>>  Okay, this is the last peep out of me about the Costume Institute Gala for a while, but I just wanted to share which looks I enjoyed most last night (besides seeing what all the models wore, of course):

• Ashley Olsen in custom Diane von Furstenberg, because I love how she can always make a black dress look new and different.
• Lou Doillon in Marni, because I love how she can look so bedraggled, and still be red carpet appropriate.
• Zoe Kravitz, because I love how she was able to bring her grunge princess look to a black tie event. 
• Gisele Bundchen in Versace, because just . . . wow.
• Kate Bosworth in vintage Chanel, because the detailing on the dress is exquisite, and she makes so many colors mesh so well together — those Pierry Hardy heels were the perfect touch.

*images: source, source

>> Did Anna Wintour actually request the Vogue staff to wear dresses in shades of white, silver, or other pale colors to the Costume Institute Gala, as previously reported?

A breakdown of the staff's dress of choice, by the colors:

White: Associate Market Editor Devon Schuster, Associate to the Managing Editor Genevieve Bahrenberg, Features Associate Stephanie LaCava

Light-colored prints: Bookings Editor Valerie Boster, Style Director Alexandra Kotur

Silver: Anna herself, Contributing Editor Lauren Santo Domingo (above left)

Pale shades: Fashion Market/Accessories Director Virginia Smith (above right), Contributing Editor Marina Rust Connor, Director of Special Events Stephanie Winston Wolkoff

So, it would seem the reports are true, except that Beauty Director Sarah Brown wore a less-than-pale Giles dress, Senior Market Editor Meredith Melling Burke wore a dark-colored gown, Senior Accessories Editor Filipa Fino went with navy, and both Executive Fashion Editor Phyllis Posnick and Creative Director Grace Coddington went with black.

Hmmm . . . The score is 10 for, 5 against . . . but it does seem like there are an awful lot of light colors for the missive to not have happened.  Maybe Anna just requested staff to go light or dark, no brights?

*image: source

>> She somehow avoided all the cameras on the red carpet at the Costume Institute Gala last night, but Chanel's newest face Audrey Tautou couldn't avoid the lenses of Elle.  Finally, a picture of her in her Chanel Haute Couture, looking consummately Audrey.

>>  Is Karen Elson pregnant with baby #3?  If the picture at left, from last night's Costume Institute Gala, doesn't convince you, maybe this one will.  It looks like Karen may be starting to give Natalia Vodianova a run for her money . . .

*image: source

>> Models aren't afraid to go dramatic, which makes for an usually picturesque red carpet when they're out in full force.  Last night, Jessica Stam brought her Proenza "cape," Stephanie Seymour went for a peekaboo dress, and Amber Valletta flew by with golden wings. 

Without further ado, a look at the Costume Institute Gala attendees who know how to wear their clothes (they do get paid to do so, after all).
 

And more: Chanel Iman, Guinevere Van Seenus, Isabeli Fontana, Jourdan Dunn, Hilary Rhoda, Lauren Hutton, Natasha Poly, Natasha Vojnovic, Poppy Delavigne, Sasha Pivovarova

*images: source, source, source

>> The goal behind the futuristic custom Chanel Haute Couture creation Anna Wintour wore at the Costume Institute gala last night?  She was going for Storm, the X-Men character.  Even better, the explanatory quote she proffered: "I control the weather."

*image: source

>>  Apparently Bee Shaffer had a little trouble walking in her excessively voluminous Nina Ricci dress last night -- "more than one security guard fanned [her] train out behind her," and it looks like Andre Leon Talley pitched in, too.

Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; New York, April 5.

*images: wireimage

The first of many Costume Institute Gala highlights:

• Gareth Pugh was dressed as Karl Lagerfeld.  His rationale: "I came as my superhero."
• On the red carpet, one reporter tried to hold a Batman mask up to Anna Wintour's face.  She "promptly retreated to the other side of the carpet."
• It's official, Andre Leon Talley has the worst red carpet taste ever.  First the Jennifer Hudson Oscars debacle, now Kimora Lee Simmons last night — he helped design her Kevan Hall gown, which was hand-painted in Africa.
• Zac Posen came dressed as Clark Kent in glasses, blue, and red . . . and not so long ago, he was getting paid $60 to intern at the same event.
• Christian Louboutin wore a "Bang" sign on his lapel, and some seriously studded shoes on his feet.
• When Donatella Versace and Karl Lagerfeld were asked which superhero they looked up to, they both replied, "Myself."

*images: source, source