NEW YORK, May 5, 2003/ FW/ --- The story is as old as history. It has echoed through the centuries, ricocheting through time and space from the beginning of the ages. And with Greco-Roman mythology recently becoming fashion news at the opening of "Goddess", an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the tale could not be more relevant.

The story begins on the slopes of Mt. Olympus at the exclusive wedding banquet of Thetis. An uninvited guest, Eris, shows up, determined to avenge the social slight by throwing a shiny golden apple of discord right into a room full of goddesses. Inscribed "to the fairest", the apple immediately sets off a dispute between three principal contenders for the title: Venus, Athena and Juno. The king of the gods, Jupiter is summoned to settle the altercation, but being a very judicious man, he instead sends Mercury, Instant Messenger of the gods, to solicit Paris to judge the contest. Paris, in turn, falls right into the trap.

The three goddesses immediately try to bribe him, each determined to seize the golden apple. Juno promises to make Paris Lord of Europe and Asia. Athena offers to make him leader of all the Trojans. But Venus, who is the shrewdest of the three, offers him Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. Poor lovelorn Paris chooses Venus, and the ensuing revenge of Juno and Athena is history.

The gods and goddesses were plenty last week for the gala opening of the New York exhibit, a $3500-a-head benefit that was co-chaired by Tom Ford, Anna Wintour and Nicole Kidman. Mr. Ford, who had Gucci pick up the tab for the evening, also took the occasion to dress Ms. Kidman in one of his creations under the Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche ready-to-wear label.

It is safe to say that the world of fashion is full of rivalries, whether it be between luxury conglomerates such as LVMH and Gucci Group, or between fashion editors like Anna Wintour, Suzy Menkes and Cathy Horyn, or even between individual designers, which for the sake of example, one could list as Tom Ford, Valentino and Alexander McQueen.

Designers are forever in pursuit of modern day goddesses to wear their creations, largely because one appearance on the red carpet is worth more than a year's advertising in Vogue. So it is not surprising, that both the gala benefit, and the accompanying exhibit turned into a frenzied contest of who was wearing, or has worn, what.

Tom Ford seems a strong contender for the golden apple. He dressed the queen of them all, Nicole Kidman. The full-length champagne green, one strap, one sleeve gown, shimmered in the paparazzi flashes, while her oversized earrings dropped like thunderbolts. Tom is Lord of Europe and Asia with both Gucci and Saint Laurent opening boutiques faster than greased lightening. The King of Cool was even anointed a "fashion god" by Suzy Menkes, who herself got wrapped up in hyperbole for dinner. Juno, the queen of all gods, may well have spoken.

Valentino is also in strong competition. One of the highlights of the exhibit is the couture gown with cape worn by Jennifer Lopez at the Academy Awards. It was a remake of the model originally designed for Jacqueline Kennedy in 1967 for her trip to Cambodia. A frothy sea green, the color of the shallow water of the Mediterranean, it is replete with an embroidery in the shape of seashells, a reference to Venus. JLo loves Valentino couture, as well as Ben Afleck. The couple just bought two seaside homes on a barrier island south of Savannah, Georgia, a rustic environment probably not well suited to couture. In any event, her Valentino gown has gone to New York, and is on display for lovers of fashion.

Then there's Alexander McQueen, who while not a leader of the Trojans, is certainly a leader of the fashion pack. Having worked his way up from the East End of London, through the House of Givenchy, to his eponymous Ready-To-Wear label, he is one of the brightest stars on the scene today. In the "Goddess" exhibit, his "shipwreck dress" from the Spring / Summer 2003 collection is sure to be a thriller. Buff silk crêpe is shredded and tossed, falling to an asymmetrical hemline, and the resulting breakdown has been interpreted as a symbol of psychological and sexual tension. The illusion conjures up a world of mythological proportions ‹ the world of Homer's Odyssey, where Athena surfaces frequently as the object of lust and betrayal, appearing as both man and woman.

Power, lust, glamour, greed, love: the classic ingredients of mythology have come back to haunt the catwalk at the heart of the fashion world. The shiny golden apple has been tossed once anew. But this time the contenders are numerous and the judges few; and with a new Paris season fast approaching, the fairest of the Fair will have to claim the flaxen fruit from visitors to the Big Apple.

Jennifer Lopez wearing Valentino during the 75th Academy Awards