Fashion is an industry where taking risks is considered the norm, or at least it should be. At every event there’s always some sort of analysis of a person’s less than safe choice, even if it hasn’t turned out looking exactly like it should, they still get brownie points for the effort and choosing something more catwalk crazy than classic Hollywood.

Last night was my most anticipated night of the year.  It was fashion’s biggest event, the only thing that can rival The Oscars and Fashion Week, The Met Ball. It’s an occasion where risk taking is most definitely allowed and I was particularly excited for this year’s event as I thought punk was such an interesting theme.

 I considered what everyone would wear and all the wonderfully crazy gowns people would turn up in; I was left bitterly disappointed.

As always some people chose to bypass the theme completely, such as Vogue editor Anna Wintour, although she did look impeccable in bang on trend Chanel, but I was more disheartened by those who went for the theme but didn’t exactly commit to it.

You’d think in an era where almost everyone in the public eye has a stylist that choosing something a bit more adventurous without looking like a car crash wouldn’t be that difficult. Obviously not. Some people looked amazing in their slightly punkish attire but at the same time, they were merely good dresses. I wouldn’t know they were for a certain theme if I saw them anywhere else. Take model of the moment Cara Delevingne for example, her studded Burberry was beautiful and is in most of today’s best dressed lists, but studs are on trend right now – it could have been anywhere. The same can be said for Taylor Swift, I was pleasantly surprised to see her in a black gown by J. Mendel but that was only because it’s pretty much the only time we’ll ever see her in something that isn’t neutral. If anyone else wore it, it wouldn’t have been noticeable.

For the first time ever I was happier looking at those that totally messed it up. Not for laughs at how bad they looked (except Kim Kardashian) but because they’d actually tried. Most of them tried too hard, but at least they tried. I was much happier looking at Madonna’s monstrosity simply because it actually looked like punk.

Even those who I’d usually expect to do well with this sort of theme failed to deliver, such as Gwen Stefani who turned up in a slightly punkish Maison Martin Margiela, a favourite of hers. It had attitude but still didn’t quite hit the nail on the head and I’d expect more from someone so quirky by nature.

Despite the evening being a disappointment on the whole, obviously not everyone failed to impress. Cue Miley Cyrus. Maybe this is simply a case of being young and less afraid to take a few risks but she was one of the very few who embraced the theme and made it work. Her mesh Marc Jacobs combined with the spiky hair and chunky rings stood out from the crowd as she fully embraced the theme.

Having said that, the answer to why people don’t take risks isn’t simply a matter of age; another look that stood out from the crowd was Nicole Richie’s. Although her dress was simple, her grey hairstyle certainly upped the ante. What’s more, her dress was by Topshop.

So instead of spending my day oooing and ahhing over how fabulous everyone looked as per usual, I spent it traipsing over the internet searching for people who actually did the theme some justice. With much disappointment, the search continues.