Inspired by the Costume Institute’s Punk: Chaos to Couture exhibit, this year’s Met Gala was something like a celebrity Project Runway challenge, leaving more than a few stars scrambling — and failing — to dress the part.

Amid the sea of spikes, heavy eye makeup, and black nail polish, Nina Dobrev stood out in a look that was sexy, chic, and just the right amount of punk. How did she do it? Stylist Ilaria Urbinati, who has worked with the Vampire Diaries star since the 2011 Emmys, gave EW all the details.

Although Urbinati says she “grew up listening to punk,” the initial inspiration for Dobrev’s ensemble came from a designer who’s best known for creating ultra-feminine wedding dresses.

“You go to the Met Gala if you’re invited by a designer, so when Nina got the invitation from Monique Lhuillier, we knew [she would wear] Monique,” the stylist explains. “We started off by looking at the fall runway, and there was a look that I really loved. It had the pants, the lace leggings with a skirt over it and long, lace sleeves. It was pretty punk — we were lucky because the collection had a lot of goth lace and leather — but very covered up to the neck. We wanted to do a little more skin on the top.”

continue reading..