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Costume gala draws fitting crowd

NEW YORK — L.A. might have the Oscars, but Manhattan's social event of the season is the annual Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute gala, which draws bold-faced, glammed-up names from both coasts and across the pond. This year's theme? Superheroes, a fitting one given the massive box-office hit that was Iron Man, and the upcoming flicks The Dark Knight, featuring the Caped Crusader, and The Incredible Hulk. Designer Giorgio Armani served as this year's honorary chair, while George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Vogue editor Anna Wintour chaired the benefit extravaganza.

Armani dressed Clooney and Roberts. "He asked me very sweetly if I'd be his date," Roberts, wearing a platinum Giorgio Armani Privé gown, said about the designer, who also outfitted other A-list celebrities, including Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Beyoncé Knowles and John Mayer.

Clooney was taking it all in stride. "I get to have a drink. It's easy for me," he said.

The event wasn't just a fashion show. There's an exhibit involved, "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy," which runs through Sept. 1.

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The most exclusive one will be Giorgio Armani’s invite-only soiree at Bungalow 8 in celebration of his friend George Clooney’s birthday. The celebrated actor, who turns 47 at midnight tonight, is co-chairing tonight’s Superheroes-themed gala alongside Armani and Julia Roberts.

Happy Birthday George!