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Could it be curtains for Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham? At the Metropolitan Ball, all evidence seemed to be pointing towards it.
Two of Britain's most high-profile fashion exports chose to swathe themselves in dramatic drapes of fabric for last night's event, regarded as the highlight of New York's social season.
On a lesser mortal than Moss, a gold lamé toga dress and matching turban would have looked less "goddess" and more "oven-ready chicken".
But, fresh from a tan-topping session on Sir Philip Green's yacht, the 35-year-old model ensured her limbs were basted a perfect golden brown that perfectly complemented the gown's metallic tones.
In depth of tan, if not in glamour, Mrs Beckham managed to outdo her. Sporting a skin colour that can best be described as "Tango-ed", she also chose a draped, one-shouldered gown by Marc Jacobs that was not dissimilar to Moss's. But despite decking herself in the finest diamonds husband David could afford, Mrs Beckham was out-shone by Moss, whose turban was adorned with an 18-carat royal blue sapphire by Harry Winston.
Short and sassy was the order of the evening, for while host Anna Wintour chose a long black and white gown, her daughter, Bee Schaffer, opted for a navy corset dress with a chiffon train that showed a refreshingly pale expanse of leg.
Other celebrities to choose short were Jessica Alba, in a royal blue mini-dress by Jason Wu, Gisele Bundchen in Balmain, and Anne Hathaway, in a deep purple strapless dress by Jacobs.
But none was as daring as Madonna, who snagged her look straight off the Louis Vuitton catwalk. Her teal satin puffball dress and thigh-high leather boots, both hailing from Vuitton's new autumn/winter collection, proved yet again the 50-year-old refuses to be outdone by women half her age.
Reader views (4)
She is a sad rock-star wannabe, totally over-rated and way past her sell-by.
If she was an oven-ready chicken she'd be condemned!
- Vicky, London
I struggle to understand what is 'beautiful' about Kate Moss? She has bad skin, okay high cheekbones so have lots of better looking girls, and as for her 'fashion sense' that's easy ..... she has none.
- Annie, Devon
Lara Craik
You said that on a "lesser" mortal (which begs the question of how lesser can you get than Kate Moss?!) the dress that Moss was wearing would have looked less "goddess" and more "oven-ready chicken".
No dear, it is definitely the latter - oven ready chicken.
- William, London, UK
What is it with Kate Moss ?
There are thousands of beautifull girls out there, give this women a rest please, she has gone well past her sell by date.
- Mr S.Port, London
