In pictures: Celebrities honour Prada and Schiaparelli at Met Ball

Commonly known as the Met Ball, the Costume Institute Gala never fails to deliver fashion’s biggest event of the year.

An extensive celebrity guest list ensures New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is full of glamour and some of the biggest designer names.

The evening was celebrating the opening of an exhibition showcasing the careers of two fashion greats, Miuccia Prada and the late Elsa Schiaparelli.

In the theme of the evening many were dressed in Prada designs.

Gwyneth Paltrow wore a mini steel-blue Prada dress and even editor-in-chief at Vogue, and the evening’s hostess, Anna Wintour wore a white and gold Prada gown.

Other Prada wearers included Linda Evangelista, Kate Bosworth, Carey Mulligan and Diane Kruger.

The fashion stakes were high and many did their duty in wowing the crowds.

Rihanna dressed in a black, leather, crocodile skin dress by Tom Ford looked stunning whilst Beyonce showed off her post-pregnancy figure in a sheer black dress with purple ostrich feathers from Givenchy Couture.

Of course there were the bizarre and obscure outfits as well.

Sarah Jessica Parker attended the ball with Valentino, wearing a metallic floral-print gown that looked like a set of curtains. Carrie would not be proud.

Florence Welch wore Alexander McQueen and baffled onlookers as in her three-tier cream lace dress.

Setting the colour trend for the summer Eva Mendes, Emma Roberts, Katherine McPhee, Kirsten Dunst and Ginnifer Goodwin all wore orange.

Whilst Mendes pulled it off with the bright tone against her tanned skin, Goodwin drowned in it and looked washed-out.

The night celebrated some of fashion’s top names and their muses. Designers and celebrities attended the bash ensuring the glamour stakes remained high in its 64th year.