Sheer is not a dress color

Apparently this passes for "dressed" these days...

As you all know, I will forever lust after an invitation to the Met Ball and obsessively study and adore the outfits of all the fancy people who are actually lucky enough to attend, but this year I must lodge a complaint. Attention all ladies: Sheer is not a dress color!

I have the utmost respect for women who rock bodies so hot that clothing should be optional and I fully support women with a daring fashion sense, but there is a difference between sexual/risqué and nearly naked/lingerie. As fashion has embraced sheer fabrics, plunging necklines and cutouts in all sizes and locations, I've found myself longing for the days when red carpets meant elegance and risky choices still involved actual fabric. Lately, it would seem that the more naked you appear, the better and while I would give ANYTHING to look like those ladies (and even if the Met Ball is a place for daring and costume-eque outfits) it seems ridiculous that these women feel the need to reveal so much at a red carpet event. Is this what high fashion is now? Is that what is required to turn heads? I don't know how we got here, but sheer is not a dress color and I think it's time my famous lady loves remembered that!

Where's my invitation to The Ball!?

As a New York City gal and lover of all things high brow and high fashion, the Met Costume Gala has always been my absolute holy grail, "wish upon a star" NYC event. Infinitely more glamorous than opening night at the opera or ballet, I would, without hesitation, give anything for a chance to attend the Met Ball (who needs a first born anyway!?). 

For those not determined to sell their soul in exchange for a night on the town, the Costume Institute Gala, popularly known as the Met Gala or Met Ball, is an annual fundraising gala to benefit the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. The event is widely regarded as one of the most exclusive social events in NYC and one of its biggest fundraising nights (a reported $9 million raised in 2013!). The affair has been held at the Met since 1971 and is considered to be the fashion industry's premier annual red carpet event.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any better... the party has a THEME!! (you all know how I luuurve a good theme party!) Unlike last year's "punk theme" (ick), this year ladies are requested to pay tribute to Charles James (a fashion designer known as America's first couturier, so ready your ball gowns girls!) and men are left to interpret "White Tie and Decorations" (Fred Astaire meets Office Space!?) I cannot tell you how many dresses I flip past in magazines or thumb wistfully in stores and think "if only I had somewhere to wear it..." and lordy that somewhere would be the Met Ball.

While I await an invitation to Monday's big soiree from Karl Lagerfeld or for Tom Brady to take me instead of Gisele, anyone willing to foot the $25,000 per ticket price (up a measly $10k from last year!) in the name of making Merry Meri dreams come true, do be in touch:)