Invited or not, galas are a great way to get your exec foot in the door and rub elbows with society’s greatest movers and shakers. Here is our list of the top five must attend, yearly recurring galas from around the world.
1. The Met Costume Institute Gala, New York
As far as fabulosity goes, and all the elite celebs that go along with it, The Met Costume Gala in New York draws more high profile artists than any other entertainment event outside the Oscars. Often called the ‘Fashion’s Oscars’ the event takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and draws superior fashion efforts out of all attending guests. This year’s gala took place this week and was hosted by Vogue’s Editor and Chief, Anna Wintour, charming actress Carey Mulligan in honor of Muccia Prada and Schiaparelli.
Celebrity guests included Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady, Donatella Versace, Vera Wang, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rhianna, Justin Timberlake, and Jessica Biel, and the outfits worn were OUTLANDISHLY FABULOUS!
While the event is the perfect way to indulge in the celebrity scene, it also benefits a good cause – the event raises millions of dollars to benefit the famed museum.
MET GALA BALL 2012
2. The Time 100 Gala (New York, New York)
Time magazine’s Time 100 issue celebrates the Top 100 ‘Most Influential People’, and their who’s-who packed gala brims with the world’s best and brightest thinkers and doers. Held in New York, last year’s function drew such important guests as Hillary Clinton and Stephen Colbert, however it is the activists the event acknowledges that really draws the high-class crowd. Last year Cardinal Dolan, Barbara Van Dahlen and Freeman Hrabowski all gave inspirational speeches that offered enough quoting fodder to sell greeting cards for the entire year.
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3. amfAR Gala (Cannes, France)
Benefiting Aids Research, the amFAR Gala takes place at the conclusion of the Cannes Film festival and draws fashion leaders, and A-listers from the top tier of the arts. Last year’s gala drew such famed guests as Kirsten Dunst, Gwen Stefani and Kanye West. The gala is often held at a gorgeous lush location, and the setting is ideal for striking up contacts with the entertainment industry’s biggest names.
VIDEO: amFAR CANNES GALA
4. The Unicef Ball (Beverly Hills, CA)
One of the world’s leading charities throws one of the world’s best black-tie parties to benefit its mission of supporting children and families from the grips of poverty. Last year’s function recognized her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan as a woman of compassion and drew a retro-performance from Lionel Richie.
5. The MOCA Gala (Los Angeles, CA)
The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles throws a majorly glamorous party every year to benefit its museum. This year’s event drew the performance art of Marina Abramovic, who placed a living human in every banquet table to coldly stare at guests as they ate. A performance by Blondie and appearances by everyone from Kirsten Dunst to Gwen Stefani to Will Ferrell made it an unbelievably eventful night for anyone in attendance.
