Excuse us if we are going a bit Costume Institute Gala (Met Gala) overload. We mean, this is the Goliath of all things chic and fabulous in the fashion industry and excuse us if we have heart palpitations over all the looks from last night’s event. So let’s stop all the chit chat and get to what it’s most important: judging the looks! For the full looks of the night, please check out our gallery!

The Good

Prada vs. Givenchy

Although the night belonged to Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli – the focus for the Costume Institute Gala’s latest exhibition, Impossible Conversations, there was a war waging on between two fashion houses. Prada had many come in the garms including: Gwyneth Paltrow, Carey Mulligan, Eva Mendes and Anna Wintour but it was Givenchy that closely followed them with many celebs in the house’s scene stealing red carpet moments. Rooney Mara walked with designer Riccardo Tisci in a Givenchy Haute Couture black asymmetrical one-sleeve lace dress. Other celebs in Givenchy included: Gisele Bundchen, Coco Rocha (in a vintage number owned previously by Elizabeth Taylor) and the most jaw dropping of the night, Beyonce – who showed up last – in a combo of black lace, crystal embellishments and a train of purple feathers giving Kiss of the Spider Woman tease.

Other notable mentions in our good category: Carey Mulligan in Prada, Marion Cotillard in Dior, Eva Mendes in Prada, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Burberry, Ivanka Trump in Peter Pilotto and Anna Wintour in Prada.

Most Improved: Kristen Wiig in Stella McCartney. Kristen’s been a little lackluster on the red carpet as of yet (her low: under performing in a copper Zac Posen to last year’s Emmys). So it was nice to see Kristen embrace color in a tangerine lace Stella McCartney dress.

Solange Knowles in Rachel Roy

January Jones in Versace

Yellow Not So Mellow: Yellow was the color that really stood out on the red carpet last night. While many wore seas of nude, or blush tones, both Solange Knowles and January Jones stood out in bright hues. Solange went a tad darker in a canary number with peplum effect in a Rachel Roy dress as January Jones tapped into the future with a strong bodice Versace gown.

The “Costumey” Award: We know what you’re thinking. “Aren’t you supposed to be costumey to the Met Gala?” Well no not really. Avant Garde is acceptable but there is a difference between looking very editorial and runway-esque and looking like you came out of a period piece. Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte, we’re judging you.

Best Dressed Buyer: Linda Fargo of Bergdorf’s was the ONLY one in co-exhibitor Elsa Schiaparelli vintage design and for that we give her a round of applause.

The “Carny” Award: Yeah, hands down this goes to Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen. She looked like she escaped from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus.

Best Dressed Male: It’s Kanye West at the Met. This was a no brainer.

Failure to Launch Award: This is a tie to both Dakota Fanning and Debra Messing. Once we heard Dakota was going to wear Louis Vuitton, we thought this was her moment to wear something Victorian-esque and sexy, not look like Laura Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie, although, she comes in tie with Debra Messing in a bland looking gold Kaufmanfranco gown. What happened to the fuchsia wearing, neon loving Debra Messing of Michael Kors yore? Come back, little Debra.

Dynamic Duo Award: We might get some slack for this, but we loved Rachel Zoe and Karolina Kurkova together in both of Rachel Zoe’s designs. It called for some much needed drama on the red carpet.

Best Dressed Couple: Gisele Bundchen in Givenchy and Tom Brady in Tom Ford. Aside from their matching slicked up do’s, both Tom and Gisele looked equally stunning. We especially loved how Tom’s oversized bowtie.

The Bad: Leading the nights fails included Bianca Brandolini D’Adda in a way too much sparkle gown and cape combo (was very Game of Thrones), a frightening looking Mary Kate Olsen and Jessica Stam in some sort or papier-mâché creation.

The Fugliest of Them All: No words can go out to Milla Jovovich. We were so confused by the propotion of her dress and it had the nerve to be too long. As one of the best dressed of the Met 2011 last year, Christina Ricci failed – miserably – in Thakoon’s bow and Jessica Chastain looked like she wore the Empire State building in her column dress.

Images via Getty

Beyonce in Givenchy Haute Couture

The 2012 Met Gala has finally arrived and this year’s fashionable red carpet was one of the best we’ve seen in a long time. From Christina Ricci’s major bow moment in Thakoon to Beyonce’s jaw dropping (late) arrival in Givenchy Haute Couture, the carpet was not for the faint of heart. In keeping with the Costume Institute’s new exhibit theme, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, many attendees turned out in their freshest Prada, while many choose to wear other designers (and even bring them as their dates). With close to 90 images, below check for all the arrivals from the 2012 Met Gala!

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Contego, a Brooklyn-based eyewear brand, presents their spring / summer 2012 lookbook for their handcrafted acetate frames. The custom frames, fitted with stainless steel hinges and high quality CR – 39 lenses, features new styles named after literary giants such as Bellow, Hemingway, Morrison and Kipling. The collection is available online via Contego’s web store.

Michelle Obama in Naeem Khan

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner took place this past weekend, Saturday night to be exact, and it was a major star studded event. Hollywood A-listers like Charlize Theron to D-listers such as Lindsay Lohan (who invited her?!) joined President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama with a slew of media moguls. Why such a glitzy group of guests? Beat us, but the fashion was redic; probably 1000x better than what’s expected at the other White House Dinners. Check out the red carpet rundown from the event in our gallery!

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We’ve been in love with Dear Creatures since we laid eyes on Zooey Deschanel’s character in the designer on FOX’s New Girl. DC has a touch of retro fusion with modern freshness that would bring cuteness to any closet. Worn by Deschanel as well as other celebs including Elle Fanning, Mischa Barton and Eva Longoria, the fall 2012 collection has sailor inspired sweaters, A-Line dresses and fun patterns including strawberries and polka dots (which are definitely in for summer and fall this year). Here’s a sneak preview below!

Images via Dear Creatures

Yesterday, we got a glimpse of Joseph Altuzarra’s collection for J.Cew. The “Bardot meets Saint Tropez” sense is vastly different than what fellow CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund runner-up Pamela Love (who incorporated her signature gothic style jewelry) and Creatures of the Wind managed to conjure up. Pamela Love kept her edge with brassy baubles, plaid accents under denim jacket collars and gold rivets on leather belts while Creatures of the Wind channeled a psychedelic 60’s vibe, incorporating a color block cashmere twinset and even a multi-hued oxford.

Pamela Love and Creatures of the Wind’s collections won’t hit stores or online until May 17 and June 14, respectively. Check out the images we have!

Images via J. Crew

J. Crew has collaborated once again with CFDA/ Vogue Fashion Fund winners to act as a sponsor for the designers to create capsule collections for the retailer. High end fashion designer, Joseph Altuzarra is first on the list, incorporating his sleek mature aesthetic for a “Brigitte Bardot in Saint Tropez” inspired collection with J. Crew.

Although cute, the collection seems a bit matronly and not entirely Altuzarra’s aesthetic nor fresh for J. Crew. But we digress. The collection is available today for purchase on JCrew.com and will go on sale at the J.Crew on Fifth Ave. in Manhattan on April 23.

What say you, loving the full collection?

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Recently awarded the Emerging Designer of the Year Award by Arise Magazine just over a month ago, Loza Maléombho New York’s Autumn/Winter 2012-13 collection is one to take notice. Born in Brazil, raised in the Ivory Coast in West Africa, and now based in New York, Maléombho’s designs reflects empowerment and journeys multicultural women undergo in the world today. Inspired by the Akan tribes of Ghana and the Baoule tribe of the Ivory Coast for her fall/ winter collection, Maléombho features plenty of richly tailored and structured jackets (sculpted perfectly to the frame), long and cropped vests with accent curved piping, long full skirts and dramatic backless dresses most in kente, playful wax prints or tribal.

Although her roots span the world, Loza Maléombho New York is based in New York. Check out her fall 2012 winter 2013 lookbook below.

To find out more visit: http://www.lozamaleombho.com

What would we do without Coachella? Aside from the many performances and the seemingly endless hound of celebrities having faux hipster moments, we can’t do without the fashion! And speaking of celebrities having faux hipster moments, there were a lot. From Vanessa Hudgens channeling Janis Joplin to Rihanna’s studded short, Topshop crop top and Chanel jacket moments, there were loads of interesting celebrity fashion going on during the first weekend of Coachella.

Don’t just listen to us babble about them, go on and see for yourself in our gallery!

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Images via Zimbio

Riding off their blend of quirk, vintage and feminine silhouettes, Humberto Leon and Carol Kim continued their signature aesthetics for Opening Ceremony’s Fall 2012 collection. Copper, rich forest greens and metallics are the most used color palettes throughout, with slight touches of multi wave prints of fuchsia, spotted camo and canary swirls adding to the down to earth theme. Knitwear, fur, bomber jackets and tweed play a major part, but one thing we especially love are the sleek, oil painted looking trousers, offering up a young Mary Tyler Moore vibe from the 70’s. Check out the full lookbook below in our gallery!

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Images via Opening Ceremony