The Met's annual Costume Institute Gala turns out more spectacular dressing than the Oscars, in our opinion—being that Anna & Co. host the event, the fashion stakes are higher, bigger, and almost always riskier. While some may swoon over Gisele's tiny 'lil sequined number or go gaga for Kate's gold turban, we here at Refinery29 sifted through over 150 pictures to bring you our top 10 best and worst dressed. Many fell by the wayside and some solid dresses (Lou Doillon's Nina Ricci, for example), had to go, but alas, so it must be when there are this many gowns at stake! Read on for our picture recap of this year's best and worst.
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Best
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Ashley Olsen: Proves she's a good businesswoman by wearing her own line, The Row, to a major black-tie gala. Plus, we love her hair.
Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock: Slightly more casual but with enough pizazz (the electric yellow! the genie pants! the glittery bustier top!) to rock the red carpet.
Kate Bosworth: Doesn't she look just like Veronica Lake?
Ashley Olsen: Proves she's a good businesswoman by wearing her own line, The Row, to a major black-tie gala. Plus, we love her hair.
Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock: Slightly more casual but with enough pizazz (the electric yellow! the genie pants! the glittery bustier top!) to rock the red carpet.
Kate Bosworth: Doesn't she look just like Veronica Lake?
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Natalia Vodianova: This vintage Fortuny dress was given to her by her husband, but sadly got ruined later that night at Bungalow 8. We shed a tear for her.
Jessica Stam: You may hate this outfit, but anyone who can wear fall '09 Rodarte with such ease gets our vote.
Angela Lindvall: So insanely beautiful and classic. Total Halston moment.
Kirsten Dunst: Kirsten may have questionable taste in her daily wardrobe, but girl really knows how to do it up right when the occasion calls for it.
Natalia Vodianova: This vintage Fortuny dress was given to her by her husband, but sadly got ruined later that night at Bungalow 8. We shed a tear for her.
Jessica Stam: You may hate this outfit, but anyone who can wear fall '09 Rodarte with such ease gets our vote.
Angela Lindvall: So insanely beautiful and classic. Total Halston moment.
Kirsten Dunst: Kirsten may have questionable taste in her daily wardrobe, but girl really knows how to do it up right when the occasion calls for it.
More best dressed and ghastly mistakes after the break!
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Diane Kruger & Joshua Jackson: They are just about the world's cutest couple, and anything attached to Pacey pretty much makes our heart leap.
Eva Herzigova: Like a good goth ballerina, Eva balances out the season's blood red lips with a beautiful neutral gown.
Erin Wasson & Lady Amanda Harlech: The perfect black and white pairing. Also props to Erin for choosing a Phi pants ensemble and doing an updo—it's still her laid-back, skate-meets-grunge style, but occasion-appropriate.
Diane Kruger & Joshua Jackson: They are just about the world's cutest couple, and anything attached to Pacey pretty much makes our heart leap.
Eva Herzigova: Like a good goth ballerina, Eva balances out the season's blood red lips with a beautiful neutral gown.
Erin Wasson & Lady Amanda Harlech: The perfect black and white pairing. Also props to Erin for choosing a Phi pants ensemble and doing an updo—it's still her laid-back, skate-meets-grunge style, but occasion-appropriate.
And now, the Worst
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Helena Christensen and Zac Posen: A two-for-one-special in gaudy, bad taste!
Blake Lively: She told Allure recently that she feels like a cross-dressing man most of the time. We would say that dress is not helping her cause.
Karen Elson & Jack White: This is the Met gala, but they look they're headed to a goth costume party. But Jack White sure makes a good Edward Scissorhands.
Helena Christensen and Zac Posen: A two-for-one-special in gaudy, bad taste!
Blake Lively: She told Allure recently that she feels like a cross-dressing man most of the time. We would say that dress is not helping her cause.
Karen Elson & Jack White: This is the Met gala, but they look they're headed to a goth costume party. But Jack White sure makes a good Edward Scissorhands.
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Madonna: We know she's already gotten tons of press for this, but her Louis Vuitton ensemble actually lands somewhere in the middle for us: It's kind of a purposefully genius hot tranny of a mess.
Daria Werbowy: We spot a side boob. And can celebrities and models please stop putting on a little Balmain dress and calling it a day?
Leighton Meester: Shame on you, Leighton, Blair would never step out of the house in this clown get-up, even if it's Louis Vuitton.
Anne Hathaway: Anne's continuous attempts at glamazon is not working for us. We need a nap looking at her.
Madonna: We know she's already gotten tons of press for this, but her Louis Vuitton ensemble actually lands somewhere in the middle for us: It's kind of a purposefully genius hot tranny of a mess.
Daria Werbowy: We spot a side boob. And can celebrities and models please stop putting on a little Balmain dress and calling it a day?
Leighton Meester: Shame on you, Leighton, Blair would never step out of the house in this clown get-up, even if it's Louis Vuitton.
Anne Hathaway: Anne's continuous attempts at glamazon is not working for us. We need a nap looking at her.
Above, from left:
Agy and Twiggy: Good thing Twiggy has that veil over her eyes to shield her from the monstrosity that is Agy's hooker barbie look.
Shalom Harlow: Like fabric crept up on her and swallowed her.
Lara Stone: Don't know why everyone's favorite gap-toothed model and her of-the-moment Wang dress made the Worst list? Move that leg one inch and all will be revealed.
Agy and Twiggy: Good thing Twiggy has that veil over her eyes to shield her from the monstrosity that is Agy's hooker barbie look.
Shalom Harlow: Like fabric crept up on her and swallowed her.
Lara Stone: Don't know why everyone's favorite gap-toothed model and her of-the-moment Wang dress made the Worst list? Move that leg one inch and all will be revealed.
All photos via Style.com.