I just wanted to set the scene here! In fair Verona, etc.

Hamish Bowles

Hamish Bowles looks like a tiny baby here

This was at "a press preview at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington," as it seems this exhibit travelled a bit, as well. (I believe much of the clothing ended up at the Kennedy Presidental Library.)

That black-and-white houndstooth number is Bob Bugnand, left, and the red coat is Givenchy, and it is a dream.

Jessica Simpson

This dress of J. Simp's is also fairly dreamy. FYI, this was before people really started dressing to match the theme. They just showed up in an outfit for a gala, more or less.

Joan Rivers

Joan! I miss you. This is very glam. A good use of sheer.

Stephanie Seymour

Speaking of sheer, it's been around much longer than we ever knew. And perhaps may never leave. Well, I guess it's technically gone right now, as no one is leaving the house. That's not what I meant when I asked people to stop wearing sheers!

Naomi Campbell and Iman

I do NOT know what Naomi's thought-process was here. They both came with Dolce & Gabbana, which explains a lot of this, but still. 

Elle Macpherson

I wish we could see the details on this a little better.

Diana Ross

MISS ROSS HAS ARRIVED.

Laura Bush

Laura Bush was, at this point, the acting First Lady (BARELY -- W took office like six weeks prior to this; 2001 was the year the Met moved to April from December, and three years later it moved to May). This dress seems very apropos for the event.

Hillary Clinton

Speaking of First Ladies, and at the time very barely out of that position. (She was at this point the junior senator from New York, and I did not remember that HRC stopped being First Lady and basically immediately transitioned into being a senator. She was New York's first woman senator.) This is Oscar de la Renta, and if there is anything I've learned in this endless time of writing retrospectives, it's that WE LOVED A WRAP in the early aughts. I want to see the sleeve situation here, HRC! This dress under there might be kind of fun. 

Maria Shriver, Eunice and Sargent Shriver

Lots of Jackie's relatives and in-laws popped up at this thing, as you'd imagine. Maria looks very pretty. She was once SUPER MEAN to me when I was working retail.

This photo was captioned "Ted Kennedy and friends" which, of course, was also his short-lived variety show. (Speaking of Kennedys and me, Ted actually once did me a huge favor when I was working on a documentary about the minimum wage. FUN FACTS!) I believe the woman holding his hand is his wife, Victoria. I'm pretty sure the woman in the stripes is his younger sister Jean Kennedy Smith, and I think the woman in the blue is also his sister, Patricia Kennedy Lawford (who married Peter Lawford). How is this for an informative caption?

Lee Radziwill and Richard Meier

And of course Jackie's sister Lee Radziwill looks VERY glam. I did not know she dated the architect Richard Meier.

Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn

They were a VERY GOOD-LOOKING couple.

Juliana Margulies and Narciso Rodriguez

This celeb/designer relationship goes WAY back, apparently.

Diane Sawyer and Faith Hill

Tim McGraw was also there, but you can just ENVISION him. He looked like Tim McGraw.

Ellen Barkin and Ronald O. Perelman

How did I forget this relationship, when the breakup was SO DRAMATIC?

Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons

A lot of couples at this event are no longer together. I cannot tell if I love Kimora's dress or not.

Anjelica Huston and Graydon Carter

It's kind of great how Anjelica is just nonchalently holding her coat here.

Jennifer Connelly

Jennifer Connelly had mastered the art of staring off into the middle distance.

George Hamilton and Kimberley Blackford

George's tan is a soothing constant...

Martha Stewart

...as is Martha's love of lamé. (She looks GLAM here.)

Aerin Lauder

You could wear this as a wedding gown today.

Liv Tyler and Alan Cumming

Look at these two baby faces! (Liv is wearing Marc Jacobs, which seems right.)

Marc Jacobs and Anna Sui

Speaking of Marc, here he is, with Anna Sui! (They have been bffs for YEARS.)

Renee Zellweger

Renee is an early adopter of dressing to theme, as she's in vintage Oleg Cassini here. It's also VERY Renee.

Tommy Hilfiger and Maggie Rizer

Maggie could easily wear this today.

Gina Gershon

Gina Gershon was very proud of her second place finish at the county fair.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Goop looks pretty great here. Is that Katherine Moennig with her? It must be -- it looks just like her, and she and Gwyneth are cousins.

Stella McCartney

This is very sexy on Stella!

Bill Cunningham, Oscar de la Renta

I just loved this photo of iconic style photographer Bill Cunningham with Oscar de la Renta: two quintessential gentlemen who are no longer with us.

Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera looks JUST the same.

Sigourney Weaver

That's a very glam cloak.

Helena Christensen and friend

Both that dress and those glasses are sort of back now, to the detriment of us all.

Nicky Hilton

Nicky Hilton looks like she just threw on those diamonds in the car because she realized this was a fancier party than she had originally been given to believe.

Christy Turlington

She is wearing Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, and looks like a very chic Victorian widow.

Let's See What The Met Gala Looked Like 2001

Plus a great bit of turn-of-the-century gossip.