My favorite thing about the Costume Institute Gala at the Met is seeing fashionable celebrities across different industries walk the same red carpet. What other event brings you fashion industry veterans Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley, public personalities Oprah and Michael Kors, music industry insiders Puff Daddy and M.I.A., supermodels Karolina Kurkova and Naomi Campbell, and traditional red carpet darlings such as Marion Cotillard and Chloe Sevigny? There is no other. Here are my favorite looks from the evening:

Stunning Elegance

Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein; Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior. These were my absolute two most favorites gowns of the evening. Seemingly opposite in character – one is black and restrained while the other positively drips in sparkle – they both have the effect of stunning elegance.

Classy Candy Colors

Kerry Washington in Thakoon for Gap; Carolina Herrera in Carolina Herrera. Both of these dresses are scrumptious, and show that you can wear vibrant colors at any age. In fact, any woman could wear Carolina Herrera’s dress at any age and look like a classy woman who doesn’t take herself too seriously.

Gentle Impact

Mariska Hargitay in Vera Wang; Allesandra Ambrosio in Versace. Panels, draping and cut-outs in luminous fabrics give depth to these monotone dresses.

Two Heads Are Better Than One

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad; Anne Hathaway in Valentino. Both of these dresses were actually disappointing, but they’d be perfect if combined into one. I love the intricate bodice of J. Lo’s dress, but once it cascades down it looks like it’s attacking the gauzy skirt. Such a light skirt is no match for the heavy-looking gold leaf. On the other hand, Anne Hathaway’s dress is a total snooze, but at least the gold bodice disperses into the skirt instead of taking it over. Combining the first bodice with the spirit of the second skirt would make the perfect ethereal ballgown.

Confidence at Any Age

Chanel Iman in Michael Kors; Whoopi Goldberg and Andre Léon Talley in Chado Ralph Rucci. Props to Chanel Iman for rocking a gold lamé jumpsuit. If not when you’re a model in your 20s, when? And props to Whoopi and ALT for just wearing whatever the heck they wanted.

See these celebrities and more on New York Magazine’s fashion blog, the Cut.