2010 Costume Institute Gala @MoMA

I love pouring over photos of the gowns and tuxes from a previous evening's event - award shows, fashion shows, fundraisers, etc...  OMG! has 75 photos posted from Monday night's Costume Institute Gala held at the Musuem of Modern Art in NYC.  I like to think of this particular event showcasing a sense of fashion whimsy and a little playfulness - it is being held @MoMA - while also highlighting fashion forward style and sophistication - taking queue from it's New York City locale.  But so many attendees seemed to fall short of meeting my expectations.  My impression of the evening - "Too Much" - Too short, Too casual, Too messy...  It still surprises me that highly paid stylists let some of these stars walk out of the house!  Included below are my favorites from the evening - the handful including couples who "got it right".

Husband and Wife, Gavin Rossdale & Gwen Stefani; She is wearing a gown from her own line L.A.M.B. / Rock star mixed with refined glamour.

Michael Kors & Brooke Shields; She is wearing Michael Kors / Transcending classic American style with sporty sophistication. 

Husband and Wife, Hugh Dancy & Claire Danes; Both are wearing Burberry / European elegance turned up with Claire's tussled hair and smoky eye.

Mila Kunis; Wearing Vera Wang / Winning combination of the right hair and selected subtle jewelry to complement this Vera Wang masterpiece. 

For me, Michelle Williams knocked it out of the park when she arrived at the 2006 Oscars.  Her Vera Wang creation, with minimal but lovely jewelry and clutch, raised the bar for evening wear mixed with classic glamour.  The highlight of the gown was the color....  such a risk that paid off ten fold.  Diane Kruger wore a similar color gown in 2010 to the SAG Awards, with not as much impact, and I also noticed Costume Institute Gala attendee Melissa George wore a similar color interpretation, with little left to be desired.

Michelle Williams; Vera Wang, Oscars 2006.

Diane Kruger; Jason Wu, SAG Awards 2010.

Melissa George; J. Mendel, Costume Institute Gala, 2010.