Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz and Sofia Vergara compete to outshine the stars in gold and silver at lavish Met Gala, Everyone on the Met Gala 2012

Welcome to the Met-allic Costume Institute Gala, 2012... because this year the legendary New York fashion meets art event is all about who can sparkle hardest, as the celebrities slip into futuristic fabrics.It can be a terribly tricky look to pull off, though it is one of the season's most popular trends.

Gold goddesses : Carey Mulligan in Prada, Jessica Alba in Michael Kors and Cameron Diaz in Stella McCartney at the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City tonight

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 Miuccia 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

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

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 colour blended into the actress's skin too softly and she always shines more brightly in rich colours.

Black magic: Gothic was the second major force tonight, Cate Blanchett owned the look in McQueen while Rooney Mara and Gisele Bundchen were sleek in Givenchy

Wet look: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in British Burberry, Rosario Dawson in Calvin Klein and Rihanna in Tom Ford crocodile applique all wore their black shiny

Vintage black tie: Liv Tyler and Heidi Klum also opted for gothic takes on turn of the century gowns in Givenchy and Escada respectively

Noir nous: Linda Evangelista and Marion Cotillard were midnight maidens, Marion's Dior dress had accents of purple

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.

Tangerine dream: Emma Roberts in Escada, Katharine McPhee in Elie Saab and Eva Mendes in Prada were all fruity visions on the carpet

Ladies in red: Chelsea Clinton, Emma Stone rocking Lanvin and Milla Jovovich in Prada donned the colour of romance

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.

Pastel power: January Jones was lovely in yellow, Candice Swanepoel looked fresh in bright blue but Brooklyn Decker's blue was a bit soppy

 

Letting their ladies do the talking: Emily Blunt in Calvin Klein, Kate Bosworth in Prada and Julianne Hough in Carolina Herrera were all allowed to shine in accents of pink

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 colour.

 

What were they thinking? British star Alexa Chung, Descendents actress Shailene Woodley, Chloe Sevigny and M.IA all had off nights

What were they thinking? British star Alexa Chung, Descendents actress Shailene Woodley, Chloe Sevigny and M.IA all had off nights

Quirky: Christina Ricci and Lily Collins were one-offs in their Thakoon and Valentino gowns, but they paled next to the refined glamour of other gala goers

A Rolling Stone gathers no moss: But they do attract attractive women, see Mick Jagger with L'Wren Scott and Ronnie Wood with Sally Humphreys

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

Dashing couples: Daniel Radcliffe and former co-star Rose Hemingway went for traditional dance attire, as did fellow Brit Hugh Dancy and Homeland star girlfriend Claire Danes in J.Mendel

Coming up Trumps: Jessica Biel in Prada looked elegant next to her dashing man Justin Timberlake, and Donald and Melanie Trump tanned up extra-specially

Smart and sharp: Kanye West, Chace Crawford and Gerard Butler all looked dashing in black tie

Black tie affair: New York Jest player Tim Tebow left his sportswear at home, while Ivanka Trump looked incredibly elegant in blue velvet

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.

Daring: Jessica Chastain, Sarah Jessica Parker and Debra Messing all looked opulent

Teen queens: Ashley Greene in Donna Karan and Leighton Meester in Marchesa went for white and gold, with varying degrees of success

God Bless America: Hilary Swank in Michael Kors, Amy Adams in Giambattista Valli and Lea Michele made for a patriotic look together

Well trained: An assistant tends to Beyonce's dress as she prepares to walk the steps