Wall Street woes threatened to dim Tuesday night's glittery New Yorkers for Children Fall Gala. Emcee Jimmy Fallon tried to cut through them during his warm-up routine with a crack about a "fundraiser for Lehman Brothers." He got booed. Overall, though, the stars were shining bright as ever: Jay-Z (in shades) and Beyoncé Knowles circulated in the done-up crowd inside Cipriani's 42nd Street, while dapper designers including Oscar de la Renta and Zac Posen managed to look unruffled by the economic news.

"I think the true die-hard fashion person can't resist. They'll always buy," Proenza Schouler's Lazaro Hernandez declared on his way in. Julianne Moore was less optimistic. "Deregulation did not do us any favors," she said between courses. "It didn't work out, did it? So let's think about it. The only way to solve this problem is to go for Obama." When attendees were called upon to fund a year of college tuition for a foster-care student, Moore's hand was the first to shoot up. In fact, downturn or no, arms were in the air a good part of the evening. The event raised $1.8 million, and diners put their bidding glow sticks to use during Lupe Fiasco's crowd-rousing performance of "Superstar." Patti LaBelle closed the evening with a rocking rendition of "Lady Marmalade" and a vow that drew cheers: "I'm going to sing no matter what happens to the economy!"

— Darrell Hartman