Met Ball 2012: The Best Dressed, Part II
Courtesy of Prada, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, JustJared

As I said this morning I couldn't just post about my five favourite looks from this year's Met Ball. Last night I would have sworn I didn't like too many looks but after having a look at images of everyone I missed on the red carpet I changed my mind.
There seemed to be mixed feeling about Kristen Dunst in her Rodarte ensemble. But I loved the fact that it was unlike anything she has worn before and completely different from everyone else. I loved the colour, the cut, the lace detail under the blazer and the belt. It was perfectly styled and she looked ultra cool.
It kind of bothers me that no one ever puts Anna Wintour in the best dressed lists. I utterly adored this lobster Prada gown she wore last night. It was chic and fun and she looked so elegant. I simply love the fact that she always stays true to her style.
Bianca Brandolini went for a gilded Dolce & Gabbana number that obviously shone beautifully under the red carpet lights. This would have been such an exaggerated and over-the-top look on someone else but Bianca is so elegant and classy that she just looks like (fashion) royalty.
I was happy to see January Jones back in shape in an Atelier Versace gown. It has taken her a while to get her mojo back after the pregnancy but she is quickly getting there. The dress had such a different vibe than on the runway and I really liked the turquoise in the necklace, which gave the look a new dimension.

Courtesy of Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, JustJared

Giovanna Battaglia's Dolce & Gabbana dress put a smile on my face. It was so tremendously Italian and full of character but Gio wore it in such a young and chic way. And the braid and flower headband were such a great call!

Rooney Mara looked her edgy-meets-rocky-chic usual self. I guess none of us doubted she was going to wear Givenchy. I just wished she would have gone for a bit more drama or a different colour. But I loved the combination of lace and leather, Riccardo.

Cara Delevingne was one of the most fashion-forward attendees. I couldn't have loved her velvet Burberry dress any more. It was a stunning shape and I loved the detail of the collar and the studded Burberry gloves. How unfair is it that she gets to look so great wearing next season's clothes?

Who was your best and worst dressed? – Have I missed anyone on my lists?

Fendi bags: the ones we wear & the ones we'll love
JustJared, Homeofthenutty

As I was preparing this week's Gossip Girl Fashion post it occurred to me that since the only two exciting bits of fashion in the whole episode were the Fendi bags that Serena and Blair wear it made sense to dedicate the post to Fendi instead.

It's funny because sometimes I feel like people sometimes don't give the house as much credit as they should. It's up there with Gucci and the rest of big heritage Italian designers and it's designed by Karl Largerfeld(!). Over the last few months we have been seeing a lot of Fendi on street style pictures, probably because the most stylish people in the industry realise that their bags are super classic but there is something about their lines that is also very modern. Such is the case of Elizabeth von Guttman, who was snapped in Paris with her green 'Silvana' bag or Bianca Bradolini's 'Chameleon' bag from a few months ago and even Giovanna Battaglia only yesterday.

The FW12 collection that was shown in Milan today is one of the best Fendi collections I remember. I am obsessed with the astrakhan trend already and I am loving the shopping bag style that they've introduced. As I am about the new felt peek-a-boo bags, which is a bit of a surprise from the brand since they're mostly known for their stunning use of furs and animal skins.

Style.com, StockholmStreetStyle

Courtesy of Burberry, Style.com, JustJared

This weekend I didn't have it so easy to find four really well dressed women for my Best Dressed of the Weekend post. Thankfully, Kate Bosworth always comes to save the day. Sometimes twice.

The biggest hit of the weekend had to be Kate Bosworth in Chanel for the brand's intimate dinner in LA. I love a woman who can wear all black. The key, as Kate knows, is in the textures. So she wore this matte silk blouse with a tweed mini skirt. I loved the combination of the two and the signature Chanel detailing down the shirt and around the sole of the stunning leather wedges.

Kate Bosworth hit number 2 was a Burberry Prorsum printed dress from their amazing SS12 collection. I am in love with those African-inspired graphic Burberry prints for next season and I love how Kate wears them with a very sort of bohemian yet sophisticated air. And it was a nice change from the Chanel look.

And third on the list is Bianca Brandolini in Giambattista Valli. She always looks incredible, especially when she wears Giamba. But when you have legs like those and such beautiful long hair it's just easier to pull anything off, non?

Courtesy of Tod's

Yesterday Diego della Valle and Franca Sozzani hosted a lunch at Harry's Bar in Venice to celebrate the premiere of "Diana Vreeland: The Eye has to Travel", the documentary about the life of legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland.
Shala Monroque, Carolina Crescentini, Bianca Brandolini, Bar Rafaeli and Andrea della Valle were amongst the very stylish guests who attended the event, joined also by style icon Robert Rabensteiner and Fiona Scarry.

I am very much hoping for the film to be released world wide so we all get to watch it as well. Vreeland, who was Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar for 25 years and held the same position later on at Vogue for 8 years, is also known for her work for Metropolitan Museum of Art and for discovering 60's style icon Edie Sedgwick.
Only Anna Wintour could ever be compared with Vreeland, who was born in Paris and emigrated to New York during World War I, where she died the 22nd of August 1989.

The Venice Biennale is about to kick off and so all the most stylish fashion insiders and socialites have headed to the city to enjoy yet another dose of fun and sunshine after Cannes.

Last night Roger Vivier and art magazine TAR hosted an event on the rooftop of the Palazzo Brandolini to celebrate the launch of the magazine's 5th issue.

Coco and Bianca Brandolini d'Adda were obviously there (Coco edits the magazine) as were Tatiana Santo Domingo, Eugenie Niarchos and Margherita Missoni, all wearing some of that colourful zig-zag I can never get enough of in the summer.

Also attending were Roger Vivier's creative director, Bruno Frisoni (in the picture with Livia Firth), the always spotless Shala Moroque and Industrie magazine's über-chic Editors-at-Large Alexia Niedzielski and Elizabeth von Guttman.

[Courtesy of Roger Vivier]

Giambattista's boutique opening

I still remember how Giulia jumped up and down (literally but in a classy way) when she first heard Giambattista Valli was opening his first store ever in Paris at the beginning of the year. She loves his clothes to the point of madness. And so does the rest of the world. He has an exquisite eye to create modern shapes reminiscent of the golden eras of fashion to make a woman feel and look beautiful. Even even more so if the woman is already stunning as it is. That's the case of Diane Kruger (not in Chanel, for once), Lapo Elkann's ex (who he didn't deserve anyway) Bianca Brandolini and Industrie's über-chic Editor-at-Large Elizabeth von Guttman. They all went out to celebrate the store opening at the Rue Royale, which coincided with the designer's collaboration line with Longchamp sold exclusively at the new boutique.

In case you don't remember (I doubt you don't) here is the SS11 collection. Not Giulia's or my favourite because he tried to do the same kind of minimalistic thing everyone was doing. But it improves about halfway through when the leopard comes into scene. (Sorry about the quality, couldn't find the full show better).

I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com]