Project Runway at the Met Costume Institute Gala

The Met had their annual Costume Institute Gala and this year, because of the current Met exhibit, the theme was superheroes.

"Fashion not only shares the superhero’s metaphoric malleability, but actually embraces and responds to the particular metaphors that the superhero represents, notably that of the power of transformation. Fashion celebrates metamorphosis, providing unlimited opportunities to remake and reshape the flesh and the self. Through fashion and the superhero, we gain the freedom to fantasize, to escape the banal, the ordinary, and the quotidian. The fashionable body and the superhero body are sites upon which we can project our fantasies, offering a virtuosic transcendence beyond the moribund and utilitarian."

Fabulous, no? Tom wants that gigantic sculpture of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman for the garden. You should check the link above, there's some fascinating rumination upon the superhero costume and how it relates to fashion.

Anyway, enough highbrow shit. Let's rip some dresses!


Donna Karan.

We're thinking this is a Hulk tribute.


Michael Kors and Kristin Davis.


Kristin Davis in Michael Kors.

Very pretty. The train's probably a bit much, but it IS a ball, after all.


David and Victoria Beckham wearing vintage Giorgio Armani.


Those are wax figures, right? How do they manage to go through life looking airbrushed?

Credit where it's due, though. Posh's dress is fierce.


Ivanka Trump in Gilles Mendel.


Very pretty, but a little boring.


Diane von Furstenberg

Finally! Someone looks like they're working a superhero theme! Gorgeous.


Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen wearing Wonder Woman–inspired gowns by Diane von Furstenberg.


Frankly, we're not seeing the Wonder Woman influence. Gold Olsen's dress is ugly. Black Olsen's is pretty hot.


Ellen Barkin in Diane von Furstenberg.


Sure, Ellen's had way too much surgery, but we have to give the woman props, because in her middle age, she's become quite the standard for how to look gorgeous and sexy and age appropriate.


Karolina Kurkova and Vera Wang


Karolina Kurkova wearing Vera Wang.

Again, it's got an appropriately superhero-y feel to it, but that doesn't make it a good-looking dress.

Couldn't ONE of these bitches have shown up in star-spangled panties? Where's Betsey Johnson when you really need her?



Zac Posen and Kate Mara

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Oh, Zac. You dork.


Kate Mara in Zac Posen.

It's a gorgeous dress and despite our laughter, we applaud Zac's Clark Kent schtick.


David Bowie and Iman wearing Dolce & Gabbana.


THIS is how it is motherfucking DONE, y'all! Bow down!

[Photos: WireImage/metmuseum.org/Zimbio]