helen mirren gejegor: The Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala 2011.

Yesterday evening Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg addressed a crowd of over 800 guests with the following: “London might have the royal wedding, but we have this.”, “And this ticket is harder to get.”, “And never mind the Oscars, this is the international best-dressed convergence of the year.” Well that is exactly what the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala was. As the Vogue website stated, the gods really do still walk amongst us.

“The gala—a mix of beautiful reverie and high culture—was this year celebrating the opening of the new exhibition “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”—a look at the life and work of the visionary designer.”

“Savage Beauty, an exhibition devoted to the British designer, set his often incendiary oeuvre against a lyrical, emotionally charged backdrop, including a replica of a 30-foot oak tree in the Great Hall, reminiscent of those on McQueen's property in Sussex, England.”

Apparently the museum was redecorated into a beautiful and romantic English garden, covered in wildflowers, garden roses, towering trees and hedges that were popping up in the hall. The guests were summoned to the dinner that included artichoke, poached quail eggs, American caviar, Highland beef, and spring vegetables to the sound of bagpipes. Florence and the Machine held a special performance after dinner. The night ended at the new, not yet opened, hot spot, Crown at the Upper East Side.

Designers attending included: Tom Ford, Stefano Pilati, Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino Garavani, Riccardo Tisci, Olivier Theyskens, Alexander Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang, Peter Dundas, Giambattista Valli, Christopher Bailey, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein…

Initially I felt like I would select some looks and comment on them, but now that I have chosen 48 looks from the 131 pictures on style.com I think it’s best if I keep my opinion to myself (well obviously I’m going to discuss the outfits with my lady), I believe it would affect the sheer grandeur that oozes from this glorious designs. Everybody is entitled to his/her opinion, so I’ll let you all decide for yourselves what outfits you like.

I based my selection on the reactions it provoked in me. Some of these designs I find simply breathtaking and therefore they are my favorite looks. Some just struck my notice because I liked the silhouette, the fabrics, motives, details, the fashion-is-fun-feeling they generated. Some I included because I just couldn’t skip the person…Basically there’s always a reason.

Be sure to check out: http://www.style.com/peopleparties/parties/thumb/redcarpet-050211_Costume_Institute_Gala/ and http://www.vogue.com/parties/met-gala-2011/ for all the red carpet and party pictures.

François-Henri Pinault, in Alexander McQueen, with Salma Hayek, in Alexander McQueen, with an Alexander McQueen clutch.

Daphne Guinness, in Alexander McQueen, with Alexander McQueen shoes.

Alasdhair Willis with Stella McCartney, in her own design, with Cartier jewels.

Sarah Burton, in Alexander McQueen, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Anna Wintour, in Chanel Haute Couture, with Bee Shaffer, in Balenciaga.

Tom Brady with Gisele Bündchen, in Alexander McQueen, with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels.

Madonna, in Stella McCartney, with Cartier jewels.

Livia Giuggioli, in Stella McCartney, with a Roger Vivier clutch; with Colin Firth, in Tom Ford.

Naomi Campbell, in Alexander McQueen, with Fred Leighton jewels and an Alexander McQueen clutch.

Jay-Z; with Beyoncé, in Emilio Pucci.

Aimee Mullins, in Theyskens' Theory, with Pomellato jewels, with Olivier Theyskens.

Sarah Jessica Parker, in Alexander McQueen, with Fred Leighton jewels and a VBH clutch.

Blake Lively, in Chanel Haute Couture, with Karl Lagerfeld, in Tom Ford.

Gwyneth Paltrow, in Stella McCartney, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Natasha Poly, in Alexander Wang, with the designer.

Hamish Bowles, in Alexander McQueen

Vera Wang, in her own design, with Mario Grauso.

Jennifer Lopez, in Gucci, with H.Stern jewels.

Florence Welch, in Yves Saint Laurent, with designer Stefano Pilati.

Anna Dello Russo in Alexander McQueen.

Gilles Mendel, with Taylor Swift, in J. Mendel, with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and Christian Louboutin shoes.

André Leon Talley. (I believe in a Ralph Rucci Cape.)

Nancy Shevell with Sir Paul McCartney

Natalia Vodianova, in Valentino, with (my beloved) Valentino Garavani.

Jason Wu with Diane Kruger, in a dress by the designer, with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels and a Jimmy Choo clutch.

Ashley Greene, in custom Donna Karan, with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and a Leiber clutch.

Naomi Watts, in Stella McCartney.

Michelle Williams, in Miu Miu, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Dee Hilfiger and Tommy Hilfiger, both in his designs.

Penélope Cruz, in Oscar de la Renta, with Chopard jewels and a Roger Vivier clutch; with Oscar de la Renta.

Georgina Chapman, in Marchesa, with Harry Winston jewels; Keren Craig, in Marchesa, with Harry Winston jewels; Josh Duhamel, in Calvin Klein Collection; and Fergie, in Marchesa, with Harry Winston jewels.

Jennifer Hudson, in Vera Wang, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Cindy Sherman, Consuelo Castiglioni, Anouck Lepère, and Giovanna Battaglia, all in Marni.

Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning, both in Valentino.

Rolf Snoeren and Viktor Horsting, in Viktor & Rolf Monsieur.

Liu Wen, in Alexander McQueen; John Demsey; and Constance Jablonski, in Alexander McQueen.

Christina Ricci, in Zac Posen, with Fred Leighton jewels. (I must say that I do not like this dress, but she makes the mermaid silhouette work, and that is quite an achievement.)