They owe it all to Versace

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Anna Friel: her dress is a 'miss'

An all-important premiere to attend? Perhaps a new album to launch or just want to look simply fabulous? Versace has been the name to call upon when you want to the get paparazzi bulbs flashing over the past 20 years, a fact taken to heart at the V&A's new exhibition of the designers work, which opens to the public on Thursday 17 October.

More than 130 designs are on show from the master of look-at-me dressing, Gianni Versace, as well as a frock or two by his platinum-blonde sister Donatella, who took over after Gianni was murdered in Miami in 1997.

While it seems that almost every dress on show has a story to tell, some of the displays have more famous owners than others. Heading the list are Diana, Liz, Courtney, Madonna, J-Lo and Sting: people so high up in the celebrity stratosphere that they need only a single name. All of them have, at some time or other, enlisted the help of a little Versace magic.

Many turned out again on Monday evening for the exhibition's gala opening: for some the magic worked once more, for others it was, sadly, no where to be seen.

Gala party winners and losers

Winners

Sophie Dahl: chic and glamorous, she carries off wearing her spiderweb dress with aplomb. Star rating: 8

Patsy Kensit: she looks positively virginal with her white trouser suit and rosy cheeks. Star rating: 7 and rising

Madonna: her sleek black outfit with little flesh on show is sophisticated, ageless and unstuffy. Star rating: 9

Losers

Chelsea Clinton: in a shapeless trouser suit, she looks like a modernday Charlie Chaplin. Star rating: 6

Anna Friel: lacks the confidence to carry off a dress that doesn't look as if it's quite finished. Star rating: 5

Rachel Hunter: has to remember she's now dating Robbie not Rod. Put some clothes on. Star rating: 4

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