andres Otero / SIPA / Rob Rich / Michael Carpenter / WENN)