Last night celebs and fashionistas made their way to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, NY to attend the annual Metropolitan Museum Of Art’s Costume Institute Ball which was themed American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity. This gala event is the opportunity for these famous folks to turn it out on the red carpet and show off their fanciest, most stylist looks. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals last night and some deets from the event itself:

It could have gone any way last night, considering the theme of the Costume Institute exhibition: “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity.” There could have been neo-jazz babies, flappers, debutantes, feminists, disco queens, Hollywood sirens, Nouvelle Society matrons and Playboy bunnies. And that’s just a few archetypes off the top of a stack. But most of the women attending the gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among the 725 guests, dressed elegantly, more so than in recent years, and they did their best to heed Anna Wintour’s e-mail messages to be on time. At 6:30 p.m., Ms. Wintour, the editor in chief of Vogue, was waiting at the top of the red-carpeted grand staircase, a tiny figure in a gold Chanel dress and jacket. If the gala’s other leaders, Oprah Winfrey and Patrick Robinson, the executive vice president of design for Gap, had ascended the front steps, they still had a climb before they reached Ms. Wintour and the receiving line. Asked if she felt any pressure to wear clothes by American designers, Ms. Wintour smiled and said, “Well, if you see the exhibition, they’re all wearing French clothes.” Ms. Winfrey wore a design of Oscar de la Renta, who had invited Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Barbara Walters, among others, to sit at his table. In recent years, the themes of the Costume Institute exhibits have included “Anglomania,” superheroes and models. That at least provided some direction for how to dress for the party, where this year the top table price was $250,000 and Lady Gaga sang after the dinner. But this year’s exhibition, organized by the curator Andrew Bolton, looked at styles between 1890 and the 1940s, relying on exceptional pieces from the Brooklyn Museum’s collection like Worth gowns, gray walking suits and bicycling outfits. It’s a serene view of American style, set against murals, and it was almost shocking to see how tiny the figures were, with tiny waists and tiny feet. Naturally, everyone had her own idea of what defined American style. “I think it’s confidence,” said Vera Wang, in a long white dress, as she talked to members of the Newhouse family and then Wendy Murdoch, who wore a fitted green silk dress with a long black train. Its designer, Prabal Gurung, was new to her. She said that Ms. Wintour had recommended him. A few feet away, and trying to avoid the train of Mrs. Murdoch’s dress, were Nicole Richie, in a silvery Marc Jacobs dress, and Margherita Missoni, in a long black dress that sort of left her bare on the sides. “It’s my idea of grunge,” Ms. Missoni said. “I want to bring back the ’90s.” Ms. Ritchie said she wanted to dress up more these days. “I actually wear long dresses a lot,” she said. Across the Petrie Sculpture Court, where cocktails were held, Lauren Santo Domingo was channeling the ’90s as well. “Tom Ford,” she said, mentioning a designer whose name seemed to be on a number of people’s lips. Ms. Santo Domingo’s long beige beaded dress was actually a Proenza Schouler. She was standing with Chloë Sevigny, who had on a bright turquoise Proenza dress with a short belled skirt. “I couldn’t pull off your dress,” Ms. Sevigny said to Ms. Santo Domingo, “and you couldn’t pull off mine.” They seemed agreed about that. Christopher Bailey, the Burberry designer, had his idea about American style: “It’s easy, functional, comfortable with an earthy sexiness. I still think of Lauren Hutton as the epitome of that style.” Franca Sozzani, the editor of Italian Vogue, had on a beige silk satin Valentino dress (“From way, way back,” she said, waving her hand), and she stood surveying the jam-packed, train-tripping room with Donatella Versace. “To me, American fashion is Charlie James,” Ms. Sozzani said. Ah, Charlie. Someone was summoning him, too. Dr. Lisa Airan, the Manhattan dermatologist, had wanted to wear a real James dress to the party, but her friend, the designer Gilles Mendel, had told her that wasn’t such a great idea. So she went to the Met library, did some research, and asked Mr. Mendel to make her dress in the James spirit.

Honestly, I’m not really impressed with anything that I saw on the red carpet last night. Sure, there were a lot of pretty dresses but nothing really stood out. In previous years, there were quite a few interesting and over-the-top looks that were real attention getters (remember Madonna‘s Louis Vuitton bunny ears last year?) but this year … nada. After the jump, check out a few more photos from the red carpet arrivals last night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala to see if anything jumps out and grabs your eye …

After erroneous reports surfaced in January about the END of Justica, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel continue to operate like a happily attached couple. Today, we get to see a few photos of the pair in Verbier, Switzerland a couple of weeks ago lookin’ like they were having a grand ol’ time together on the sledding slopes:

UGH … despite how much I hate the snow, I have to admit that this looks like a lot of fun. The fun didn’t really carry over into the evening’s activity, tho, as Justica were spotted stiffly making their way into a restaurant in Verbier later that night. Check out that photo after the jump …

Jessica Biel, who reportedly broke up with long-time boyfriend Justin Timberlake and will be appearing in the upcoming big screen adaptation of The A-Team, is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Vogue magazine. In her coverstory interview, Biel talks to Vogue about the controversial way she left the show 7th Heaven, talks about her life as an actress and much more. Here is Jessica‘s Vogue coverphoto and some excerpts from her coverstory interview:

On posing nearly naked for Gear magazine at seventeen, which freed Biel from her contract after the fourth season of 7th Heaven:
“I really wanted to go to college, and it all kind of happened at the same time. I did this photo shoot; the photo shoot came out; it was terribly embarrassing. I had to apologize to everybody, including my parents. It was a big learning experience: learning how to have boundaries and how to say no.”

On her va-va-voom image and being at odds with it:
“When I see myself in pictures with makeup on, even to this day, I think it looks weird. My eyes get squintier and smaller. On the red carpet, I’m playing a character. As soon as I get off that thing I think, Oof, wipe that gloss off. I’m wiping and wiping and pulling my hair out and trying to change my outfit. I’m immediately trying to get comfortable. It’s really a part I play.”

On wanting to diversify herself as an actress:
“The last year in this business has been harsh. There’s no material. Nobody wants to make dramas. And that’s what we all want to do.” What is getting produced, she says, are “commercial movies—horror movies, big romantic comedies, and action movies. Those can be great, but you don’t want to do only those kinds of films. You can’t live on éclairs alone. You have to have a spinach salad every now and again.”

Jennifer Garner, friend and costar of Valentine’s Day, says of Biel’s act ing skills: “She’s incredibly girly and warm and open—all of the things she seems to buck against when she’s looking at roles. The first scene that I did with her, she was drunk in the scene. It’s hard to play drunk, not to overdo it. But she did it in such a subtle, real, kind of pathetic but very, very deeply funny way. I was, take one, totally impressed.”

To be honest, I never really think of Jessica Biel‘s acting prowess. She’s the kind of actress who shows up in stuff and then, I hate to say it, you totally forget she was there. I’m hoping she’ll be able to make more of an impact in The A-Team, considering she’s the main chick in the flick, but I’m not holding my breath. After the jump, check out a few photos from Jessica‘s Vogue photospread — the pics are, interesting, to say the least …

Back in September US Weekly claimed that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were dunzo only to be refuted by photos of the pair lookin’ happily together in Vancouver, BC (where Jessica was working on the big screen adaptation of The A-Team). Today, Hollyscoop.com is making a new claim that the couple have split … tho they offer no real evidence of any official dunzoness. Could it be? Can Justica really be dunzo this time?

Good news for all the ladies—It looks like Justin Timberlake is officially back on the market! While Jessica Biel is in Africa climbing the 19340 –foot Mt. Kilimanjaro to draw attention to the global water crisis, Justin has been keeping a low profile since their split. Justin had previously confirmed he was going to Africa with Biel telling GQ magazine, “I’ve been training four times a week to get my VO2 levels up to expand my lungs. We’ll climb for a week straight, carrying 30 pounds on our backs. It’s going to be intense, but it’s going to be so rewarding.” But while Jessica has kept her promise, making it to the top of the summit earlier today with pals Emile Hirsch and Isabel Lucas, Justin has been nowhere to be seen. One thing’s for sure—he’s not in Africa with Jessica. So where in the world is Justin? We haven’t publicly seen him since he announced the Annual Golden Globe Awards nominations on December 15th. Reports surfaced earlier in the week, claiming he was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Sources say he showed up to the Brother Ali show and even walked on the stage and took the microphone to beat box. Jess and JT haven’t been seen together since late October, so it’s safe to assume their high profile relationship fizzled out a while ago. But according to JT’s family, he was never that serious about her anyway.

HMMM. Either these two really are dunzo or they will surface to be photographed together to refute the claims very soon. You know, it was about a year ago that Justica were rumored to be moving in together. What a difference a year makes, huh? Well … until we hear from these two themselves that they are dunzo, I don’t think we can officially Peace the Spork them Out. It would make sense that they have fizzled, tho, they really don’t spend any time together anymore. Meh. I guess we shall see. What do y’all think … are they dunzo?

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Last month US Weekly reported that the romance betwixt Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake was “over” after a few weeks of separation from one another. Since that report came out, Justica weren’t really spotted in one another’s company so may folks (me included) tended to believe the break-up report. Today, we get get to see new photos of Jessica and Justin TOGETHER in Vancouver, British Columbia where she is working on her new film version of the 80′s tv series The A-Team:

Arm-in-arm, that’s a good sign. Who knows what the state of their relationship is at this point … mebbe the couple were going thru some hard times, mebbe they were apart merely circumstantially, mebbe they are trying to get back together … who knows? It does seem now that the couple are on friendly terms (at least) and they seem happy again. Here’s hoping all’s well that ends well for Justica. What the world needs now is love, sweet love.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]

Earlier this week we got our first look at the newly reconstructed version of The A-Team featuring Bradley Cooper (Lt. Templeton Faceman Peck), Liam Neeson (Col. John Hannibal Smith), Sharlto Copley (Capt. Howling Mad Murdock) and Quinton Rampage Jackson (Sgt. Bosco B.A. Baracus) on set in Vancouver, BC filming their new remake also titled The A-Team. Thus far we have yet to see Jessica Biel, cast as the female lead, on set or in costume … until now. Here is our first look at Jessica in The A-Team:

Earlier this week we saw the first pictures of the male cast members in character for their roles in the new A-Team film, and now it’s the turn of female lead Jessica Biel. The 27-year-old actress was pictured filming in an airport for the remake, which is being shot in Canada. Jessica plays an army general, and an ex-lover of Faceman (actor Bradley Cooper), who is pursuing the vigilante group. In the scene the actress cuts a an authoritative figure in a blue leather trenchcoat with a thigh-length grey skirt and a killer pair of heels – the kind of outfit that you might associate with a femme fatale in a spy film. Jessica was the last member of the cast to be confirmed for the new film and her role is an update of the part played by Melinda Culea in the original TV series.

At last … we get to see what everyone will look like in the film. I’m not sure what I was expecting of Jessica‘s character but she looks pretty nondescript to me. I seem to recall that the female lead in the 80′s TV series The A-Team wore frilly, multicolored outfits that suited the times … I dunno that Jessica will be able to do the same in this movie version. Again, not that I watched the TV much when it aired in the 80′s but I think there was a certain cheese factor that made the show so fun … if this remake has too much of a serious tone I don’t know that it will score with fans of the original. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Are any of y’all impressed with how Jessica looks in this film?

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Say it ain’t so!!! According to the headline on the cover of the new issue of Us Weekly magazine, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have ended their 3 year relationship … about a month ago … over the phone!! HMMM … I’m not sure that I entirely buy the dramatics of this report but I suppose I can believe that the couple have decided to call it quits. Here is a photo of the couple in happier times earlier this year at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala but according to this new report, Justica are now dunzo!

After a rocky three-year relationship, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have called it quits, Us Weekly reports in its latest issue (on newsstands now). A mutual pal of the pair tells Us Weekly that Timberlake, 28, has told friends, “it’s over,” and that he ended it for good — over the phone. “It was about a month ago,” the pal says. While he was in NYC in September to show his William Rast clothing line at Fashion Week, “Justin was clearly on the hunt,” the pal tells Us Weekly. At a club September 9, he dirty-danced with a tall blonde in a short black dress. At one point, she turned to her friend and mouthed, ‘Oh, my God!’ It was reminiscent of Timberlake’s guys’ night out in June when he was allegedly spotted kissing a girl at NYC hot spot Avenue. Fellow clubgoer Lindsay Lohan Twittered that night, “So dark — where’s jb cheater?” She later claimed her account had been “hacked,” though another source tells Us she panicked after Timberlake “told all his people” to ban Lindsay and make her life miserable.” Meanwhile, Biel, 27, is in “severe denial and won’t accept” the split, their mutual pal tells Us Weekly. Another source says, “There’s no way of knowing if it’s a firm breakup, because with them it’s so hot and cold.”

Yeah … I’d take this news with a huge grain of salt. I love that Us Weekly threw in a qualifier at the end that “there’s no way of knowing if it’s a firm breakup” which is their way of covering their asses should the couple A.) be seen together in the future or B.) issue a statement that they never broke up in the first place. But, again, 3 years is a long time and I can absolutely believe that this relationship has run its course. I believe it took about 3 years for JT to tire of Cameron Diaz before he took up with Jessica. I suppose we’ll have to wait and see what Justica have to say (either as a couple or individually) on the matter but we should know very soon if this breakup report has any weight to it. What do y’all think … are they dunzo or not?

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Jessica Biel is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Allure magazine but while her coverstory interview has yet to make its way to the Internets, we can get our first look at her coverphoto and a few behind the scenes photos from her shoot:

For her cover shoot with Michael Thompson in Long Beach, California, actress Jessica Biel wasn’t even slightly fazed by posing on a four-story platform in an electrical plant. What actually fazes her? Being typecast by directors and followed by paparazzi. See the exclusive outtakes from the shoot here, and for more photos and the profile “Body of Work,” pick up the June issue of Allure, on newsstands May 26. Biel showed up dressed head-to-toe in William Rast—boyfriend Justin Timberlake’s clothing line—including a pair of fringed angle boots. “These are the exact ones they had at the show in New York,” she said. “They sent me a pair the models wore, because they hadn’t been produced yet, but I loved them so much.” Here, the actress wears a jumpsuit by Derek Lam with earrings, belt, and a bracelet by Louis Vuitton; brass and Lucite bangles by Alexis Bittar; and a glass bangle by Hilary London. When Biel studied the racks of clothes at the shoot, she zeroed in on a jacket by Louis Vuitton. “I’m wearing a new Eres bra that would look great under this,” she told Allure creative director Paul Cavaco … “I wanted to create a rich, sun-kissed face for Jessica,” said makeup artist Stéphane Marais. To that end, he rubbed bronzer on her temples, nose, and chin and peach blush on her cheeks; rimmed her eyes with brown liner; and added shimmery taupe and gold shadows. The final touch: sheer coral lipstick. Hairstylist Serge Normant’s aim was a “natural, wavy look that’s very soft and sexy.” He used volumizer and smoothing serum on Biel’s wet hair, parted it down the middle, and blew it dry. He curled random sections and then “let the wind do the rest.” Since meeting Timberlake two years ago, Biel’s private life has become very public. “It’s wonderful to do what I do, but everything that goes with it? It’s bizarre,” says the actress. “The invasion of privacy is very tough. I am followed all day, every day. Going to the dentist, the cleaners. I guess I could look like shit going to the dentist, but only if I didn’t care what I saw in the papers.” In an effort to keep Hollywood focused on her acting ability, Biel made sure that some of her early film contracts had a no-nudity clause—which meant that she got to choose a body double for love scenes. “I tried to get breasts that I thought were similar to mine,” she says. “But a little smaller and perkier in the butt? OK, I did want that.” According to Biel, getting the chance to prove herself has been her biggest challenge. Her résumé is that of an action star, but she yearns to play more romantic roles, and covets the ones that end up going to Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman. “I just want an opportunity,” she says. “If you don’t like the audition, then don’t hire me! But if you don’t want to even see me—that’s hurtful…. I’m a very 360-degree person.”

Well, since Jessica’s most recent film Power Blue deffo features nudity, I guess she’s moved on from that “early no-nudity” clause in her contract. Meh. It was bound to happen eventually … at least she looked good all nekkid and stuff. But, Jessica‘s Allure photoshoot features clothing — after the jump, check out a few behind-the-scenes pics from the shoot …

Amber Rose, the shaved headed model who has been seen in the exclusive company of Kanye West in recent weeks, posted a few photos on her official Twitter profile from inside The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala last week where she was lucky enough to party with Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel. Here are a couple of her fun Twitpics of the gang having fun:

It’s a pose often favoured by inebriated students – a hand grasping a fellow reveller’s behind. But at 50-years of age Madonna should know better. The mother-of-three was pictured striking the unusual pose with fellow guests Amber Rose, the model girlfriend of Kanye West. That were at the star-studded Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Ball earlier this month. Of course, Madonna may have thought the photo would never be viewed by the general public. But Amber Rose was so pleased with it that she posted it on her Twitter page – sharing it with the world. Yesterday Amber’s boyfriend Kanye, also in the Madonna picture, made it clear that he doesn’t share his girlfriend’s passion for the social networking page. In a rant on his blog the rapper chastised those pretending to be him. ‘WHY WOULD I USE TWITTER???’ he wrote ‘I’M TOO BUSY ACTUALLY BUSY BEING CREATIVE MOST OF THE TIME AND IF I’M NOT AND I’M JUST LAYING ON A BEACH I WOULDN’T TELL THE WORLD. EVERYTHING THAT TWITTER OFFERS I NEED LESS OF.’ Perhaps he should share his views with his girlfriend.

Hahaha … meh, who cares if Kanye doesn’t use Twitter, at least his ladyfriend does and she can be the one to share the deets when he chooses not to. I’m surprised that this accompanying report didn’t quote Kanye‘s best line from his recent Twitter rant:

HEY TWITTER, TAKE THE SO CALLED KANYE WEST TWITTER DOWN NOW …. WHY? … BECAUSE MY CAPS LOCK KEY IS LOUD!!!!!!!!!

I love it. I may have to start following Amber Rose just in case she shares any more pics like this. It would be funny as hell if she posted a photo of Kanye West lying on the beach … clothed of course.

[Source, Source via Source]

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 …