Diane Kruger and Zoe Saldana both in Calvin Klein Collection

NEW YORK, May 4, 2010 / FW/ — “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” might be the theme of last night’s Costume Institute Benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art but it was elegance that ruled the evening.

Spotted on the red carpeted stairs were Zoe Saldana, Diane Kruger, Joshua Jackson, Dree Hemingway, Paul Rudd, Penn Badgley, Garrett Hedlund, Anthony Mackie, Stephen Gan, and Calvin Klein Underwear’s Fernando Verdasco, who were all wardrobed by Calvin Klein Collection.

For the evening, each of the women’s looks was designed by Francisco Costa, the brands’ women’s Creative Director, and each of the men’s looks was designed by Italo Zucchelli, the brands’ men’s Creative Director, both of whom were in attendance.

Additionally, Ms. Saldana wore a Neil Lane ring and cuff, Ms. Kruger wore a ring and earrings from Fred Leighton, and Ms. Hemingway wore a ring from Harry Winston.

Mr. Verdasco is currently featured in Calvin Klein Underwear’s worldwide advertising campaign, and it was announced yesterday that Ms. Kruger will be featured in the global print and television advertising campaign for Calvin Klein Beauty, a new women’s fragrance which will debut this Fall 2010.

The museum’s annual Costume Institute Gala Benefit celebrates the opening of the year’s exhibition, and is the main source of funding for the museum.

This year’s exhibit, American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity (May 5 – August 15, 2010), was drawn from the newly established Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Met, and explores the developing perceptions of the modern American woman from the 1890s to the 1940s.

Photos by: Kate Shiftman / EAGLEPRESS
Zoe Saldana’s photos by Filmmagic
Dree Hemingway, Italo Zucchelli photos by 2010 Patrick McMullan