"This is R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!"

Overhearing the choice words of Gossip Girl leading man, Chace Crawford, trailing behind him after cocktail hour as I made my way into the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Temple of Dendur for this year's Costume Institute gala, "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy," I realized just how difficult it is to articulate what a big deal this night really is. Chace (a first-timer at this Party of the Year) captured this sentiment perfectly.

As I entered the massive Temple, where dinner was to be served, I began to fully grasp the magnitude of the evening: Long white enamel tables topped with thousands of white orchids lined both sides of the stage, where enormous glacier-like structures stood - reminiscent of Superman's Planet Krypton.

And mingling between the tables, a Who's Who of the A-listers which given the evenings hosts - George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Giorgio Armani (middle left) and Vogue's Anna Wintour- came as no surprise. Armani's table boasted the likes of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes (top right, stunning in a red vintage Armani gown), Beyonce (lower right with David Bowie and Iman), Camilla Belle and (of course!) Mr. Clooney and Ms. Roberts. New parents Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony (middle right) rubbed elbows with Alberta Ferretti and Diane Kruger while Kate Bosworth (Lois Lane herself, sporting an incredible multi-color beaded Chanel couture dress) joined Karl Lagerfeld who looked fabulous, as always, in a silver sequin blazer.

Thandie Newton (bottom left) was totally superheroed-out in a black lace mini complete with a cape and star belt and Audrey Tautou (dressed in a similar look, but in white) chatted in their seats at the Chanel table while Donatella Versace (The Best-Body-In-The-Business) sat next to her long-time friend, Janet Jackson, who rocked white Versace jersey - which not many people can do.

Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolcearrived with the lovely (and newly-engaged - the news broke early in the day) Scarlett Johansson (top left). The Missonis outfitted Mischa Barton, Stella McCartney dressed Kate Moss (middle right) , and Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci created a modern-day Wonder Woman look for Christina Ricci, complete with a red satin leotard and star belt. Ricci's look, while adorable, proved no match for the real thing when the original Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter, arrived and stole the show draped in chic in a navy Carolina Herrera gown and star cuffs (made specially for her by Raineri)!

The list, as you can imagine, goes on and on: Naomi Watts, Claire Danes, David and Victoria Beckham, Lake Bell, Amanda Peet, Joy Bryant, Ivanka Trump, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (arriving with stiletto-star Christian Louboutin), Karen Elson, Rosamund Pike, funny-girl Sarah Silverman, Lauren Santo Domingo, Byrdie Bell, Helena Christensen, Karolina Kurkova (in silver Vera Wang), Emily Blunt, Harvey Weinstein and Georgina Chapman, Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Jennifer Connelly (bottom right) Mayor Bloomberg and Diana Taylor, Venus Williams, Claudia Schiffer with Mr. Valentino, Alice Braga, Clive Owens, Christy Turlington and Ed Burns, John Mayer, Andre 3000. Suffice it to say, I'm just skimming the surface.

After a performance by the cast of the musical Hair (Tom Cruise seemed very into the performance, belting out "Let the Sunshine In" in his seat) hoards of bright, young (and not-so-young) things including Margherita Missoni, Mischa Barton, Diane Kruger, Venus Williams, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Bosworth and Jessica Stam headed to Philippe for Nina Ricci's after-party where the Misshapes spun these Superheroes into the early morning hours. Others migrated downtown to Bungalow 8 for Armani's private soiree where birthday boy George Clooney was serenaded by none other than John Mayer and Fergie.