Entertainment

Costume Institute Gala draws Hollywood, fashion elite

May 3, 2011 / 9:20 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Designer Karl Lagerfeld and actress Blake Lively attend the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011, in New York. Getty

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - A who's who of celebrities and fashion's elite hit were in New York on Monday night for the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala Benefit, one of the most anticipated red carpet events of the year.

Stars including Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rihanna (all wearing dresses by Stella McCartney), Beyonce and Jay Z (in Pucci and Tom Ford), Amy Poehler (in J. Mendel) and Christina Hendricks (in Carolina Herrera) were among those in attendance.

Pictures: Met Costume Institute Gala 2011

This year's event, "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty," honored the work of the late designer.

"I miss him terribly, not only as a person but as a designer," Madonna said of McQueen, who committed suicide in February 2010 at age 40.

"I think the fashion business is a little bit dull without him and I loved his provocative punk rock attitude," she added. "I think his designs were brilliant. I think he was brilliant. And I hope he's having fun wherever he is right now."

Pictures: Alexander McQueen, 1969-2010
Pictures: McQueen remembered

Many celebrities who attend the Met Gala are escorted by the designer who dressed them. Among them, Blake Lively( wearing a custom Chanel gown) appeared with Karl Lagerfeld, "Glee" actress Dianna Agron walked the red carpet with Michael Kors, and Kanye West appeared with Tory Burch.

Francois-Henri Pinault, chief executive of luxury conglomerate PPR, and his wife, Salma Hayek, served as the event's honorary chairs. Colin Firth, designer Stella McCartney and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour were vice chairs.

Others who walked the red carpet included Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony (both wearing Gucci), "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest (wearing a suit by Burberry) with girlfriend Julianne Hough, Lea Michele, Taylor Swift (in J. Mendel) Penelope Cruz, Jessica Alba (wearing Ralph Lauren collection) and Fergie (in Marchesa).

Sarah Jessica Parker, Naomi Campbell, Daphne Guinness, Hamish Bowles, Anna Dello Russo and Chloe Sevigny all wore designs by Alexander McQueen.

Also in attendance was the successor to McQueen at his fashion house, Sarah Burton, who also designed Kate Middleton's wedding dress.

The "Savage Beauty" exhibit will be on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from May 4 to July 31.