Ok - Some People Looked Pretty Good....

Not everyone at this year's Costume Institute Gala looked like rejects from Barnum and Bailey...

I rather like Thalia's iridescent blue/green Christian Siriano gown. Simple and pretty.

Renee Zellweger. I'm on the fence about this one. It's a pretty dress, but not sure about the color. Then again, I like that she's taking a chance with an off-beat shade.

Jessica Biel attended with a giant nerd. Oh wait - that's Justin Timberlake. Another one I'm on the fence about - I've never been fond of the bi-level hem, but the corset detailing is interesting and the color is really socko. I wish the girl would wear lipstick with color though.

Iman. Stunning.

Eva Mendes is a little crinkly, and she doesn't look as "fancy" as some other attendees, but she's a pretty girl so I'll forgive her.

I never "got" Claudia Schiffer, with her buck-toothed Germanicness. Still don't, but I think her dress is very...interesting. It's like a puzzle. Or an executive desk toy. Wish she had done something with her hair.

But Wait...There's More!

More from the Costume Institute Gala!

The still-stunning Paulina Porizkova chose to hide herself from head to toe in a rather plain peach-toned gown. 

Shalom Harlow, wrestling with several large garbage bags, decided to stop by on the way to the dumpster.

Molly Sims' crazy gold robot costume almost renders me speechless. Almost.

Finally, Helena Christensen, with Zac Posen, shows off her latest crafts project, made from an old prom gown and glitter pens. Or is it a cast-off from an ice-dancing competition?

Unspeakable Horrors at the Costume Institute Gala

This year's gala, held on May 4th, was themed, "The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion."  If I'm interpreting this correctly, models tend to make designers want to wrap them in a swath of fabric, stick a safety pin in it, and call it a gown.

Like Victoria Beckham here, in some dotted curtain fabric.

And Kate Moss (with Marc Jacobs) wrapped in a piece of lamé. There was some extra, so she made a nifty headwrap from it. 

Anne Hathaway's dress designer chose to put the safety pin front and center. Pretty color though, and I kinda like her big retro hair.

Next up, in the Hot Mess department, Mary Kate Olsen tries to pull off a look straight out of the rag bin. It's too long, and too ugly.

I can't tell if Madonna is trying too hard, or if she's just given up. She's at the age where wearing something attractive and flattering makes far more sense than wearing something that makes people whisper about her behind their hands, "I hear she's off her meds." She's an icon, and she should start carrying herself as one.

Kirsten Dunst...ahhh...not sure what to say about that dress, other than it's matronly and makes her boobs look saggy.

Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler actually look pretty good here, and I can't really see what's going on with Kate Bosworth's dress apart that it looks rather plain and somewhat old for her. But Stella McCartney...in a lace jumpsuit? Ack.

Finally, Andre Leon Talley models the latest in graduation gowns. And I think I have a pair of shoes just like those....