Anna Wintour and her daughter Bee Shaffer play it VERY safe with their Met Gala gowns, but still manage to make a chic impression in Chanel and Alexander McQueen

  • Vogue's 66-year-old editor-in-chief and Met Gala chair was one of the first stars to appear on the red carpet at this year's star-studded event
  • She was joined by her daughter Bee, 28, who wore an embroidered McQueen number, while her mother opted for classic white Chanel 

By Valerie Siebert For Dailymail.com

Published: 18:37 EST, 2 May 2016 | Updated: 07:40 EST, 3 May 2016

The gowns and the celebrities may be the center of attention when it comes to the Met Gala, but, even if she isn't making the boldest statement on the red carpet, Anna Wintour is the lady of the hour.

The Vogue editor-in-chief, 66, and her 28-year-old daughter Bee Shaffer headed up the red carpet procession this year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.

Both ladies looked the picture of grace, though certainly played it safe this year with their gown selections. 

The lady of the hour, and daughter: Anna Wintour and daughter Bee Shaffer lead the red carpet at this year's Met Gala

The lady of the hour, and daughter: Anna Wintour and daughter Bee Shaffer lead the red carpet at this year's Met Gala

Making moves: The 66-year-old Vogue editor-in-chief went heavy on the fringe for this year's gown

Making moves: The 66-year-old Vogue editor-in-chief went heavy on the fringe for this year's gown

Top to toe: The Chanel dress featured a lattice pattern over the body and a brown feathered detail along the neckline

Top to toe: The Chanel dress featured a lattice pattern over the body and a brown feathered detail along the neckline

In fact, the mother-daughter duo were not terribly far off their choices from the previous year's Gala. 

Anna was heavy on the fringe for this year's event in an off-white piece from Chanel's Spring 2016 Couture line.

The dress featured a lattice-patterned embroidery over it, with small stones of black and gold fitted inside each corner.

Flowing away: The dress featured fringe along the back and shoulders and the lower skirt
Flowing away: The dress featured fringe along the back and shoulders and the lower skirt

Flowing away: The dress featured fringe along the back and shoulders and the lower skirt

Making a statement: Bee's gorgeous black Alexander McQueen gown was embellished with symmetrical blossoms of various colors

Making a statement: Bee's gorgeous black Alexander McQueen gown was embellished with symmetrical blossoms of various colors

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The biggest night in fashion has begun and one of the first to arrive on the red carpet was Bee Shaffer. The socialite and daughter to Queen Bee Anna Wintour was exemplary to the theme Manus x Machina with an intricate flora and fauna embroidered long sleeve dress from Alexander McQueen really added a wow factor.

Bee wasn't afraid to bring the drama, just look at that train. However, the black background and demur tailoring kept Bee in a low level buzz. This kind of dress doesn't scream look at me but imparts more of an afterglow. The long sleeve makes it figure flattering for all ages and reserved enough for more conservative occasions.

There's nothing like Bee's couture creation but head over to Neiman Marcus to the right to see what Sarah Burton has done with the house of McQueen for Spring 2016. Inspired by Bee? Check out Missguided's floral maxi dress below because it comes the closest. Best parrt, it's under $200. Style with metallic accessories and look like fashion royalty for a day.

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Family affair: Anna's son Charles Shaffer also attended with his wife Elizabeth Cordry
Family affair: Anna's son Charles Shaffer also attended with his wife Elizabeth Cordry

Family affair: Anna's son Charles Shaffer also attended with his wife Elizabeth Cordry

Both the shoulders and the lower skirt were thick with white fringe while the bust of the gown featured feathery brown accents appearing like the wings and tails of birds.

The fashion mogul topped off the look with a heavy-looking necklace and matching bracelet with diamonds arranged into flowers.

With the focus on the embellished shoulders, the dress certainly has similarities to Anna's choice from last year, which was an Asian-inspired flowered ensemble, also by Chanel, featuring a pair of petal-adorned statement sleeves. 

Quite a pair: Though they played it safe this year, both ladies looked beautiful

Quite a pair: Though they played it safe this year, both ladies looked beautiful

A similar effort: The gowns aren't far off from the dresses the mother-daughter duo donned last year, with Anna in statement sleeves and Bee in florals with a long train

A similar effort: The gowns aren't far off from the dresses the mother-daughter duo donned last year, with Anna in statement sleeves and Bee in florals with a long train

As for Bee, Anna's daughter by ex-husband David Shaffer, the choice this year was Alexander McQueen with a simply gorgeous long-sleeved black gown with rising shoulders, a long train and a rectangular neckline.

The dress is covered in a colorful, totally symmetrical pattern of beautiful blossoms, and Bee paired the dress with diamond accessories including drop earrings and an elegant headband.

Again, like her mother, Bee wasn't too far off the concept she took for last year's effort, a deep red gown accented with cherry blossoms and a long train.

What is not clear, however, is how either of the ladies' dresses fit in with this year's theme of Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology.

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