The Look: Met Ball 2014

Last night, the most beautiful, successful and celebrated women of popular culture got their glad rags on and glided up the red carpet at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Last year’s event saw a 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' theme, from Cara Delevingne’s studded top and deep smokey eyes, to Miley’s spikey hair and mesh dress.

This year, organiser and host, American Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, opted for a complete contrast and chose a 'White Tie and Decorations' theme, in tribute to Charles James, the first US couturier.

Guests were expected to go for vintage looks for the twenties and fifties in honour of the late fashion designer.

HAIR

This year was all about Hollywood glam waves. Many stars swept their locks to one side and channelled their inner Blake Lively, with a deep right parting and curls that had been lightly brushed out to create a tousled look. Cara Delevingne, Victoria Beckham and Kim Kardashian all followed suit, with their tumbling waves slicked across to fall on one shoulder. Those with shorter hair simply tucked one side behind their ear, note Taylor Swift and Reese Witherspoon.

A few modernised the concept of a side-do, such as The Amazing Spiderman 2 actress Emma Stone, who sported a messy side-plait and model Joan Small, who had a neat fishtail braid tumbling down her right shoulder. Twilight star Kristen Stewart also rocked a deep side-parted plait. Hair stylist Adir Abergel took her new orange hair into a messy fishtail braid.

Updos were also popular on their year’s red carpet, though there wasn’t anything massively spectacular. The general look was a messy textured bun with wisps of hair pulled out, along with a few slick updos strengthened with a strong parting.

MAKEUP

Hollywood glamour can only mean two things: red lips and feline flicks. First up, superstar Beyonce, of course. Queen B wore a deep wine-coloured red lip, while keeping the rest of her face relatively fresh. Her neutral eyes had a shimmer of gold, which peeped out from behind her mini beaded veil. Showing how different a red lip can look, this year’s beauty look was a matter of everyday makeup for Taylor Swift. The singer had her signature bright red lipstick and winged out eyeliner, while adding hints of gold glimmer to add some subtle glamour.

Many let their outfits do the talking and followed the “barely there” trend straight off the catwalk. Rihanna’s makeup artist Mylah Morales says she went for clean and dewy skin on the singer. Focusing mainly on the brows, Mylah created a strong brow and kept it straighter than usual for a vintage feel. Rihanna’s look was finished with a splash of colour by using a lilac coloured lip lined with pencil. Joan Smalls took the lilac lip and went even darker, with a deep purple lipstick that stood out against her natural glowing skin.

OUTFITS

The red carpet was a cascade of pale pinks and champagne gowns, as many opted for a nude look, such as Suki Waterhouse, in a custom-made Burberry ruffled gown. The 22-year-old model stunned in a two-toned layered strapless dress, complete with frilled train. Meanwhile others went for monochrome, a look that flowed well with the White Tie theme. Among the first to arrive and one of the ball’s co-chairs, Sarah Jessica Parker made a grand entrance in a custom-made black and ivory Oscar de la Renta gown, complete with the designer’s signature at the end of her train. She finished the look with ivory elbow-length gloves embellished with diamonds.

Glamour doesn’t have to mean just black, white and nude. Bright colours were also prominent in the fifties, and certain stars brought bursts of colour to the event. Hollywood sweetheart Lupita Nyong’o massively impressed during the most recent awards season and has since become a fashion icon across the world. The 12 Years A Slave actress turned up wearing Prada from head to toe, a look that has divided critics. Rocking a green headband, the star’s net dress was embellished with green jewels and large green feathers adorned both sides of the gown. Also donning bright gowns, Emmy Rossum wore a lavish bright yellow Caroline Herrera floral gown and Jourdan Dunn amazed the crowds with a deep neck-plunging bright yellow dress. What we love even more is that the frock was a custom-made Topshop piece. She wasn’t the only one to show up in the high street label, as models Kendall Jenner, Chanel Iman and Toni Garrn all opted for the same brand.

Additionally, a handful of stars chose to avoid ball gowns altogether. Supermodel Cara Delevingne chose to wear the work of British designer Stella McCartney and turned up in tailored white trousers and a black cut-out bandeau complete with crossed over back. Also opting for Stella McCartney, Cara’s bestie Rihanna ditched flowing dresses and went for an all-white diamond-collared top and maxi skirt combo, while Emma Stone strayed from Hollywood glamour in a pink Thakoon two-piece.