Met Ball 2012: Jessica Alba and Sofia Vergara compete to outshine the rest at lavish Met Gala

By Amelia Proud

PUBLISHED: 19:51 EST, 7 May 2012 | UPDATED: 21:19 EST, 7 May 2012

Welcome to the Met-allic Costume Institute Gala, 2012... because this year the legendary New York 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

Sparkling: Jessica Alba 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

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 Muccia in a stunning short and backless lilac-silver dress that was probably the most elegant outfit on the red carpet tonight.

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.

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.

Silver siren: Sofia Vergara in Marchesa, Lana Del Rey in Joseph Altuzarraand Gwyneth Paltrow in an incredibly sexy and fresh Prada dress

Taking the plunge: Camilla Belle wore a daring low-cut number

Taking the plunge: Camilla Belle wore a daring low-cut number

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 - seemed to be the flavour of the night

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 Viviers Pilgrim Coeur clutch.

It transforms the timeless beauty into a pewter dipped antique goddess, while Mad Men's Jessica Par, 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 and Leighton Meester

wirling around in tulle: Scarlett Johansson in Dolce and Gabbana and Leighton Meester in Marchesa both opted for gold confections

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

Frock star: Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev wore a black and gold confection by legendary New York designer Donna Karen

Sparkling: Jessica Alba at the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City tonight

Spun gold: Kate Upton looked lovely with clothes on after her Cat Daddy bikini video drama last week

Spun gold: Jessica Par 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.

Leight! on Meest er 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 delicate 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

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.

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.

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

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.


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