The best and worst dressed at the Met Gala
Joely Richardson attends the 2013 Costume Institute Gala. (AFP)
Kylie Minogue, wearing Moschino, and Rossella Jordini attend the Costume Institute Gala. (AFP)
Nina Dobrev (L) and Monique Lhuiller attend the Costume Institute Gala. (AFP)
Creative directors of Valentino Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli with Gwyneth Paltrow (C) attend the Costume Institute Gala. (AFP)
Jessica Alba attends the Costume Institute Gala. (AFP)
Miley Cyrus, Anne Hathaway and Cameron Diaz were among the celebrities to embrace the punk theme at Monday night's Met gala, the fundraiser at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that's affectionately known as "the party of the year."
But Beyonce, the event's honorary chairwoman, seemed the girl on fire on a red carpet that might rival the Oscars in celebrity wattage.
Wearing a flame-motif gown with long gloves and a long train by Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci, Beyonce was one of the last arrivals, following in the studded heel footsteps of Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Lopez.
Many stars embraced the big Costume Institute exhibit they were there to celebrate: "Punk: From Chaos to Couture." Beyonce's co-chairs for the event included Tisci, who escorted Rooney Mara.
Mara said she never went through a punk fashion phase but "I was definitely a punk."
In a more classic style — but likely tabloid fodder anyway — were Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn, walking the red carpet as a couple.
Sarah Jessica Parker donned an oversized feather mohawk by Philip Treacy that complemented her graffiti-splashed and slashed gown by Giles Deacon. She paid careful attention to the theme, she said, "I just want to be asked back next year! That's all that matters!"
Cameron Diaz and Anne Hathaway both said they were influenced by the punk scene — especially the music — when they were growing up.
Diaz came with Kristen Stewart and Stella McCartney, who designed both of their outfits. Diaz's cobalt-colored cape dress had a severe studded belt. "I feel so chic," Diaz said.
Hathaway showed off a short blond hairdo, not dissimilar to Miley Cyrus', and a vintage burned-out Valentino gown. Hathaway said her inspiration for the outfit was Blondie's Debbie Harry, who was just a few steps ahead on the red carpet in a glitzy studded blazer by Tommy Hilfiger.
Katie Holmes, in a molded gown with a metal halter neckline by Calvin Klein's Francisco Costa, also gave a nod to Harry as her punk icon.
Madonna said she was a fan of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen "and that whole era." Still, she added, she didn't want her plaid jacket, netted top and stockings to be too literal. "I wanted to do my own thing, but my own twist on it."
The Met gala traditionally mixes Hollywood stars, fashion designers and top models. It's largely orchestrated by Anna Wintour, Vogue's editor-in-chief. She wore a hot-pink floral Chanel gown, which she said is a color that symbolizes the punk movement.
The edgy theme could have thrown some people off their fashion game. "I think (punk) is so eclectic and so original and maybe it sort of represents what's very fearless about fashion."