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Friday night’s Art of Elysium benefit, “Bright Lights, New City,” drew models Raquel Zimmermann, Caroline Trentini, and Sasha Pivovarova, along with the Olsen sisters and Victoria and Vanessa Traina, to Manhattan’s newly renovated Jane hotel. Credit for the pretty crowd goes to the hosts—Joy Bryant, Vogue’s Sara Moonves, Bee Shaffer, and InStyle’s Nicole Vecchiarelli—although a performance by Santigold didn’t hurt. “I have an important audition tomorrow,” revealed Milla Jovovich, “but I’m here to support Joy and Santi and Art of Elysium because I love what they’re about.” The L.A.-based nonprofit, which just opened its first New York outpost, encourages artists, actors, and musicians to donate their time and talent to seriously ill children. “It’s about doing what you love with these kids,” explained Shaffer, who’s graduating from Columbia in two weeks. “It’s using what you’re passionate about to help.” Dancing being a preoccupation of the twentysomething set, the co-hosts hired Matt Creed to deejay, and the sold-out party raised nearly $50,000 for the charity.

—Sarah Fones

Apparel Software 

For those not lucky enough to score an invitation to the Met ball, there are always the more democratic after-parties. Well, they’re not that democratic, but we digress. Two of the biggest draws this year were Margherita Missoni’s fête for OrphanAid Africa at 1 Oak in Chelsea and Rodarte’s shindig at the SubMercer.

Missoni’s party started before Kanye West’s Costume Institute performance even ended, which is why Eugenie Niarchos, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, and Tatiana Santo Domingo were ready and waiting when their pals Arlenis Sosa and Joy Bryant finally made it the 60-something blocks south. Only Missoni took the time to change out of her dress—in her car—and those who went home to refresh or swap outfits ended up missing it altogether. “I’m jealous of your shoes,” Coco Rocha said to a young man in loafers. “Do you want to trade?”

Further downtown, at Laura and Kate Mulleavy’s bash at the SubMercer, it was post-Met debauchery as usual: Shala Monroque swinging on a stripper pole; Jessica Stam sneaking smokes with Gossip Girl’s Jessica Szohr; both Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen grinding on DJ Alex Hawgood behind the turntables. “Are we in a basement?” asked Dasha Zhukova, who brought Francesco Vezzoli and MoMA’s Klaus Beisenbach. “Because this is the chicest underground party I’ve been to. Literally, underground.”

—Derek Blasberg

Apparel Software 

While many New Yorkers of the social variety took it easy this weekend in preparation for the Costume Institute Gala, it was nice to see that a few people were still willing to let their hair down. On Saturday night, the Gramercy Park Hotel’s annual Spring Fling drew a seriously VIP crowd: Quincy Jones, Naomi Campbell, Jessica Alba, Karolina Kurkova, and Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn all piled—and we mean piled—themselves into the elevators to greet hosts Harry Josh and Nur Khan on the rooftop, where tequila shots were the drink of choice.

No matter how loose the crowd became, though, it was hard to avoid talk of the Met. “I’m kind of nervous,” admitted Kate Bosworth, who revealed that she’ll be sitting at Stella McCartney’s table. “I just got a text from her saying having fun is the priority.” Honorary chair Marc Jacobs‘ fiancé, Lorenzo Martone, seemed to be taking his hosting duties seriously, too. “We have some big guns coming, and it looks like it’ll be a good night,” he said. With reports that Madonna, Victoria Beckham, Rihanna, and Winona Ryder will all be arriving on the duo’s arms—four arms for four girls?—he’s probably right.

—Derek Blasberg

Apparel Software