The Best Parties of 2011
The style set sure knows how to party, and 2011 proved to be a year of fabulous fetes.
Take a walk down memory lane as we reminisce about the year's best star-studded soirees, launches, and premieres—from the Met Costume Institute Gala celebrating the late Alexander McQueen to the fashionable Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 red carpet.
Purple reigns: Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, Mila Kunis, and Natalie Portman at the 2011 Oscars.
On February 27, A-list actresses and style-savvy celebrities stepped out for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. From red hot dresses to a spectrum of colorful gowns—stars were in full-on glamour mode, but purple and sequins were the standout trends of the night.
Photo: Getty Images
Karl Lagerfeld and Blake Lively at the 2011 Met Costume Institute Gala.
On May 2, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City held its annual Costume Institute Gala. This year's event celebrated the opening of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. The A-list crowd enjoyed a Scottish-themed dinner and a performance by Florence and the Machine.
Photo: Getty Images
Happily ever after ... Valentino Garavani and Natalia Vodianova, in a ballgown by the designer
The fashion flock brought out their most enchanting ensembles for The White Fairy Tale Love Ball on July 6. Hosted by Natalia Vodianova and Valentino Garavani with Giancarlo Giammetti, the event took place at Le Chateau de Wideville, the legendary designer's stunning 17th-century Paris countryside estate.
Guests perused the Valentino Archives museum—which showcased dresses from a 1990 collection—and enjoyed dinner and a fashion show featuring 45 custom-designed dresses by the world’s top designers—from Chanel to Yves Saint Laurent.
Photos: Getty Images
Short story: Emma Stone, Leighton Meester, Kristen Stewart, and Reese Witherspoon at the MTV Movie Awards.
The 2011 MTV Movie Awards on June 5 brought out young Hollywood's hottest stars, all decked in sexy, thigh-baring minidresses. Balmain was the designer of the night, worn by Leighton Meester (a silver minidress), Best Female Performer winner Kristen Stewart (a Twilight-appropriate blood-red strapless number), and presenter Mila Kunis (an embellished miniskirt). Emma Stone and Generation Award honoree Reese Witherspoon also rocked the leggy look, in Bottega Veneta and Zac Posen, respectively.
Photos: Getty Images
This royal red carpet saw Nicole Kidman in Elie Saab Couture, Mary-Louise Parker in Dolce & Gabbana, and the Duchess of Cambridge in Alexander McQueen.
Celebrities came out in droves to attend the 2011 BAFTA Brits to Watch event at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles on July 10. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a highly anticipated appearance at the annual affair. Wearing a gorgeous Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown, Catherine gave the Hollywood crowd a run for its money.
Photo: Getty Images
Camilla Belle, Zoe Saldana and Evan Rachel Wood in dresses from Gucci's Spring 2012 collection
On November 6, stylish starlets took center stage at the Gucci-hosted LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) Inaugural Art and Film Gala honoring Clint Eastwood and John Baldessari.
Gucci dresses were the order of the night with Camilla Belle, Zoe Saldana and Evan Rachel Wood opting for black and gold flapper-esque frocks from the fashion house's '20s-inspired Spring 2012 collection.
Photos: Getty Images
Candice Swanepoel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Mario Testino, Kate Moss, and Daniel Lalonde (Moët & Chandon's CEO) at the Moët & Chandon Etoile Awards
Moët & Chandon hosted a star-studded London soiree on September 19 where the inaugural Etoile Award was given to photographer Mario Testino, in celebration of his 30 years or work. Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Georgia May Jagger, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Joan Smalls, Candice Swanepoel, and Erin O’Connor all attended in gorgeous black or white looks for the ’30s-themed event.
Photos: Getty Images
Golden girls: Three looks from Versace for H&M's runway show
The November 8 Versace for H&M launch party in New York may have been the most elaborate celebration of a collection that sells at high street prices. With performances by Nicki Minaj and, um, Prince!, the over-the-top event drew celebrities like Jessica Alba, Emma Roberts, Chace Crawford, Blake Lively and Selma Blair as well as fashion insiders including Linda Evangelista, Helena Christensen, Alexander Wang and Joseph Altuzarra. Hands down, it was the place to be.
Photos: Getty Images
Vamping it up: Nikki Reed, Kristen Stewart and Ashley Greene
The world premiere of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 on November 14 at L.A.'s Nokia Theater was a night of red carpet glamour. Kristen Stewart wore a slit-to-there J. Mendel dress, Ashley Greene opted for a red lace custom Donna Karan gown, and Nikki Reed stepped out in a goddess-like look from Marchesa.
Photos: Getty Images
Black is the new black: Sarah Burton and Victoria Beckham in noir numbers
There was plenty of star power at the British Fashion Council’s 2011 British Fashion Awards on November 28. Kate Hudson, Marc Jacobs, Kate Moss, Georgia May Jagger, Olivia Palermo, Colin Firth and British First Lady Samantha Cameron came out to support the industry and toast the big winners of the night, including Sarah Burton (Designer of the Year), Stella McCartney (Red Carpet Award), and Victoria Beckham (Designer Brand Award).
In related news, check out our picks for the best-dressed celebrities of 2011.