2012 Met Costume Institute Gala: all about who can sparkle hardest

This year Met Costume Institute Gala, held in New York last night, was all about who can sparkle hardest, as the celebrities slip into futuristic fabrics.

Gwyneth Paltrow had no problems, paying tribute to last night’s hostess Muccia in a stunning short and backless lilac-silver dress that was probably the most elegant outfit on the red carpet tonight.

Sparkle seems to work best when given a slant, like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Barbarella minimalism or Sofia Vergara’s sensational Marchesa silver lace column dress.

The color is so subtle it allows the drama of the lace and the sexy shape of the gown to really do the talking, and Sofia Vergara finished off her look with a bright, bright slick of fuchsia pink lipstick which sealed the deal.

In the gold corner, Cameron Diaz was a column of light in a retina-searing Stella McCartney gold dress which she paired, rather cheekily, with the hairstyle made famous in her 1998 smash hit movie, There’s Something About Mary.

And Jessica Alba offers a masterclass in how to really shine, without looking like a gaudy street hoarding.

She added a frisson of Hollywood glamour to her burnished gold Michael Kors dress, with gothic touches such as black nails and a vintage style Roger Vivier‘s Pilgrim Coeur clutch.

It transforms the timeless beauty into a pewter dipped antique goddess, while Mad Men’s Jessica Paré, breathtaking beauty though she is, false foul of an all over large sequin fabric that seemed to drown her gloriously dainty figure.

Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren worked the trend with a gothic slant, just like Alba, and triumphantly her dark lips stood out on a carpet filled with fashionable peach pouts.

Lana Del Rey, unsurprisingly, also jumped at the chance to mine this fusion of old school glamour and film noir stylings, and debuted darker colored hair with her Joseph Altuzarra outfit which featured a stunning cape.

Carey Mulligan went furthest on this space oddity, in giant sequins by Prada; this dress ran the gamut of metallic hues and perhaps worked best on the newly married beauty’s slender shoulders as the skirt flared out in a Judy Jetson style hoop that looked awkward on the willowy Brit.

Leighton Meester also opted for metallic Marchesa, this time in gold, it was a bold move from the Gossip Girl star but one that aged her as her youth became lost within the archaic gold filigree patterned lace and giant diaphanous ruffles.

Scarlett Johansson filled out her Dolce and Gabbana fishtale dress admirably, but it’s pale color blended into the actress’s skin too softly and she always shines more brightly in rich colors.

Renee Zellweger was a vision in Pucci, an surprise choice for the star who was expected to wear Caroline Herrera, but a masterstroke, as she looked incredible in the dramatic backless black gown which, yes you guessed it, had accents of gold.

Rihanna played it reasonably safe in Tom Ford’s applique crocodile, but her stunning figure proved to be her winning accessory.

Her hair was slicked back to showcase her incredible cheekbones, but that was the same look chosen by Rooney Mara and Gisele Bundchen to heighten their air of Victorian melodrama in detailed Givenchy lace and embellished satin respectively.

Other stars wore their black in a gothic style, which was easily the second most popular trend of the evening.

Cate Blanchett, peerless beauty as always, nailed the look in a ravishing dress by Alexander McQueen that was at both extravagant and strangely minimalist, giving her the air of an elegant raven.

Another black look was sleek, as best personified by Rihanna, but also showcased to great effect by Rosario Dawson in super-sexy Calvin Klein and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley flying the British flag in Burberry.

Emma Roberts, Katharine McPhee and Eva Mendes were good enough to eat in various shades of orange, while the in the minority (for once) ladies in red, Chelsea Clinton, Emma Stone and Milla Jovovich made the most of the scarlet hue.

Mad Men star January Jones put pop into pastel in her fresh yellow dress, while Victoria’s Secret model Candice Swanepoel was a hip shade of blue to Brooke Burke’s slightly soppy take on the color.

Christina Ricci and Lily Collins boldly refused to follow the crowd and wore daring individual gowns.

Christina Ricci donned an incredible number by cult designer Thakoon, that certainly marked her out from the crowd with it’s large bow any celebrity other than Ricci would’ve looked plain ridiculous, but she managed to pull it off, just.

Not so Lily Collins, who just didn’t look glamorous enough in her pretty Victorian-style Valentino gown.

Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood wore their rock ‘n’ roll credentials on their suited sleeves, and Jagger had his designer girlfriend L’Wren Scott cheering up his arm, while Wood had theatre producer Sally Humphreys by his side.