DALLAS, May 2, 2006/ FW/ --- The focus might be British, but Donatella Versace made sure that Italy is well represented at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit for the gala opening of the ‘Anglomania’ exhibit.

And like most fund raising events, proceeds always go to a beneficiary, this time it’s The Met. With the dinner cost of $5,000 per person, and Donatella Versace hosting a table, it’s easy to assume that the museum will benefit from the House of Versace’s generous contribution.

And that’s just the beginning of Versace’s shining stars, which by the way can be taken literally as Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony both walked in wearing Versace. Jennifer Lopez donned a Versace pale pink silk chiffon asymmetric one-shoulder gown while her husband Marc Anthony wore a deep blue velvet two-button tuxedo with a black satin lapel.

Grammy Award winning songstress Ciara was seen in Versace beige silk chiffon beaded gown with a floral motif and Elizabeth Hurley chose a light peach silk chiffon gown adorned with Swarovski crystals, nappa leather insets and mesh bustier top.

With Maggie Q in a black evening gown embellished with black crystals, silk fringe and a degrade fishtail train, the look was a perfect complement to Lenny Kravitz’s black two-button slim fit jacket with pocket detail and Rupert Everett deep blue two button tuxedo with black lapel.

Slated to run at the Annie Laurie Aitken Galleries of the Metropolitan Museum from May 3 – Sep 4, 2006. ‘Anglo Mania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion focuses on British fashion from 1976 to 2006.

Made possible under the auspices of Burberry with additional support from Condé Nast, Anglo Mania looks into the past 30 years when British fashion has been ‘defined by a knowing and self-conscious historicism.’

A period of astounding creativity and experimentation, the period has been characterized with ‘postmodern and historicizing tendencies,’ a time wherein ‘in their search for novelty, designers have looked to past styles with an appetite that is as audacious as it is rapacious.’

AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion
May 3, 2006–September 4, 2006
The Annie Laurie Aitken Galleries
www.metmuseum.org