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met gala 2013
May 7, 2013

Thrash Quietly: 21 Smartest Sly Nods to Punk at the Met Gala

By Kurt Soller

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Perhaps Eddie Redmayne put it best when he tried to explain his navy blue tuxedo to model/host Hilary Rhoda last night: “You’re invited to a punk party and you’re told to turn up in a suit.” Indeed, it was a confusing night for the attendees of the 2013 Met Gala. You could either go whole-hog punk in a mohawk headpiece (Sarah Jessica Parker), mesh bodysuit (Miley Cyrus), or Blondie rig (Debbie Harry, Anne Hathaway), or ignore the theme altogether in favor of simple, pretty dresses (lots of people, but especially Kate Upton). Or even try perplexing, theme-averse spring florals (Anna Wintour, Kim Kardashian, and Mary-Kate Olsen).

Really, there was no way to win. Which is why we’d argue that the best way to look stylish, satisfied, and on-theme was to choose just one detail — an accessory, an eye makeup color, a signature styling quirk — that would add slight punk edge to an otherwise chic black-tie look. Too much punk and you might’ve seemed like a poser or, worse, worried about never getting any future coverage in Vogue (sorry, Madonna). Not enough edge and you might have been considered a sour-sport, destined to live the rest of your week wondering why the Internet ignored your perfectly pretty green goddess gown. So, we’re left with but one solution: the rare occasion when a happy medium, when hedging your bets, or towing the line, is actually the only way to stand out appropriately. Herewith, the 21 attendees who did that best.

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Met Gala 2013: See All the Red Carpet Looks
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1 / 19 Photos
Emma Watson’s single earring The ol' maybe-the-other-one-fell-out-because-I-was-moshing-so-hard trick. Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Fake nose rings Props to Karen Elson and Jessica Biel for getting septum-pierced, even if both are obviously temporary.  Photo: BFA, Getty ... Fake nose rings Props to Karen Elson and Jessica Biel for getting septum-pierced, even if both are obviously temporary.  Photo: BFA, Getty Images
Hilary Rhoda’s leather pants Party up top, punk down below. Too bad we could hardly see these pants in Vogue’s live-stream of the evening. Photo... Hilary Rhoda’s leather pants Party up top, punk down below. Too bad we could hardly see these pants in Vogue’s live-stream of the evening. Photo: Joe Schildhorn /BFAnyc.com/BFA NYC
Lena Dunham’s tattoo exposure If you got ‘em, flaunt ‘em. Designer Erdem told everyone he designed her custom dress with the girl’s ink in mind. ... Lena Dunham’s tattoo exposure If you got ‘em, flaunt ‘em. Designer Erdem told everyone he designed her custom dress with the girl’s ink in mind. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Rooney Mara’s dark lips The vampiric shade took an otherwise bridal, white-lace dress and made it right for the event. Photo: Joe Schildhorn /BF... Rooney Mara’s dark lips The vampiric shade took an otherwise bridal, white-lace dress and made it right for the event. Photo: Joe Schildhorn /BFAnyc.com/BFA NYC
Nicki Minaj’s gilded clutch You know how women’s magazines tell you to “just belt it” when a dress doesn’t fit? “Just add spikes” was basically t... Nicki Minaj’s gilded clutch You know how women’s magazines tell you to “just belt it” when a dress doesn’t fit? “Just add spikes” was basically the mantra for the Met Gala. Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Ivanka Trump’s green highlights No real St. Marks kid would match her hair to her clothes, but we don’t blame Ivanka for trying. It makes sense o... Ivanka Trump’s green highlights No real St. Marks kid would match her hair to her clothes, but we don’t blame Ivanka for trying. It makes sense on her, somehow. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic
Lauren Santo Domingo’s choker She went the more-is-more route with her jewelry, but only the choker has us imagining her at CBGB. Photo: Joe Sch... Lauren Santo Domingo’s choker She went the more-is-more route with her jewelry, but only the choker has us imagining her at CBGB. Photo: Joe Schildhorn /BFAnyc.com/BFA NYC
Carey Mulligan’s safety-pin detail Chic, subtle, Balenciaga, and totally not following her own self-imposed pantsuit trend.  Photo: Larry B... Carey Mulligan’s safety-pin detail Chic, subtle, Balenciaga, and totally not following her own self-imposed pantsuit trend.  Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Emily Blunt’s pink eyes (Insert pretty-in-pink/punk joke here.) Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Giovanna Battaglia’s safety-pin hair A number of women wore Game of Thrones–esque Dolce & Gabbana styles, oddly, but it was this Italian styl... Giovanna Battaglia’s safety-pin hair A number of women wore Game of Thrones–esque Dolce & Gabbana styles, oddly, but it was this Italian stylist who reclaimed the night with her hair. Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Emilia Clarke’s cross earring God save the queen. Or dragons. Or something like that. At least she didn’t dress like her show (looking at you, Ba... Emilia Clarke’s cross earring God save the queen. Or dragons. Or something like that. At least she didn’t dress like her show (looking at you, Battaglia). Photo: Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic
Katie Holmes’s pseudo-mohawk Surprisingly, it was an uptight Holmes that towed the line best between between Sarah Jessica Parker headpiece and r... Katie Holmes’s pseudo-mohawk Surprisingly, it was an uptight Holmes that towed the line best between between Sarah Jessica Parker headpiece and regular black-tie updos. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic
Zachary Quinto’s blue hair He’s wearing Vivienne Westwood, sure, but this look is all about that Manic Panic moment up top. Photo: Joe Schildhor... Zachary Quinto’s blue hair He’s wearing Vivienne Westwood, sure, but this look is all about that Manic Panic moment up top. Photo: Joe Schildhorn /BFAnyc.com/BFA NYC
Cameron Diaz’s spiked belt Can she move in this thing? Between the cape and that harness across her waist, it looks mighty uncomfortable. Photo:... Cameron Diaz’s spiked belt Can she move in this thing? Between the cape and that harness across her waist, it looks mighty uncomfortable. Photo: Julian Mackler/BFAnyc.com/BFA NYC
Nicole Richie’s earrings Lining her lobes and looking badass, especially when you consider she's wearing a custom dress by Topshop. Photo: NCP/S... Nicole Richie’s earrings Lining her lobes and looking badass, especially when you consider she's wearing a custom dress by Topshop. Photo: NCP/Star Max/2013 Star Max
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s choker As Anna Wintour shared with all, pink is the official color of punk. At least she got the official necklace right. Ph... Maggie Gyllenhaal’s choker As Anna Wintour shared with all, pink is the official color of punk. At least she got the official necklace right. Photo: Julian Mackler/BFAnyc.com/BFA NYC
Thakoon’s golden bowtie The designer won last night’s award for Innovation and Placement of Studded Spikes. Tough competition, actually. Photo: ... Thakoon’s golden bowtie The designer won last night’s award for Innovation and Placement of Studded Spikes. Tough competition, actually. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Ever more spiked clutches Jessica Alba and Miranda Kerr both wore the Marquise model by Christian Louboutin. Because nothing says punk quite like... Ever more spiked clutches Jessica Alba and Miranda Kerr both wore the Marquise model by Christian Louboutin. Because nothing says punk quite like hundreds of dollars in French accessories. Photo: BFA, Getty Images
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