Images: Met Gala glamour

NEW YORK — Anna Wintour wore an orange floral couture look from Chanel as she walked up the grand staircase at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to kick off the gala that raises millions for her museum namesake: the Anna Wintour Costume Center.

This year's inspiration is the massive Met exhibition “China: Through the Looking Glass,” a lavish look at fashion from the East through the ages, though not all of famous multitudes who attend the gala chase the theme each year.

Wintour, the Vogue chief and doyenne of the fashion industry, did in color and ruffles at the shoulders and embroidered poppy details. She was followed on the red carpet by the stunning Chinese actress Gong Li, who offered a girlish tilt of her head as she waved in a deep red velvet gown with a black lace and fan design.

Kim Kardashian most certainly embraced the theme — in a revealing, low-cut gown with an East motif done by Peter Dundas for Roberto Cavalli, the designer's first for the house.

Sarah Jessica Parker, who made a splash on the red carpet last year in a custom Oscar de la Renta, donned a fiery head piece with long side tassels that towered high above her black, one-shoulder gown with a long flower-adorned train. There was quilting down one side that separated into a high slit.

Anne Hathaway shimmered in a sleek hooded fitted gown in keeping with the evening's China theme, which was muddled if not completely lost in the beaded top and sheer blush pants worn by Diane Kruger, who tucked a flower behind one ear.

Debuting a new short 'do complete with bangs, Katie Holmes took Zac Posen's arm in one of his designs, a sparkly blue gown with cutouts at the back.