TomKat and the Beckhams turn on some old-fashioned glamour - but was it TOO old for Posh?

The quartet put aside rumours of a rift as they posed up together at the glamorous event, but in typical fashion, Posh did her best to steal the spotlight in a see-through white Armani dressing coat.

But with her usual bob swept up into a carefully set chignon and heavily painted face, Victoria's attempt at Old Hollywood glamour was rather too literal, leaving her looking well beyond her 34 years.

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And pout-prone Posh appeared more glum than ever - perhaps it was the pressure of competing with a host of Hollywood actress and supermodels that prompted her look of disdain.

Katie Holmes, who also wore Armani, didn't fare much better in the style stakes, leaving onlookers shocked and awed at her bright orange dress and cobalt blue stiletto combination.

The extravaganza, billed as Manhattan's rival to the Oscars, marked the opening the museum's Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy exhibition, a theme that delighted the ever-excitable Mr. Cruise.

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"I've always just loved comic books," he said as he arrived. "I dig those characters."

Designer Giorgio Armani served as this year's honorary chair, while George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Vogue editor Anna Wintour chaired the benefit extravaganza.

Armani dressed Clooney and Roberts, who dazzled in a platinum Giorgio Armani Privé gown.

"He asked me very sweetly if I'd be his date," Roberts said.

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It was a rare night out for the mother of three, who at 7pm made note of the superhero theme, saying: "It does take extra powers to stay up late. This is late for me."

The designer outfitted a host of other stars including A-list celebrities including Beyoncé Knowles and John Mayer.

Clooney was more interested in refreshments than fashion, saying: "I get to have a drink. It's easy for me."

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Scarlett Johansson wore Dolce & Gabbana but it was her huge sparkling ring that was the talk of the night, following her announced that she and actor Ryan Reynolds were engaged.

New mother Jennifer Lopez showed off her incredible post-baby figure in a blue-green Alberta Ferretti.

Preparing for the red carpet "is the same except with a baby on my lap," she said.

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Wintour favoured an embroidered dress by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel Haute Couture, inspired by the X Men character Storm. "I control the weather," she said.

Thandie Newton, Kate Bosworth and Audrey Tautou all wore Chanel while Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen both settled on Diane von Furstenberg. Liv Tyler and Eva Mendes wore Calvin Klein and Dita von Teese slipped on Marchesa.

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Kate Moss was also among the A-list crowd, accompanied by her designer friend Stella McCartney.

Gisele Bündchen, who wore Versace, was overheard saying, "I want to take that Wonder Woman costume down and wear it right now, but it would probably be too revealing."

Her boyfriend Tom Brady concurred, telling the New York Times: "I want her to wear the Wonder Woman outfit."

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The exhibit, which opens runs until September, examines how Superman, Batman, Spider-Man and others have influenced big-name fashion designers. The feminine figure is represented by characters such as Wonder Woman and Catwoman.

In the mirrored exhibition hall, superhero costumes are juxtaposed with the fashion they have influenced, largely a collection of active sportswear and outlandish garb more fit for a Halloween party than a night out at the theatre.

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Among the costumes on display are the ones worn by the late Christopher Reeve in the 1978 version of "Superman," two versions worn by Tobey Maguire in "Spider-Man 3" from 2007 and the "Catwoman" suit worn by Michelle Pfeiffer in 1992's "Batman Returns."

The exhibit notes that Superman's costume, inspired by those of circus acrobats and strongmen, "became the standard upon which successive superheroes were styled."

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It also digs beneath the meaning of superheroes with superpowers versus those who are mere mortals.

"While Batman relies on a varied arsenal of gadgetry to enable him to fight crime, Iron Man is encased in full body armour. Both serve as metaphors for defensive paranoia," the exhibits says.

A film version of "Iron Man" opened this past weekend by taking in $US100 million at the box office, and later this year will come the latest movie instalments in the "Batman" and "Hulk" franchises.