Military chic for Elton's 60th bash

Here he is, dressed up in characteristically flamboyant manner as a Russian general as he helped celebrate artist Sam Taylor-Wood's 40th birthday at a fancy dress party in the East End.

Gallery: See more pictures from the party here

While Sir Elton - who is also celebrating his 60th birthday - looked as if he was getting ready to inspect the May Day parade on Red Square, his partner David Furnish came in a US Marine captain's dress uniform, proving that yes, it really is true what they have been saying - the Cold War IS over.

The cavalcade of stars who turned up for the party at Shoreditch Town Hall included Hugh Grant, who opted for boring old black tie - and was forced to pay for his lack of flamboyance by posing with a Pearly King and Queen.

Sir Paul McCartney was in white tie and tails and his daughter Stella wore a long Army greatcoat just about covering her stocking-clad legs.

She and the rest of the women raised the temperature, style-wise. Taylor-Wood was the epitome of Forties glamour in a floor-length white evening gown set off with full length black gloves, her hair in an immaculate Veronica Lake-style blonde wave. She didn't get that lot on ration cards.

Elle Macpherson was in a long, emerald green gown, split to the thigh, and Rosamund Pike chose a red Forties-style satin dress. Kate Moss wore black.

Sting was among the many male guests who decided to cut a dash in a pin-striped gangster suit - but no one was more dashing than James Bond himself, Daniel Craig.

Among the other guests were Thandie Newton, Lulu, Barbara Windsor, the Osbournes, David Walliams, Natalie Imbruglia and Tom Ford.

The one noticeable absence was Liz Hurley - but she is on honeymoon with husband Arun Nayar.