Check out the belles of the Met Ball! Plus, 8 top beauty trends to pay attention to… NOW

The Oscars red carpet may get more press, but it’s the Met Ball one that actually REALLY matters. I’m talking about the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute gala benefit, which took place in New York on Monday night. Vogue EIC Anna Wintour holds court over the festivities, and it’s a big freakin’ deal. The attendees include all the celebs who go to the Oscars, plus supermodels, plus designers, plus assorted rich people… and that, my friends, adds up to a whole lotta photos for me to parse.

But I’m ready now—ready to show you the best beauty looks, and ready to talk about eight hair and makeup themes that were apparent. Pay attention, because like I said, this is THE red carpet that matters.

Met Ball Beauty Trend #1: Dark, vampy lips

Remember a few seasons ago, when YSL sent models down the runway in bowl cuts and almost-black lipstick? Well, it didn’t really take off then—and I don’t think anyone over age five is EVER going to embrace the bowl cut—but it seems that the dark lip is finally, suddenly, having a bit of a moment. On Camilla Belle and Kate Bosworth, it’s pretty much perfection.

Kate Bosworth

Lana Del Rey

Rooney Mara

Leighton Meester

Camilla Belle

Met Ball Beauty Trend #2: Side-parted waves

This is a classic red carpet beauty move, one that we’ve been seeing for a few seasons now. But can I just say? A few celebs deserve our praise for giving it a whole new twist. I love it as a deep side-parted bob, real or faux, on Dianna Agron (real) and Lea Michele (faux). I also like how Abbie Cornish adorned a simple updo with waves in her side bangs. Coco Rocha took a beauty risk by dipping her ends in pink… yikes! But trendy stuff aside, Amy Adams always gets my vote for the most touchable, soft-looking waves—the perfect balance between vintage and modern.

Dianna Agron

Lea Michele

Jessica Alba

Amy Adams

Abbie Cornish

Coco Rocha

Hilary Swank

Met Ball Beauty Trend #3: Pops of coral

So I know I said red lips were the thing for spring. And they are… but please also make room for some coral in your life. It may not have been as big on the runways for this season as it was last year, but clearly none of us are ready to let go yet. I mean, we’ve only JUST wrapped our heads around the idea of wearing orange. (I maintain that everyone can!) And here are the pics to prove it. I say it’s a tie between Beyoncé and ScarJo on this one… I really dig the gloss finish.

Beyoncé

January Jones

Scarlett Johansson

Emma Stone

Doutzen Kroes

Amber Heard

Met Ball Beauty Trend #4: Sky-high buns

I don’t know how I feel about this trend. The only celebrity to honestly, truly rock it is Jennifer Lopez—she takes your breath away, really, with her insane glowiness—but she wasn’t at this event. Whenever anyone else does the high bun, it’s kind of meh. Even on models like Rosie H-W, Anne V and The Stam. That’s weird, no? And Claire Danes? Oh, honey.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Claire Danes

Anne Vyalitsyna

Jessica Stam

Met Ball Beauty Trend #5: Bronzey eyes

Have you invested in some bronze eyeshadow and/or eyeliner yet? Get on it, stat! Because it’s quickly replacing the flat, taupey, smoky eye of yore. I adore this trend, because it flatters every skin tone, brings sparkle to the eyes and adds definition without overpowering the rest of the face. The Jessica Paré version, all the way up to the eyebrows, is my fave.

Ginnifer Goodwin

Jessica Paré

Emily Blunt

Kristen Stewart

Met Ball Beauty Trend #6: Quiffs

Now this was a little unexpected! Who would’ve predicted that these peeps would all show up with rockabilly-esque hair, sorta softly textured with mega height at the top? I’m not sure I can look at Cameron Diaz’s ‘do without thinking of There’s Something About Mary, so my pick is Carey Mulligan for this look. She’s having fun with it.

Cameron Diaz

Cate Blanchett

Carey Mulligan

Rihanna

Met Ball Beauty Trend #7: Daytime hair

Speaking of hair, another trend—or maybe non-trend, if you will—was that a whole bunch of celebs decided to forgo fancy hairstyling altogether. What’s noticeable is that their hair looks like how they’d wear it for any regular day: loose, imperfect, maybe even in need of a hairbrush(!). There’s something refreshing about this, in a high-low sort of way. Fancy dress, casual hair. It works! I like Diane and Malin the best here… when did their locks get so long, by the way?!

Diane Kruger

Jessica Biel

Malin Akerman

Heidi Klum

Liv Tyler

Dakota Fanning

Met Ball Beauty Trend #8: Sleek and simple

And last but not least we have the ol’ standby of sleek, understated hair pulled tight to the head, and neutral, almost bare-looking makeup. This is what celebs normally choose when they don’t want to fight with an elaborate dress. Because I am a bit of a magpie I find this one a little boring… so I choose Milla Jovovich’s take, with the edginess of the liner around the eyes to add interest.

Milla Jovovich

Rosario Dawson

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gisele Bundchen

 Paula Patton

Tell me:

Which are your favourite Met Ball beauty looks?
What celebs need to go home and try again?
Will you test-drive any of these trends for spring? (I’m definitely re-acquainting myself with orange lip gloss…)