Alek Wek in H&M

The H&M people said this was based on a mosaic in a church room, generally speaking -- it sounds like they looked at a lot of Catholic art and architecture when considering their choices. I think this is absolutely stunning on her, and gorgeous on its own merits even if you don't know what the theme was. It could exist wholly independently of this event.

That TRAIN. It is a marvel. I wish H&M made actual regular-person clothes that well.

Liu Wen in Michael Kors

A lot of people claim red as a sufficient example of being on-theme, because the color has symbolism in Catholicism (and basically everywhere else). But to me this is just... a flawless gown, period, and on one of my favorite models. It gets a bit lost on this night, which is a tragic shame.

Cindy Crawford in Versace

This echoes Cindy's famous 1991 red dress, which she wore on her first red carpet with Richard Gere. I think I read a story -- which I now cannot find -- that Anna Wintour essentially made Cindy auction that one off for charity and that Cindy was always sort of sad not to have it, so I love that Donatella made it for her again with a slight update. AND on Anna's big night.

Katherine Langford in Prada

This is one of my favorites of the night. The cape does have a celestial feel, but not a particularly religious one. She kind of looks like a gorgeous Tarot Card, which is slightly to the left of the point.

Katherine Langford in Prada

It's beautiful from the front, too. She looks regal and stunning.

I mean. A new Lady Jane Grey movie, anyone?

Claire Danes in Marni

Interesting! I would not have guessed her for this label; I think she's the only one who wore it, in fact. I don't actually like the orangey-brown train on this, but it's too late now; we're already elbow-deep into this thing.

I am guessing she took "heavenly bodies" to mean "stuff in the sky," based on those earrings. 

Tracee Ellis Ross in Michael Kors

Tracee says hers is inspired by robes that priests wore during the fourth Sunday of Lent, or something. Sure! That feels like a deep dive. Honestly, she could wear this anytime and I'd be like, "Oh, cool, Tracee has been binge-watching Mad Men reruns."

She looks FANTASTIC in that Cardinal Pink.

Ming Xi in Prabal Gurung

I like it when Prabal does full ball gowns, and goes for elegance with a light twist. He's very adept at that; it's the wackier impulses that get him into trouble.

I love this picture because it's one GIANT TRAIN flowing into another.

Lily Aldridge in Ralph Lauren

Marvelous.

Rooney Mara in Givenchy

ALERT. Rooney Mara is wearing a color. It is not black, nor white, nor beige, nor blush, nor red. It is SOMETHING ELSE. And it's GREAT. (Several people seemed to decide that kind of top was the right move. This DOES look wondeful on her.)

Poppy Delevingne in Michael Kors

Splendid, and also, every time we feature her I repeatedly double-take to make sure she isn't January Jones. 

Issa Rae in Michael Kors

Kors went all out for embroidery. There's this, Liu Wen...

Naomi Watts in Kors

... and then this, which is wonderful also. And I wasn't kidding about that style of top having a Catholic Imagination moment.

Dakota Fanning in Miu Miu

She looks lovely, but this is a total theme punt. Save it for your own promotional gigs, girl!

Jourdan Dunn in DVF

Well DONE, Diane. That's perfect on her. I would follow that priestess.

Tiffany Haddish in Brandon Maxwell

I very much like this on her, and think Brandon Maxwell might be a smart fit for her in the future. But again, I'd have loved to see this -- even without the duster coat -- at another event, because it gives her some nifty polish.

Karlie Kloss in Brandon Maxwell

Before the event, Karlie Tweeted that she could not WAAAAAIT to show everyone her look, so when I got to it I was like, "... is that it? There's no hidden baptismal font on her person anywhere?!?" 

Eiza Gonzalez in Prabal

This ALSO looks like she thought the theme was The Major Arcana.

Some People Eschewed Headgear Altogether, And Still Looked Super

Some of these might have won the night, if it were any other night.