Sarah Jessica Parker

It was the night of 1000 stars as anybody who\'s anybody in the fashion and movie world turned out in their finery for the 2010 Costume Institute gala (or the Met Ball to you and I) in New York.

The theme of the night (and the accompanying exhibition) was American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity, but it seems that most of the celebrity attendees had misread their invites and thought the theme was \'Wear White\'. The red carpet positively glowed with all the white and metallic gowns on show with one dress that actually lit up (yes of course it was Katy Perry\'s).

Early arrivals included co-hostess Anna Wintour, first lady of the New York fashion scene Sarah Jessica Parker, trend-setter Nicole Richie and red carpet fashion favourite Chloë Sevigny.

Click on to see who wore what...

Find out all about the 2010 Costume Institute gala Met Ball

Sarah Jessica Parker went for relaxed glamour in this Halston Heritage \'70s inspired, iridescent silver knife-pleat dress with co-ordinating hair accessory.

9/10

Emma Watson

Part time American woman Emma Watson took time out from her studies at Brown University to fly the fashion flag for the UK and didn\'t disappoint in this sexy-as-hell, slashed-to-the-thigh, white custom-made Burberry gown. What would Harry say?!

9/10

Diane Kruger

Diane Kruger does it again in this minimalistic white sheath dress by Calvin Klein Collection. Understated elegance personified.

9/10

Anna Wintour

First lady of American fashion, US Vogue\'s fearsome editrix Anna Wintour, sparkled in an embellished silver evening coat and draped column dress, both from Chanel Couture.

7/10

Jennifer Lopez

She\'s back! La Lopez worked her old magic on the red carpet in a dress by Zuhair Murad showing the younger girls what it takes to keep going in the business.

10/10

Nicole Richie

This stunning look - dress Marc Jacobs, jewels Harry Winston - has helped us forgive Nicole for her Oscar make-up faux pas. Top to toe fabulous.

9/10

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway looked amazing in a fairytale dress fit for a White Queen, designed by Valentino.

10/10

Kirsten Dunst

Another woman in white, this time a vintage feel corseted lace dress that hits the spot for actress Kirsten Dunst. Jury\'s out on the white tights and shoes - perhaps taking a trend too far?

7/10

Chloë Sevigny

Chloë Sevigny does her own thing as usual but still hits the right note in this Proenza Schouler dress. Loving the frosted pink lipstick.

8/10

Jessica Szohr

Gossip Girl star Jessica opted for full on glamour in this nude fishtail gown with lace overlays by Versace. Not sure her hair did the whole look justice.

6/10

Gwen Stefani

Pop legend Gwen Stefani put her recent relationship woes behind her showing everyone how to pull off the underwear on show trend and still look red carpet fabulous in her own design from L.A.M.B.

8/10

Kristin Davis

Sex And The City Star Kristin Davis opted to play it safe in black but more than made up for the lack of colour in the silhouette stakes. Va va voom!

7/10

Eva Mendes

The saucy face and body of Calvin Klein underwear Eva Mendes looked every inch the Hollywood icon in her floral, fishtail gown.

7/10

Kate Bosworth

Kate looks flawless as ever in this \'20s inspired embellished Valentino gown. Someone give this girl a fashion line already!

9/10

Katy Perry

No, your eyes aren\'t deceiving you. Katy Perry\'s dress, sourced from a shop in France called Cute Circuit, lights up... She even had back-up bulbs with her in case of a blow-out. Trying too hard is fashion faux pas number one.

3/10

Dree Hemingway

Model-of-the-moment Dree opted for assured chic in a cream skirt and backless black jacket from CK Collection, plus a pair of divine ankle strap Perspex platforms.
9/10

Jessica Biel

One of Tinseltown\'s hottest couples, Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake, attended as guests of Ralph Lauren - and who can blame Jessica for jumping at the chance to shine in a cream silk halterneck Ralph Lauren gown? Shame it looks a little ill-fitting.

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Ever the style heroine, risk-taker Maggie pulls off this black silk ruffle skirt and bustier combo by Louis Vuitton with aplomb.

8/10

Doutzen Kroes

Stone the Kroes! Dutch super Doutzen was custom-made this full-skirted powder blue gown - replete with enormous train - by BFF (Best Fashion Friend) Zac Posen. We heart.

9/10

Lily Collins

Flying the flag for the yoof, Lily Collins keeps it event- and age-appropriate in this ruched sage Chanel couture cocktail dress with bronze embellishment. Plus points for matching her outfit to her gorgeous colouring; minus for the dull black satin pumps.

7/10

Naomi Campbell

Perhaps keeping a low-profile following her recent camera-bashing episode, Naomi Campbell kept it sleek and simple in this black Dolce & Gabbana bustier dress.

8/10

Christina Hendricks

Oh, Christina. That hair! Those breasts! The guinea pig on your shoulder! Love the dress by L\'Wren Scott - shame you can barely take it in in the horrifying context of the whole look.

3/10

Kristen Stewart

With the \'American\' portion of the evening taken care of thanks to her burgeoning status in Hollywood, Twilight sweetie Kristen looked to Chanel Couture for her wardrobe. Fun, fierce and formal, all in one feel swoop. Now, if she would just work on that red carpet pose...

7/10

Camilla Belle

Red alert! Camilla Belle looks flawless - if not a little vanilla - in her full-skirted scarlet ballgown by red carpet designer du jour, Jason Wu.

9/10

January Jones

The Mad Men star shakes off her Betty Draper tag in an ultra-modern, hot pink shift and opera gloves by YSL. A risk, but we love her conviction, seen right through to the eye make-up.

7/10

Taylor Swift

Top marks to songbird Swift in her vintage-inspired, cut-out shoulder Ralph Lauren gown bedecked with delicate frills.

9/10

Carey Mulligan

This sweet Miu Miu lace shift looks great on Carey - it\'s just sadly not nearly glamorous enough for the Met Ball red carpet. Those black tights aren\'t helping any, either. A miss.

2/10

Sienna Miller

Newly-reunited A-list couple Sienna Miller and Jude Law caused a huge stir in their first high profile outing as a twosome. Fortunately for Sienna, her midnight blue Emilio Pucci dress and crocodile sandals served her well for the occasion (although the proportions weren\'t perfect for her diminutive frame).

7/10

Gisele Bundchen

It\'s often been said that Gisele would look good in a bin bag. Here\'s the proof that she doesn\'t, as this shredded Alexander Wang number reveals. Nice shoes, though.

4/10

Zoe Saldana

W.O.W Zoe Saldana looks airbrush perfect in this one sleeve, asymmetric dress by Calvin Klein Collection. The super-chic accessories are the icing on the cake.

9/10

Claire Danes

This is one of those ‘better from a distance\' looks. Up close the fabric looks old fashioned and the cut is a tad Knights Of The Round Table for our choosing. Luckily the rock chick eye make-up and nails scrape back a point or two.

5/10

Blake Lively

Gossip Girl Blake brings her perfect pins to the fore in this beautiful asymmetric, sculptured blue mini dress by Marchesa. Shame that the scraped-back hair and fake tan make it look more Croyden high street than US high society.

5/10

MIA, Alexander Wang and Zoe Kravitz

Let\'s hear it for the Wangettes! Ultra-hip Gap designer collaborator Alexander Wang created two bespoke looks for the event - a glitzy embellished overlay atop a black sheath for MIA, and a slightly more casual vest-and-wide-leg-trousers combo for Zoe. More cool than gorgeous, but they suit.

5/10

Amber Valetta

Ever the supermodel, Amber looks simply stunning in this slashed-to-the-navel cornflower blue RM by Roland Mouret dress, perfectly accessorised with nude heels and a drop necklace.

9/10

Donatella Versace

The first lady of Italian fashion nails it in a simple, strapless pink and gold gown of her own design.

8/10

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Brit babe Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looked every inch the supermodel-in-waiting in this nude tulle ruffle gown by her host Christopher Bailey (for Burberry).

8/10

Alexa Chung

The Chungster keeps it characteristically edgy in a modern take on the tux, courtesy of American heavy-hitter Phillip Lim.

8/10

Thandie Newton

Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen

Rachel has got curves in all the right places for this Louis Vuitton A/W 2010 corseted prom dress. It\'s a winner!

8/10

Stella McCartney, Kate Hudson & Liv Tyler

Bessie mates Stella, Kate and Liv kept a firm grip on each other on the red carpet taking on the look of a girl band (with Kate as lead). We can see super-Stella\'s stylish eye at work on the dresses, it\'s just a shame she didn\'t feel comfortable enough to take her friend to one side and discreetly dissuade her from questionable footwear choice (ahem, Kate).

7/10 all round

Naomi Watts

A striking choice by Naomi Watts, wearing Stella McCartney, but we feel we\'ve seen this look before. There\'s nothing wrong with it as such, it\'s just not floating our boat.

6/10

Kerry Washington

The Last King Of Scotland star looked super-hot in her stunning custom made Thakoon for Gap gown. A perfect match to the red carpet too!

9/10

Jamie Bochert

Super-cool model Jamie Bochert was lucky enough to have a dress custom designed for her by Rodarte for Gap and what a beauty it was too. Love the vinage feel of the pretty embellishment and the gorgeous colour.

9/10

Marion Cotillard

Wow. Trust Marion to bring the high octane glamour out in abundance. She avoids looking like an ice skater by keeping hair and make-up simple and fuss-free.

Charlotte Gainsbourg and Nicolas Ghesquiere

When you\'re best buddies with, and muse to, Balenciaga\'s Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquiere, you\'re guaranteed free access to all the latest and forthcoming creations he has up his sleeve. Which is why we\'re a little shocked to see Charlotte Gainsbourg in a dress from Balenciaga autumn/winter 2009, but we think it\'s a cool move and this dress was definitely worth a second-coming.

8/10

Sasha Pivovarova, Sean Lennon and Kemp Muhl

We love these three! The renegades of the night wore Marni and clearly took no note of the dress code but they did it in style.

7.5/10 for all

Riley Keough

The model/actress/rock n\' roll offspring (Elvis Presley is her grandfather) wore a dress designed by Thakoon (pictured with her) for Gap. The cascade of ruffles are OTT and the hair looks completely wrong for a red carpet event.

5/10

Margherita Missoni

Bohemia is not something that we\'d uaually promote on the red carpet but for Margherita Missoni we\'ll make an exception. Loveing the headband and this dramatic backless gown.

7/10

Keren Craig, Eva Longoria Parker and Georgina Chapman

A palette of white, grey and cool metallics was popular on the night, especially with the Marchesa girls and Eva Longoria Parker. Extra kudos go to Georgina Chapman who is six months pregnant and wore feathers to disguise her bump - cute!

7/10

Alessandra Ambrosio

The model sizzled in a cut-out back metallic dress by Versace. It\'s flattering and daring at the same time, we like.

7/10