I have already discussed my picks for Best of 2017 Red Carpet at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes HERE, Best of 2017 Emmy Awards and SAG Awards HERE and now, it is time for my last BEST OF 2017 RED CARPET BLOG Installment: 2017 Cannes Film Festival and the 2017 Met Gala! These two red carpet events are BIGGIES when it comes to FASHION with a capital "F"! For some reason, actresses, models...you name it...go above and beyond on the red carpet when it comes to what they wear! I get the Met Gala (it's all about GIVING FASHION of course!) but Cannes...it's like these actresses feel a certain sense of Fashion Freedom when it comes to what they wear at the French Icon of Red Carpet events. And I LOVE that they do it!

Here are my TOP 25 RED CARPET LOOKS for 2017 Cannes and Met Gala:
Aishwayra Rai in Michael Cinco Couture Fall 2017: Aishwarya Rai looked like an Empress of her own nation with this stunning baby blue silk organza/applique gown from Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco and his Couture Fall/Winter 2017 "Infanta Maria Theresa". The off-the-shoulder sweetheart neckline ballgown featured a powder blue crinoline-backed fabrication and was completely embroidered by hand. It was A MOMENT, dear kids! Bow down to Aishwarya for giving us this moment.

Aishwarya Rai in Ralph & Russo Spring 2017 Couture: Oh yes...everyone bow down to Queen Aishwarya...AGAIN! She wore this glorious red strapless ballgown to the "120 Beats Per Minute" Premiere at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. I love that she basically showed up to this year's Cannes Film Festival to show everyone in the world why she was crowned...Miss World many, many years ago. This gorgeous actress/model/Bollywood Diva has still got it (not that anyone thought she lost it!). DIVA of 2017.

Araya "Chompoo" Hargate in Alexis Mabille Couture Fall 2014: Araya wore this entrance-making gown from French designer Alexis Mabille Couture Fall 2014 to "The Meyerowitz Stories" Cannes 2017 Premiere. This style may be from a 3-year-old collection, however, it was still SO NOW, and SO RED CARPET FAB! The strapless design featured an off-white column gown with a gorgeous lipstick red quilted overcape attached in the bust line with volants and an Empire-waist bustier. In case you needed a reminder: All that stitching you see on the overcape was done BY HAND; it's Haute Couture after all. Araya sure knows how to make an entrance. Oh and yes, she was five months pregnant at the time. 


Araya "Chompoo" Hargate in Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Spring 2017: This is another fabulous gown that Araya wore to the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, this time to the Premiere of "120 Beats Per Minute" (120 Battements Par Minute). This UBER Princess gown is from Zuhair Murad Spring/Summer 2017 Haute Couture and it was EVERYTHING. The ballgown featured multi-layered silk tulle and a silk satin one shoulder draped bow top. Araya has learned that if there was ever a moment to wear SUPER HUGE ballgowns...it's Cannes. 


Araya "Chompoo" Hargate in Olivier Theyskens Spring 2017: This is a third look I loved from British-Thai actress Araya Hargate at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Can we say she had a Cannes 2017 Fashion Trifecta??!! With  this black strapless gown from French designer Olivier Theyskens she was very much on the 90's Prom Trend. I thought she looked quite elegant, sexy and dare I say, vampy--the gloves, the shape of the gown...the necklace...it was all Cannes Fab! And one of the BEST of 2017.



Sonam Kapoor in Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring 2017: Bollywood actress and L'Oreal Paris Ambassador wore this golden gown from Elie Saab Haute Couture to "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" Cannes 2017 Premiere. The gown featured gold and crystal hand-cut lace applique over nude tulle column gown with overskirt and a plunging sweetheart neckline. She looked DIVINE. The gown was the finale "Wedding Gown" look of Saab's Spring/Summer 2017 Haute Couture collection shown in Paris in January of this year. The gown--as seen on the runway--was a tad bit more "revealing" as seen in the photo above: For Sonam, there were more golden appliques added to cover her up and the sequin work was changed so it didn't look so much like palm trees in a Dubai dessert oasis. Overall, this was a FIERCE red carpet gown and by the way...soooooo many beauty pageant contestants tried to copy this gown this year in international pageants, it was INSANE! So, not only was this one of the BEST of 2017, you can also add One of the Most Copied....or "Inspired" Gowns of 2017.

Sonam Kapoor in custom Elie Saab Couture: Yes kids, Sonam Kapoor is now TWICE on my Best Dressed Cannes 2017 List--as well as BEST OF 2017. This Bollywood Diva SLAYED it! I loved this pink sequined-and-organza-crinoline gown that she wore to "The Meyerowitz Stories" Cannes 2017 Premiere. The gown had a gorgeous column base dress with a soft silk georgette overskirt. It was belted and she accessorized it with FABULOUS jewels including those incredible finger-to-wrist bracelets. Oh, and by the way,  did I mention that her gown was CUSTOM? So, yeah, not just Haute Couture but really, really, really...made JUST FOR HER. Gorgeous. This was another style that many an international beauty contestant tried to replicate, but never achieving this fabulosity!

Andie MacDowell in custom Roberto Cavalli: Actress Andie MacDowell looked gorgeous at "The Meyerowitz Stories" Cannes 2017 Premiere in this black and violet gown from Italian fashion brand Roberto Cavalli. The gown was elegant, chic, and sexy and MacDowell looked AMAZING in it. I loved the shape, the dramatic bow, the draped bodice and side front slit. I love a fab FASHION moment and this gown was that!


Lana El Sahely in Ralph & Russo Couture Fall 2016: Freelance stylist and founder of LArmoireDeLana Blog, Lana El Sahely wound up wearing one of my Best Dresses from Cannes 2017 as well as one of my Best of 2017. She wore this gown to "The Killing of a Scared Deer" Cannes 2017 Premiere. The style featured a white silk crepe gown with pale blue silk organza overskirt with multi-tiered ruffles. The main gown itself was embellished with lilac/blue silk thread-work, crystals and glass bead embroidery. This was simply gorgeous and one of the Best of 2017 Red Carpet.


Deepika Padukone in Brandon Maxwell: Styled by  A-list celebrity stylist Elizabeth Salzman (who styles Gwenyth Paltrow and Uma Thurman), Denmark-born Bollywood Indian actress (and another) L'Oreal Global Ambassador) Deepika Padukone, wore this teal green gown from designer Brandon Maxwell at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. The one shoulder gown was daring and sexy, featuring a high side-front slit opening and beautiful back drape "fall" detail. She looked clean, elegant and made a fab statement.



Naomi Campbell in Atelier Versace Spring 2017: Leave it to Miss Naomi Campbell to make it onto my Best of 2017 Red Carpet, and this time for this gown. She wore this super sexy Atelier Versace Spring/Summer 2017 gown at the "Cannes Fashion For Relief" fundraiser gala. The blush colored silk georgette dress featured an intricate Swarovski crystal encrusted web over the base of the gown, as well as side front slit to show off Campbell's iconic legs. This was a perfect choice for Naomi and she, naturally, wore it fabulously. It's a gorgeous blush/nude colored gown that stood out in a year FULL of those...Nude/Blush colored Gowns.


Sara Sampaio in Zuhair Murad Spring 2017: Portuguese model (and Victoria's Secret Angel) Sara Sampaio, dazzled at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival in one of my favorite gowns of the year--this fire-red design from Lebanese couturier Zuhair Murad and his Spring/Summer 2017 Couture collection. The ballgown featured sequins sewn by hand to look like fireworks (the collection was in fact, inspired by the Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival in Japan) over a silk organza and crinoline tulle base with a full A-line shape skirt and semi-plunging neckline. As you can see, the silk satin draped waist piece was removed to create a cleaner, seamless look. Along with Aishwarya's red ballgown at the top of this post, this was one of THE BEST red gowns of the 2017 red carpet.


Elle Fanning in Vivienne Westwood Couture: Actress (and yet another L'Oreal Brand Ambassador) Elle Fanning, looked marvelous and so 90's Prom Fab with this white strapless ballgown from Vivienne Westwood Couture. The gown was custom-made for her and the artwork was hand painted, naturally.  Westwood's team said that it took 10 people to work on the dress and it took more than 300 hours to finish over the course of 10 days. Add all that up and that comes to A TON OF MONEY! Luckily for Fanning, she didn't have to pay for it. I think she looked very pretty and Grace Kelly-esque. 
Uma Thurman in Atelier Versace Fall 2016: What U.S. actress Uma Thurman is wearing on the 70th Annual Cannes Film Festival Opening Night "Ismael's Ghosts (Les Fantômes d’Ismaël)" Screening Gala ended up as one of my favorite Red Carpet Looks of 2017. This was one of my most-loved gowns from that Atelier Versace collection and so it was wonderful to see it being worn on the red carpet, with slight changes. Notice how the original runway version has a one-side ruffled peplum but Uma's gown does not. Also, the original one had these "peek-a-boo" black Swarovski crystals--all hand sewn--under the volants/ruffles. In Uma's gown, they are not there. Regardless of the changes, Thurman's gown was elegant, chic and made her figure look AMAZING!


Fan Bingbing in Christopher Bu: One of my favorite Fashion Divas is actress Fan Bingbing and she was ON-POINT throughout her time at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and this is the first of three fabulous red carpet looks she gave. In the photo above, at the "Amant Double" (L'Amant Double) Film Premiere, she wore this printed silk gown from her longtime stylist, Chinese designer Christopher Bu. I loved this design because of its bold sequined applique "print" (the print is actually ALL SEQUINS!), sculpted silhouette and the "Watteau"-back like cape.  I loved all of it! Bingbing gave you DRAMA and STYLE darlings: Definitely one of the BEST of 2017.

Fan Bingbing in Elie Saab Spring 2017 Couture: Let's continue with the fabulous Fan Bingbing since she kept giving fabulous COUTURE at this year's Cannes Film Festival and therefore, I had to include her in my BEST OF 2017 LIST.  I absolutely love this Elie Saab Haute Couture aquamarine colored silk chiffon dress. The delicate torso hand pleating is gorgeous and I was a big fan of the attached gathered neckline cape. Fan Bingbing looks like the queen of a country at a black tie official dinner event, greeting ambassadors from all over the World!


Fan Bingbing in Atelier Versace Spring 2017: Oh Fan Bingbing, you make me smile! And you make my BEST OF 2017 RED CARPET List THREE TIMES! Bingbing wore one of Donatella's Haute Couture designs for the Cannes 2017 Closing Ceremony and it was one of my favorite looks of 2017. The gown followed in the "Naked Dress" trend with see-through details juxtaposed with Swarovski crystal-encrusted boning that were strategically hand-sewn throughout the gown, forming a mermaid-like caged silhouette at the bottom. The gown was covered in silk tulle with fan accents. Yes...FAN ACCENTS, for Fan Bingbing!


BEST OF 2017 RED CARPET: 2017 Met Gala
Zendaya in Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda Haute Couture Fall 2015: Zendaya showed up to the Met Gala 2017 to slay it. And she did. I loved this over-the-top printed silk SUPER ballgown from Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda Fall 2015 collection. Dolce & Gabbana's Alta Moda collection is their Haute Couture arm, so yes, every garment is (mostly) hand-made and yes, each garment can set you back about $100,000, if not more! Zendaya (and her stylist) very wisely knew that the Met Gala is THE red carpet event to show up in a MAJOR gown like this one. This look is unforgettable, fashionable and Diva-like. It may have had nothing to do with the Met Gala's Exhibition of Rei Kawakubo and Comme des Garcons but...WHO CARES when you looked like that!


Solange Knowles in Thom Browne Fall 2017: I know that many people out there will think "Oh No Nick!" but...YASSSSSSSSS!!!! I thank Solange for GIVING ME Puffy Queen! Thank goodness this wasn't a basic creme or "Nude/Blush" colored gown. But then again, I didn't expect Solange Knowles to show up in what everyone else is wearing...especially to a Met Gala. I loved this black puffy jacket with train and those faux ice skating shoes...TO DIE!! I want those for when I attend next month's 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose! #NotKidding


Lily Collins in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall 2016: Actress Lily Collins wore this strapless ballgown from Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall 2016 to attend the 2017 Met Gala and it was GORGEOUS! The gown features an exquisite and delicate combination of gathered silk tulle,  duchesse silk satin and hand applied crystals. It's sweet and perfect for an Heiress Sweet Sixteen bash like the Crillon Ball but...Lily made it fresh and more modern with that cropped black wig, honoring Rei Kawakubo's iconic hairstyle. 



Jennifer Lopez in Valentino Spring 2017 Haute Couture: It wouldn't be a BEST of 2017 Red Carpet Wrap-up without La J. Lo huney! Here, this aquamarine silk chiffon "caftan" gown was DIVINE and Miss Lopez served you some Elizabeth Taylor-like fabulousness. The original gown on the runway was in "Valentino Red" and featured a plunging neckline and more un-fitted tunic shape. Jennifer Lopez' design was in that gorgeous blue and had a more fitted inner dress and non-plunging neckline. She looked like an heiress on a yacht in Mykonos ready to have Ouzo and some Feta Cheese Aperitifs. DEEEEVA.

Tracee Ellis Ross in Comme des Garcons: I LOVED this bold blue coat on Tracee Ellis Ross. She gave you fabulous; she gave you Fashion Diva, she gave you QUEEN huney! I admired the simple cocooning-like effect and what a fabulous statement it made. I have never seen Miss Ellis Ross look soooo CHIC. This jacquard coat had the same effect as an Haute Couture Gown!


Zoe Kravitz in Oscar de la Renta: Zoe Kravitz wore this Millenial Pink gown from Oscar de la Renta designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia. The duchesse silk satin gown featured an overcape and bust accented with black ruffled embellishments. Kravitz looked regal and supremely chic, especially with that bleach-blond pixie hairstyle. I loved the juxtaposition of her almost-punk severe look and the Alta Moda "old school" style of this beautiful gown. 

Lily Aldridge in custom Ralph Lauren: Model Lily Aldridge gave her best avant-garde Fashion Diva look at the Met Gala 2017 with this white silk jersey gown with skin-revealing peek-a-boos from---of all brands--Ralph Lauren! This sexy-licious gown has NOTHING to do with Ralph Lauren (seriously was this "Ralph Lauren by Donatella Versace??!!) but I am willing to give it a pass only because she looked AMAZING! That's why I put her in my Best Dressed  and this design in my BEST OF 2017. 


Lastly...
Lily-Rose Depp in custom Chanel: I absolutely loved this bubblegum pink strapless Chanel ballgown on Lily-Rose Depp that was made especially for her. The drop-waist design seems simple and classic and yet, there is the added detail of the sequined roses (for Lily-Rose perhaps?) and raw hem. Her makeup (those fab cat-eyes!) and hair were GORGEOUS! I loved the color and classic shape of this design...enough to make it into my BEST OF 2017 RED CARPET List!

Which one of these was YOUR FAVORITE of 2017??

And don't forget about my NEW "The Pageant Coloring Book"! Where you can create your very own Evening Gown Competition with 25 of my hand-drawn Pageant Queen illustrations. Click HERE to purchase NOW on Amazon.com:

Tonight was the Met Gala. In case you have been living under a (Fashion) rock for a while, this is THE FASHION Prom, or the Oscars of the East Coast. The Met Gala--formally called the Costume Institute Gala and also known as the Met Ball--is an annual fundraising gala to raise funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute and signals the opening of a new exhibition...


This year's exhibition pays homage to the work of Rei Kawakubo and Commes des Garcons with "Art of In-Between" (Photo above), opening May 4th and running through September 4th. Rei Kawakubo is known for her avant-garde and ability to challenge the traditional notions of good taste, what's "fashionable" and on-trend. Kawakubo has built an empire on making people think about fashion on a different level--or more specifically in dualisms: Clothes/Not Clothes, Male/Female, Fashion/Anti-Fashion, and so on. Now, before I discuss my Best Dressed/Favorite of the night and in the event that you are still not aware of what Comme des Garcons' design philosophy is, here is an amuse-bouche:


So...with that out of the way, there was a certain expectation on my part, at least, to see some FABULOUS avant-grade, or at the very least, slight nods to this or Comme des Garcons and this dualism theme of hers and the brand. And this is also how I chose my Best Dressed. Sorry but not sorry to all the Selena Gomez lovers out there but this pretty creme-colored dress designed by Coach (they do gowns now?) missed the mark:


Completely. It was nice and perfect for a black-tie upscale wedding in NYC, but the Met Gala? Nope. Sorry. I get that she's young (well, 24 ain't that young!) but yeah, I get NADA, Nothing, Zip...of a even the slightest of nods to Kawakubo or Comme des Garcons or anything UBER Haute Fashion. I want a little bit of DRAMA huney! And BTW: What is with those shoes???

OK, now that I got that off my chest...time to move on to my Best Dressed Top 15:
Katy Perry in Maison Margiela Couture Spring/Summer 2017: Now THIS is how you pay homage to Rei Kawakubo and Commes des Garcons. She may not have been wearing the genius' designs but she was doing her part by attending in another Fashion Bad Girl--I mean boy--John Galliano and his design for Maison Margiela Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2017 collection.


I loved this red tulle, sequined and crinoline concoction. It featured one of Kawakubo's favorite colors: scarlet red. And played on the notion of Fashion/Not Fashion, Soft/Hard, Romantic/Fierce, avant-garde, as well as a "Blood Bride" perhaps. I love when fashion makes one think, stop, pause, cause conversation, and Comme des Garcons always does and so does this. Thank you Katy: You nailed it huney!

Zendaya in Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2015: Zendaya showed up to the Met Gala 2017 to slay it. And she did. I loved this over-the-top printed silk SUPER ballgown. The gown was from Dolce & Gabban Alta Moda Fall/Winter 2015 collection. It's not "vintage" but it wasn't recent and yes, if one were to order this, it would set you back $100,000+...

I loved the romantic edge with the extreme fabulousity that Rei Kawakubo would probably admire. Just for the hair alone, I bow to her (and her stylists!) huney!

Rihanna in Comme des Garcons Fall/Winter 2016--Three Words: Go On Rihanna! I know that this is a bit cray-cray but HELLO! Newsflash: It's an homage to Comme des Gracons kids! Educate yourselves! Miss Rihanna wore this volant-filled look straight from the runways and the Comme des Garcons Fall/Winter 2016 collection shown a year ago. Naturally, she had to add her own twist and style it with those Diva leg-strapped heels. Thank you Rihanna for giving me SOMETHING and for wearing Comme des Garcons to a Comme des Garcons Met Gala! Not sure how she sat down to eat...or just sat down period but hey, sometimes one must suffer for fashion.

Lily Collins in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016: I loved this look on Lily Collins. She wore a strapless ballgown from Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016. The gown is probably a $100,000 design exquisitely hand-made of tulle, duchesse silk satin and hand applied crystals. It's sweet and perfect for a Billionaire Heiress Sweet Sixteen bash but Lily made it fresh, more modern with that cropped black wig, honoring Rei Kawakubo's iconic hairstyle. Take a lesson Selena Gomez on how to make pretty just a little off-putting and more Comme des Garcon-ish.

 Solange Knowles in Thom Browne Fall/Winter 2017: I know that many people out there will think "Oh No Nick!" but YASSSSSSSSS!!!! I thank Solange for GIVING ME! Thank goodness this wasn't a basic creme colored evening dress. That's not what the Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons Met Gala 2017 is about darlings! Solange got it! Loved this black puffy jacket with train ensemble. In case you didn't read a recent WWD Trend Alert article HERE, it's all about the Puffy Jacket huney! And those shoes were EVERYTHING!!!

Lily Aldridge in Ralph Lauren Custom: Model Lily gave her best avant-garde Fashion Diva look at the Met Gala 2017 with this white silk jersey gown with skin-revealing peek-a-boos from---of all brands--Ralph Lauren! Yes, kids, RAPLH LAUREN! This has NOTHING to do with Ralph Lauren but I am willing to give it a pass only because she looked AMAZING! That's why I put her in my Best Dressed Top 15. But seriously, she could have just said this was by "John Smith of Pocoima" and I would have believed that more than RALPH LAUREN! #JustSaying

Tracee Ellis Ross in Comme des Garcons: I LOVED this bold blue coat on Tracee Ellis Ross! It was dramatic, fashionable and OMG: It was from Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons! I admired the simple cocooning-like effect and what a fabulous statement it made. Miss Tracee's momma done taught her right in terms of simple drama and CHIC!

Lily-Rose Depp in Chanel: I absolutely loved this bubblegum pink strapless ballgown on Lily-Rose Depp. The design is from Chanel. The drop-waist design seems simple and classic and yet, there is the added detail of the sequined roses (for Lily-Rose perhaps?) and raw hem. Her makeup (those fab cat-eyes!) and hair were GORGEOUS! One could argue and say "well, what does bubblegum pink and a pretty ballgown have to do with Comme des Garcons?". Not much, but...she certainly created a striking image and I'm sure Rei would approve of that!

Rose Byrne in Ralph Lauren Custom: Once again, I am TOTALLY at a loss at what this plunging neckline tulle ballgown has to do with Ralph Lauren. But, I still give Rose and the fashion house of Ralph Lauren credit for this look. She looked beautiful and she did wear the color of the night: Comme des Garcons red. It was definitely a statement...and a good one!

Zoe Kravitz in Oscar de la Renta: Zoe Kravitz wore this Millenial Pink gown from Monse designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia. The duchesse silk satin gown featured an overcape and bust accented with black ruffled embellishments. She looked regal and supremely chic. While this might have been a better outfit for a Balenciaga Gala Tribute, I still put her in my Top 15 Best Dressed just because she gave me something! And something dramatic and quite fabulous.

Blake Lively in Atelier Versace: Blake Lively gave everyone a serving of gold-and-feathered couture in this golden and blue feather gown from Atelier Versace. The hand-made $100,000+ costing gown (Blake got it for free) looked amazing on her and made her a Stand-out at the Met Gala 2017 red carpet.

Elle Fanning in in Miu Miu: Elle Fanning looked ethereal, gorgeous and the vision of a Romance Princess in this strapless baby blue silk chiffon gathered Empire-cut gown from Miu Miu. Now, I don't know what this design and style has to do with the "Prada Junior" line of Miu Miu but once again, I guess I have to suspend fashion belief. Irregardless of this, I still included Fanning in my Top 15 Best Dressed. The gown was GORGEOUS, dramatic and she looked incredible. Would Rei Kawakubo approve of such prettiness and Romanticism? Probably not. But at least, she made a Gown Statement!

Aymeline Valade in Marni: French model Aymeline Valade looked INCREDIBLE in this blue satin and gold sequined suit from the Italian fashion house of Marni and its incoming designer Francesco Risso. This suit was GOOOOOORGEOUS! If you're going to wear a suit to the Met Gala, this is it!