The Met Ball: Winning Looks

Ashley Olsen in The Row

Designers, models and celebs were out in full force on Monday night for this year's Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City (or to the city's society folk, the Met).

Whereas 2008's "Superheroes" exhibit paid tribute to Catwoman and the gang, this year's spring dance for the ultra chic and fashionable was themed "The Model as Muse".

Dolling up for New York's fashion event of the year is never easy. After all, the Costume Institute at the MET houses one of the world's largest and most respected collections for haute couture. The look has to be as formal as an Oscar gown, as fresh as something a "Best New Artist" would wear to the MTV Music Awards, as fashion forward as a Flaunt magazine cover, and as decadent as an outfit Liberace would don to a Christmas ball hosted by Catherine the Great.

Without further ado, let's take a look at this year's honor students who "met" the challenge beautifully.

Go Big or Go Home!

Heidi Klum in J. Mendel (preggers!)


Elizabeth Hurley in Elie Saab Couture


Claudia Schiffer in Atelier Versace


Ivanka Trump in Brian Reyes


Kate Beckinsale in Marchesa


Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior (va-va-voom!), with John Galliano


The Ingénue


Jessica Alba in Jason Wu


Rachel Bilson in Bally


Claire Danes in Armani Prive


Renee Zellweger in Carolina Herrera (but of course)


Diane Kruger in Chanel Haute Couture


Once a Muse, Always a Muse

Caroline Trentiniin in John Galliano


Agyness Deyn and Twiggy in Burberry Prorsum


Carmen Kass in Michael Kors


Iman in Donna Karan


[ via: US Weekly and Style.com ]