MET GALA FASHION HIT LIST

By Walter Greene

The Metropolitan Museum of Art annual Opening Night Gala has become the red carpet fashion event of the New York social circuit. This season it launched the official opening of the exhibition `Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations' (which we'll feature in dept next week). The event has been built as the `East Coast Oscars' and `The Party of the Year' as an eclectic mix of entertainment, business and fashion collide for a grand entrance, lavish cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment in the Temple of Dendur. The Costume Institute of the MET hosts the event under the charge of Vogue Magazine's editor-in-chief ANNA WINTOUR, who even arranges the seating charts. This year's gala chairs were CARRIE MULLIGAN and GWENETH PALTROW who both were early red carpet arrivals wearing Prada - of course.

BEYONCE'S late arrival definitely caused a stir, as she made her grand entrance an hour late. She said she was invited but made the decision to attend that same afternoon. Oh yes, her arrival was perfectly timed because there was no one on the red carpet by then, so everyone can see the elaborate Givenchy sheer lace gown which flowed for like four stairs behind her with several yards of feathers - a knockout!  If she'd arrive with everyone else, we may not have seen the full impact of that massive gown and probably it would have been stepped on by a jealous patron or some hater who wanted the cloud the fabulousity of the moment. This was Bs first big event after becoming a mommy, plus she had her new show to promote....Get my drift?

Bajan star RIHANNA arrived in a black Tom Ford column gown and left the after-party for a hospital after collapsing from exhaustion. LALA ANTHONY wife of basketball star Carmelo wore an electric blue Zac Posen gown. SOLANGE KNOWLES chose a yellow Rachel Roy ensemble . PAULA PATTON choose a deep purple Vera Wang and ROSARIO DAWSON wore Calvin Klein Collection. Models CHANEL IMAN was stunning in Tom Ford (who accompanied her) while LIYA KEBEDE rocked Tory Burch, JOAN SMALLS wore Balmain and was accompanied by Balmain designer Oliver Theyskens, SOFIA VERGARA was in a lavish silver/gray Marchesa; EVA MENDEZ in Prada; ZOE SALDANA in Oliver Thestheyns mini dress with boots; RASHIDA JONES in Tory Burch and AZALIA BANKS in black Alexander Wang.