Ice Palace @ Costume Institute Gala

The Temple of Dendur tonight has been transformed into an ice palace for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute gala hosted by Giorgio Armani, with chairmen Julia Roberts and George Clooney.

Guests will go up the 26 steps of the museum's grand staircase, flanked by paparazzi, then follow a red carpet into the new exhibit showing fashions side by side superhero costumes, then continue for cocktails in the Petrie Court, before hitting the ice palace.

It will not, however, be a cold evening, if Anna Wintour's remarks at this morning's press preview of the show are any indication. She was warm and emotional and, in fact, near tears, about her superhero Philippe de Montebello on the occasion of his last Costume Institute gala before retiring as director.

Ms. Wintour told of being in the Temple of Dendur one morning -- Superhero planning meetings started at 7:30 a.m., she said. As she was walking out of one such meeting, she spotted a figure in a stone-colored coat, looking like a superhero. It was of course Mr. de Montebello.

As for the fashion tonight, some advance notices received by e-mail today from the fashion houses themselves, announce the following planned wardrobing:

Calvin Klein: Eva Mendes, Liv Tyler, Fergie, Rachel Bilson, Aerin Lauder, Hayden Christensen, Kelly Klein

Dolce & Gabbana: Scarlett Johansson, Jason Lewis, David Bowie, Iman

Prada: Tilda Swinton in a gold lace dress with hand-sewn floral applique, and Elizabeth Banks in a grey silk bustier dress with a ruffled skirt and belted bow detail

DVF: Mary Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, and Ellen Barkin

Marchesa: Eva Longoria

Jimmy Choo: Tamara Mellon, Eva Longoria, Diane Kruger, Cameron Diaz