Met Gala draws big names for Costume Institute benefit

From Madonna to Miley, the world’s biggest stars and fashion icons showed off the hottest trends with some Eastern flair last night at the annual Met Gala.

The ticket is one of the hottest in the city; celebrities shell out thousands to mingle and scope out the style. Throughout the night, a who’s who of names graced the red carpet outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the sound of cheering fans and press.” Anna emailed me and here I am,” said Jennifer Lawrence, who was decked out in Dior Couture.

“We all have to go shake Anna’s hand,” joked Elizabeth Banks, who was wearing Michael Kors.

Neil Patrick Harris, who attended with his husband David Burka, said he was taken in by all of the energy.”Sometimes it’s just such chaos! Screaming all the time,” he said.

Other guests included Cher, Kristen Wiig, Kerry Washington, who wore Prada, Jennifer Lopez, Usher Kate Hudson, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian and her mother Kris Jenner.

“This is the best and worst of everything!” Madonna said.

The charity event first began in 1946 to mark the annual opening of the museum’s main Costume Institute exhibit. Vogue Magazine has sponsored the event for 16 years.

This year, the exhibit is “China: Through the Looking Glass,” which features 140 garments and accessories that reflect the country’s style.

The exhibit will also feature Chinese-influenced garmets from Western designers such as Coco Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Tom Ford.

Lady Gaga, who arrived towards the end of the red carpet just before 8:30 p.m., she rocked a Bakenciaga dress was inspired by traditional Chinese opera gowns complete with hand-embroidered black rhinestones and 14,000 sheared feathers.Rhianna arrived to the show in a yellow dress reportedly designed Chinese couture designer Guo Pei, who is featured in the exhibit.

“Empire’s” Taraji P. Henson also wore a Bakenciaga gown with a white silk crepe column gown with a black floral pattern. Justin Bieber showed up with a blazer that included an embroidered gold dragon.

Sarah Jessica Parker wowed the crowd with her large, Eastern-themed red wear.

“Have fun with the theme,” was her modus operandi, she told reporters.

Anne Hathaway agreed.

“The theme is what you do with it,” she said.