Midas touch: Victoria’s Secret model Karolina Kurkova opted for a show-stopping look, designed by Rachel Zoe

Gwyneth Paltrow had no problems, paying tribute to tonight’s hostess Muccia in a stunning short and backless lilac-silver dress that was probably the most elegant outfit on the red carpet tonight at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.

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

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

Silver siren: Sofia Vergara in Marchesa, Lana Del Rey in Joseph Altuzarra and Gwyneth Paltrow in an incredibly sexy and fresh Prada dress

Taking the plunge: Camilla Belle wore a daring low-cut Ralph Lauren number, and accessorised with the gothic red lipstick along which along with peach pouts

Night trains: Karolina Kurkova and Renee Zellweger looked regal as they ascended the sweeping staircase at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

The mother-of-two cunningly 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.

Designing women: Karolina Kurkova with super-stylist Rachel Zoe, and right, Paula Patton looked stunning in a dramatic bustier and large drop earrings, flashing her beautiful smile as she posed with designer Vera Wang

Tangerine dream: Kristen Wiig and Ginnifer Goodwin risked clashing with the red carpet in their orange frocks

It transforms the timeless beauty into a pewter dipped antique goddess, while Mad Men’s Jessica Paré, breathtaking beauty though she is, falss 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.

Twirling around in tulle: Scarlett Johansson was embellished and voluptuous in Dolce and Gabbana, but would’ve looked better in a deeper colour

Frock star: Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev wore a black and gold confection by legendary New York designer Donna Karen

Frock star: Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev wore a black and gold confection by legendary New York designer Donna Karen

Spun gold: Jessica Paré wasn’t successful with her lustrous L’Wren Scott gown but Kate Upton looked lovely with clothes on after her Cat Daddy bikini video drama last week, she is reported to have paid $25,000 for a ticket for the event

Lana Del Rey, unsurprisingly, also jumped at the chance to mine this fusion of old school glamour and film noir stylings, and debuted darker coloured 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.

 

Taking a risk: Beyonce went all out in Givenchy, but it was a bit of a disaster… on many levels, while Kristen Stewart tried too hard to be trendy in Balenciaga but is still young enough to take such risks

Blues and pinks: Dakota Fanning, Brooke Shields, who arrived leaning on a walking stick, Mission Impossible star Paula Patton and Hollywood starlet Amber Heard