What is a Very Hot Pink Party like? The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s annual fundraising event, held on Monday, was Very Hot (leopard-print tablecloths, supermodels) and Very Pink (think pink gowns, gloves, stilettos, cummerbunds, even diamonds).

It was also Very Green, raising nearly $4.4 million for the organization, which cosmetics industry icon Evelyn Lauder founded 14 years ago.

But back to those pink diamonds: Joanne de Guardiola wore them in a ring designed by Jar, which her husband purchased for her in the auction at last year’s event.

It didn’t take pink diamonds to put people in the pink, perhaps because they were in a crowd of cancer survivors, friends, and Very Attractive People such as Elizabeth Hurley and Ashley Judd (the former Very Tall, the latter Very Petite).

The fund-raising success was due in large part to $950,000 in corporate underwriting and numerous donated goods and services, including performances by Elton John and Tony Bennett. Sir Elton, who dined on smoked salmon, cod, and an assortment of desserts including brownies and rugelach while sitting next to Mrs. Lauder, told her he is hoping to secure cancer survivor Sheryl Crow to play at next year’s event.

One special thing about the color pink, at least as far as this party is concerned, is its Very Long Lasting Glow. Throughout the year, the foundation raises gobs of money for research – last year it gave away $22 million, with 90 cents of every dollar raised going directly to research.

And who’s the pinkest of them all? Mrs. Lauder. “Evelyn is an extraordinary partner, she is motivating, inspirational, smart, and she never fails to say thank you. She is appreciative and a delight,” the president of the foundation, Myra Biblowit, said.

Or as Ms. Hurley put it, from the stage: “It has taken a force of nature like Evelyn Lauder to bring us to this hopeful time and beautiful evening.”

agordon@nysun.com