Anna Wintour created very specific dress code rules for guests and Vogue staff attending this year’s Met Gala. “Anna doesn’t want anyone to stand out in an inappropriate way. The night is for the invitees, not the Vogue staff. Vogue staffers were only allowed to choose dresses in seven distinct color palettes, including a gray-lavender and sea foam,” a Met Ball insider (whatever that means) said. While Vogue employees had their own set of rules, Wintour also established a guide for those attending the exclusive event as guests. Evidently shelling out $25,000 isn’t enough to buy a little freedom of expression — one still had to adhere to white tie dress.

For men, this meant a black tailcoat, a waistcoat, a wing-collared shirt, a white bow tie, sheer silk socks, patent leather evening pumps, and medals and rosettes. Ladies had it a bit easier, with the only requirement being an appropriate ball gown.

First Look: Anna Wintour leaving @themarkhotelny for the #MetGala. Cc: @voguemagazine @metmuseum. pic.twitter.com/jEN0oac2gr

— Nadine Johnson Inc. (@NadineJohnsonPR) May 5, 2014

While the lady stars gracing the charity event could at least select their own gowns, women working for Vogue had their design chosen for them, or rather designed for them by design house Reem Acra. Another Met Gala insider (who ARE these people) said that the staffers’ shoes were also pre-selected. The ladies had to wear Manolo Blahniks (what a nightmare) to tastefully match their dress without standing out or making any sort of fashion statement.

It seems Anna Wintour still insists upon proving that Meryl Streep’s character in The Devil Wears Prada was based on her as the editor in chief of Vogue, not that anyone doubted that in the first place. C’mon, Wintour. Cut your staff and those poor celebrities a little slack. At least she let Kim Kardashian attend this year after allegedly banning her from the event in the past. Progress.

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