Royal Flashback of the Day: May 3

One of the most interesting things about the annual Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - fashion's prom night, basically, with celebs galore - is seeing how the evening's theme is interpreted. And, in many cases, how it was just not interpreted whatsoever. Last night's ball celebrated the Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology exhibition, predictably resulting in a whole lot of gowns clinging to the theme in metallics and not much else. (Here are all the looks. Give me Claire Danes in an actual light-up dress in "fiber optic woven organza" by Zac Posen any day. Where else could you wear that?!)

Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece attended the gala in 2001, when the exhibit was Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years, and she stuck to the theme in the most indisputable way: she wore a Jackie dress.

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She attended with her friend (and wedding gown designer) Valentino. This minty green one-shoulder satin gown with embellished hems appeared in a 1967/68 Valentino couture collection, and was worn by Jackie Kennedy during a visit to Cambodia in 1967; the gown was later worn by Marie-Chantal to this event. Another version was worn after that by Jennifer Lopez to the Oscars in 2003.

It was a dress on point for the evening, but also a dress just on point forever and always. The draping seems so easy, but it's really excellent craftsmanship and top-notch fabric at work, and the beading is a wonder. These days I often prefer those who go big or go home as my Met Gala bests (hello, glow-in-the-dark Cinderella gown), but there's always a gold star for those who handle the theme in the loveliest of fashions.

P.S.: Still in the Met mood? Last year we talked Diana at the gala!

Photos: via Getty Images, Valentino, AP video