Days ahead of the Met Gala, you can always feel a sense of buzz and excitement brewing in New York City. As top Hollywood stars and certified best dressed begin arriving into the city for the grand event—which kicks off tomorrow—all of the ritziest hotels and restaurants begin hosting various parties, and celebrities are spotted across town stepping out in their best pre-Met outfits. This week, the best dressed stars were those who embraced minimalism with flair; though the ensembles were refined (they are saving their best looks for the Met, after all!), they still had a major red carpet and cocktail affair impact.

Take Sabrina Carpenter, who attended a Versace party in the city wearing one of the Italian label’s slinky blue floor-length gowns. It was the perfect mix of classic, yet sexy. At the Vogue pre-Met party in Harlem, Laura Harrier also turned heads in her blue Connor Ives slip dress, complete with fringing—a perfect spring dress. Also at the star-studded bash? Host Doechii, who donned a slick Louis Vuitton suit complete with bejeweled accents and a monogrammed tie.

Other stars embraced voluminous silhouettes—but still kept the color palette clean and subdued. Blake Lively, for one, wore a ruffled Christopher John Rogers dress in a pristine white. Florence Pugh also chose an archival Mugler skirt suit that was cut and angled in all the right ways—yet the all-white palette, again, kept the look fresh and upbeat. The real question is: What will all of these stars wear come the First Monday in May tomorrow? Only time will tell.

Which were your favorite celebrity looks this week? Vote below, and check back on Friday to see who Vogue readers crowned best dressed.