Home and Garden Review: metropolitan museum of art

Ahh, the oh so glamorous "Met Ball"... a little background and some of my "best dressed - and or unique" pics. The rest needed some stylist advice, or rather- a new stylist.

THE MET BALL

Sofia Vergara in Marchesa, (getty photo)

Metropolitan Museum of Art, Costume Institute New York, New York

The Costume Institute Gala (or Costume Institute Ball), known as the Met Ball and nicknamed the "Oscars of the East Coast", is an annual ball that celebrates the annual opening of the Metropolitan Museum's (The Met) fashion exhibit at the Costume Institute. The red carpet evening where celebrities arrive dressed to impress is described as the fashion industry's "Night of Nights". Fashion industry experts and style magazines consider the event, which is hosted by Vogue, to be the fashion world's best red carpet event. It is regarded as the top annual social event in New York City. The event has been an annual affair at the Met since 1948 (the year in which the Costume Institute was founded), but it has been held in different parts of the museum over the years.

Jamie King in Topshop (getty photo)

In 2005, individual tickets ranged in price from In 2006, the event raised a total of $4.5million. In 2010, the price of the top table was $250,000. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour oversees both the benefit committee and the guest list, although Vogue staffers help assemble the list of celebrity invitees. For over 10 years, ending in the late 2000s, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff was the special-events planner at Vogue in charge of seating. Robert Isabell designed the event for over a decade prior to his death in 2009. Vogue and Chanel have shared the cost of the event.

Leighton Meester in Marchesa, (getty photo)

Each year the event has a theme, and the evening includes a cocktail hour and a formal dinner.

Lana del Rey in Altuzarra, (getty photo)

THIS YEAR'S MET BALL 2012

by Lucy Hutchings:

Vogue UK

AS one of fashion's biggest nights of the year, the annual Costume Institute Gala at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art never disappoints with its unprecedented celebrity guest list - only rivaled by the Oscars - and endless glamour.

Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren, (getty photo)

The 2012 ball was no exception, with the work of Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli taking the spotlight for an exhibition focusing on the careers of the two fashion greats. Mrs Prada graced the red carpet in her own designs and also dressed a host of attendees, including Linda Evangelista, Kate Bosworth, Diane Kruger and Gwyneth.