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The Model as Muse

The Party

The launch of The Model as Muse exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art includes an enormous gala that rivals the red carpet at the Oscars.

Justin Timberlake and girlfriend Jessica Biel were among the first to arrive at the MET for the this year’s gala. Timberlake wore a William Rast suit and geek-chic glasses, while Biel was on his arm in red Versace. Marc Jacobs, the man and host behind the exhibit, waltzed in with Kate Moss, who wore a backless metallic toga dress and a turban.

The showstopper? Had to be Madonna and her interesting Louis Vuitton ensemble. The L.A. Times said that Madonna looked “ready for Neverland … like the love child of Tinkerbell and Captain Hook.”

Christian Dior brought along Academy Award winning actress Marion Cotillard who wore his design for Christian Dior. Kanye West worked a Louis Vuitton suit, while his lady Amber Rose looked stunning in Carolina Herrera. Mary-Kate Olsen with longer messier blonde hair wore Christian Lacroix Couture. Her sister Ashley looked beautiful in backless white dress, her own design from The Row.

Jessica Alba wore a shorter number by Michelle Obama’s favourite, Jason Wu. Tyra Banks smiled with her eyes while posing for photos in her Badgley Mischka gown.

Brooke Shields wore Calvin Klein, obviously!

Leighton Meester looked adorable with her new blonder hair in a standout Louis Vuitton outfit. Kate Beckinsale wowed the photographers in her Marchesa gown. Liv Tyler channeled old Hollywood glam in a Stella McCartney dress. Blake Lively wore Versace, she was one of the last to arrive, her date Penn Badgley told reporters that they were having a wardrobe malfunction. Agyness Deyn and Twiggy arrived arm-in-arm, both wearing Burberry. And last, but certainly not least, Rihanna made her comeback to the red carpet with an androgynous look by Dolce & Gabbana.

See all these fabulous red carpet arrivals in the gallery below.

The Exhibit

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit The Models As Muse: Embodying Fashion, takes a look at how models played a role in inspiring fashion through several eras.

The exhibition is organized by the Costume Institute’s director Harold Koda and guest curator Kohle Yohannan. It features about 80 looks arranged according to decade.

Beginning with a peek into the post-WWII resurgence of American fashion and advertising, you can find photographs of Lisa Fonssagrives, Suzy Parker, Dovima, Sunny Harnett, and Dorian Leigh in what was called the Golden Age of Haute Couture.

The ’60s “Youthquake” display pays homage to models such as Peggy Moffitt and Twiggy with ensembles from Paco Robanne, Andre Courreges and Rudi Gernreich.

The ‘70s were about the All-American athletic-looking model, when women like Jerry Hall and Lisa Taylor were the muse. The exhibit features boho looks form Yves Saint Laurent and Halston dresses.

Moving on to the ‘80s in an era of the supermodel, where the “trinity”, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, appeared in all the designer campaigns.

The ‘90s marked a shift from beautiful supermodels to rebel girls such as Kate Moss, along with the minimalism of Donna Karan and Prada.

If you are in the New York area or traveling to the city, it’s worth checking out. The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion exhibit runs from May 6 – Aug 9.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, at 82nd St. (212-535-7710)