The Met’s Costume Institute Benefit & Charles James Exhibit Highlights

Tonight, New York society and celebrities will be out at one of the social event of the year: the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute Benefit. This year’s gala celebrates the opening of the Anna Wintour Costume Center and the exhibition Charles James: Beyond Fashion. The red carpet for this show is always a show place for haute couture and top designers. First Lady Michelle Obama is expected to participate in the pre-show press event. This year’s event honors the late designer Charles James. We’ll be livestreaming the show here on The Recessionista.  Watch this event after the jump.

The livestream of the show will roll along with video of highlights from the Charles James exhibit. You can watch by simply hitting the play button on the above player. According to our research, a ticket for this year’s Gala cost $25,000 for each guest. That’s a lot of money for one evening. Of course, we all know via the tabloid press who won’t be attending. That would be Gwyneth Paltrow. “Do you want me to be honest? It sucked,” she told Australian radio hosts Kylie and Jackie O. “You always think, ‘Oh my God, it’s gonna be so glamorous and amazing and you’re going to see all these people. “And then you get there and it’s so hot and it’s so crowded and everyone’s pushing you!” So don’t look for Ms. Paltrow on this year’s red carpet.  Never the less, even without the GOOP owner’s presence the Met Gala Ball is still expected to be the Oscars of the  East Coast.