What’s the collective noun for some punks? A brace? A bunch? Either way, the fashion world was abuzz on Monday night as the arrivals began to filter onto the red carpet at the 2013 Met Ball, in honour of the museum’s From Chaos to Couture exhibition.

For some (Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Ginnifer Goodwin), the theme stood as a depressingly literal dress code; for others, mere inspiration. Just as it did almost forty years previously, punk divided those who were genuinely cool (Anja Rubik, Anne Hathaway, Rooney Mara, Coco Rocha) from those who simply thought they were (January Jones). A movement powered by the strength of its own conviction, punk doesn’t work if you go for it and then look bashful (Elle Fanning). Better, in that case, to simply ignore its directives and carry on exactly as you were (Anna Wintour, Blake Lively, Katie Holmes).

Labels in pole position for subversive edge rather than fancy dress funnies included Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, who dressed co-chair Rooney Mara, host Beyonce and ex-Vogue Paris editor Carine Roitfeld (who wore *that* Bambi sweater), and Burberry, in whose studded gown Cara Delevingne looked punk-perfect.

Camden Market touches came by way of oodles of black lace, sheer layers and eyeliner applied with a Sharpie. Some pulled it off and others… well, it’s always a bit cringey when socialites pretend to be street, isn’t it.

We’re only sad the event didn’t come with live commentary from an actual punk.

Click the gallery for the looks of the night, the winners and losers. The punks and the punk’d.