Red gown by Gucci, Thanksgiving centerpiece via Martha Stewart's holiday archives. Jennifer Lopez would have earned our vote in this dramatic fuschia halter with ab-fab keyhole if not for the fall-themed foliage taking over her shoulders. Someone should have stuck a cork in the horn of plenty before it exploded all over the Idol judge.
Ka-Pow! Beyoncé is killing it in this mermaid-cut, collared Emilio Pucci gown with tulle skirt, gold embroidery and cleavage cutout. It's sexy, it's sophisticated (love that she went with a discrete double chignon to avoid distracting from the dress) and it's appropriately over the top for fashion's equivalent to the Oscars. Ladies, take note, this is how it's done!
From the neck up, newly ginger Gossip Girl star Blake Lively is smokin' hot. The starlet is seriously working this Chanel number—OMG for once showing no cleavage nor leg!—as much as she can. Seriously, she's beaming! It's kind of cool in a high-fashion way, and we're happy for Blake that Karl Lagerfeld was her date, but it also looks like she just had one too many drinks at the Phi Beta Kappa toga party and could probably use a ride home in about five minutes from the sober sister. Oops!
It's probably a complete coincidence Madonna is styled like a wartime victory pinup girl the day after America triumphed over its public enemy No. 1. Whether or not she's making a political statement, there's something amazingly patriotic about the singer's slinky, star-spangled Stella McCartney gown with sequined clutch, loose curls and red lipstick. It makes us wanna stand up and cheer!
Fergie's busty bridal dress knockoff (courtesy of Marchesa) would be a disaster if she didn't have an anniversary coming up with Josh Duhamel in, uh, next January. The mermaid silhouette, the layers of white lace and tulle, the diamond tiara—she's already got her vow renewal outfit all figured out. Now that's what we (kindly) call one frugal and far-sighted fashionista!
Seinfeld may not have appreciated the pirate shirt, but we're all over these puffy sleeves Ashley Olsen is rocking at the Met Gala. This vintage Christian Dior gown is bold, fun and completely unexpected. Unfortunately, Mary-Kate's oversized vintage Givenchy potato sack is just the same old, same old for this boho-obsessed babe. Just once we'd like to see her in something that actually fits. Too much to ask?
We've got a girl crush, make that a mommy crush, on Jessica Alba. This is no MILF fantasy, she's just one of the prettiest stars to walk the red carpet with a baby on board. Her strapless Ralph Lauren gown with delicate beading and layers of champagne-colored tulle is dreamy (and doesn't cause any embarrassing tugging or straining at the seams!) and the gold clutch and jewel-encrusted headband just pull it all together. Alba's kids are gonna have one heck of a fashion pedigree!
Leave it to fierce fashionista Rihanna to do something off the wall like wear a gown that has a train in the front (?!), but we dunno, there's just something really sad about this single-sleeve lace Stella McCartney gown. From the lackluster train to the sad side braid and clashing makeup and earrings, Ri-Ri just isn't as fun and whimsical as she normally is with her fashion.
So this is what Wednesday Addams would look like all grown up—and caught in a spiderweb. Christina Ricci takes us back to her breakout childhood role in The Addams Family in this gothic glam skintight Zac Posen gown with enormous fishtail hem. Kudos to Christina for taking the dramatic dress code seriously, but this over-the-top gown is wearing her instead of the other way around. Add the so-so hair and makeup and this is a fail.
Kristen Stewart's probably hoping for an over-the-shoulder shot to sell this virtually backless Proenza Schouler dress paired with Fred Leighton jewels, a black clutch and strappy heels. Or at the very least something showing off her thigh-high slit. Otherwise there's not a whole lot of shape to this heavily-patterned frock. It's not awful, but it overwhelms the normally feisty fashionista. Never thought we'd say this, but bring back the glam-rock minis, please?!
Wow, are we underwhelmed! The Met Costume Gala is the biggest fashion event of the year and Lea Michele is one of Hollywood's current It girl fashionista darlings, so we were expecting a lot more from the Glee starlet than this simple red Escada gown. C'mon, babe, all the dramz you got going on is an asymmetrical bustline? Well, it is her first year at the gala, so let's just chalk it up to rookie mistake. But Lea, you're on probation till next year!
Yes, we'll take our Diane Kruger with a side of sexy leg, please! The babe is working this Jason Wu gown with a dangerously high slit. On anyone else, this might look too risqué, but La Kruger just looks elegant and stunning in the embellished top and floor-length skirt, showing off her enviable former-model gams. That's just the kind of fashion badass she is.
Getting dressed up to party in platform pumps and a champagne silk Stella McCartney gown when you're pregnant is no easy feat. So we applaud Kate Hudson for her efforts. But we have to slap the style cuffs on someone (her stylist? The seamstress?) for not giving the poor woman any room to grow. Her belly and bejeweled neckline look beautiful, but there's nothing attractive about Kate's backside busting out at the seams!
PHOTOS: 2011 Met Costume Gala Arrivals!