The 25 Best Looks From The Met Ball

Forget the Oscars, the Golden Globes — Cannes, even. For true red-carpet firecrackers, the Met Ball is where the best dressed in the world come to show off. This year's theme, Charles James: Beyond Fashion, really turned up the dial on the dress code, bringing the already-formal event to super-formal echelons. You might not see "White Tie With Decorations" outside of military weddings at Buckingham Palace — someone had to explain to us that "decorations" meant military badges and sashes and not, say, a floral crown and a statement necklace — but for $15,000 a plate, you better believe this is worth getting gussied up for.

While some women really took the Disney princess route at the event, there were some truly next-level looks that set a new standard for what red-carpet style can be. Ahead, see the evening's best dressed ladies, including a few surprises that really turned it out.