The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute held it’s annual fashion gala, this year titled Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC last night (think of it as Celebrity Prom). Rihanna made her red carpet return, taking a stroll down the press-filled carpet for the first time since her assault back in February … she opted for a shiny black suit with floods. Madonna caused a sensation on the red carpet when she showed up with a coat hanger wrapped in an old turquoise stocking attached to her head. A who’s who of fab celebs braved the rain to attend last night’s gala and many of them looked amazing (Anne Hathaway, I’m talking to you). Here are a few pics from the red carpet arrivals and some info on the event itself:

Even with the rain, the stars shone bright Monday night at the Costume Institute’s gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Models and the hottest celebs turned out in droves to celebrate “The Model as Muse” exhibit. There was Gisele Bundchen and Chanel Iman, along with Victoria Beckham, Jessica Alba (in Michelle Obama favorite Jason Wu), Renee Zellweger (in Carolina Herrera), Eva Mendes (in Calvin Klein) and Eva Longoria, wearing Diane von Furstenberg. Chairing the event were Marc Jacobs, Kate Moss and Justin Timberlake, who rocked a pair of geek-chic specs (and girlfriend Jessica Biel). For a party celebrating models, the guest list was missing a few of the big ones. Legendary supermodels Stephanie Seymour and Naomi Campbell opted out of attending the gala – reportedly in solidarity with their date, designer Azzedine Alaia, who felt his clothes were underrepresented in the exhibit. And Christy Turlington is abroad filming. But though those notable ’90s frock stars’ absence left the party, well, a lot less super – even with Cindy Crawford in the house – fashion’s new guard arrived in full force. Heidi Klum, pregnant with her fourth child and wearing J. Mendel, promised to wear “high heels in the delivery room.” Tyra Banks wore Badgley Mischka, and Rachel Roy dressed India-born Lakshmi Menon. Kanye West helped deflect reports he’s broken up with model Amber Rose by making a show of support – literally, gripping her as she teetered and adjusting her dress. Model behavior, indeed.

It turns out that Maddy‘s funky headpiece was designed by Marc Jacobs and, apparently, is a look that was used on the runway at the Fall fashion shows this year. Unfortch, I think the contraption makes her look like a geriatric Playboy bunny. Not a good look for her. Methinks that she was heavily inspired to wear something “wacky” at last night’s Costume Institute Gala after she attended Lady GaGa‘s concert in NYC over the weekend. But, there were many other folks who looked utterly faboo at last night’s event. Vicky B. rocked her usual short skirt look (meh). But there were a lot of really great looks on the red carpet last night. After the jump, check out a few more pics from last night’s event and see who rocked and who LOLed …

Anne Hatahway looked amazing … I love the 60′s Brigitte Bardot look. Blake Lively also looked stunning. That girl is a fashionista, she rarely looks bad and very often outshines everyone else in her close vicinity. Jessica Biel tried to look glam, I just don’t think she can carry flouffy dresses well at all. Heidi Klum, who is lookin’ really pregs already (but mostly due to the dress) looked fab as usual. The event looked like it was a fun affair. Some folks got it right, some got it wrong and Madonna tried and failed to look cool … Celebrity Prom, indeed.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]