New York celebrates AngloMania

Dubbed the party of the year, last night's AngloMania party at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art - the event is an annual Costume Institute's Benefit Gala and marks the start of the exhibition - was hosted by Anna Wintour, the English editor of American Vogue.European royalty, A-listers, supermodels and designers alike, all attend the event, without blinking at the $15,000 ticket price.

This year's theme, inspired by an English rose garden, is all things rustic and eccentric English; the show opens with a faded and distressed Union Jack and two figures juxtaposing a traditional frock coat and a Westwood 1976 Punk version. They represent the exhibition's subtext: "Tradition and transgression in British fashion."The sausages and Yorkshire pudding are courtesy of Jamie Oliver, and rumour has it that he tried to substitute champagne with beer on tap.

The exhibition brings together period costumes from the museum's collection with modern creative goliaths such as dame Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Hussein Chalayan. For the next four months, the Met's English Period Rooms will witness the kind of shenanigans not seen since they were transplanted from stately homes.

The term AngloMania is a French invention and was first used in the 18th century when a passion for all things English consumed fashionable Europeans. Anna Wintour stated that even today she sees a clear difference between the way New Yorkers and Londoners dress. "There aren't too many Isabella Blows walking around Manhattan. It is a much more manicured feel. Sienna Miller, on the other hand, is the perfect example of that English thrown-together look, which is why I wanted her to co-chair this gala."The exhibition runs until September 4th in Manhattan.