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You could feel the positive energy anywhere you turned in The Plaza in New York City last night, as amfAR’s 4th Annual Inspiration Gala took over the space and filled it with uplifting moments. “I’m here because of the heroic people who have dedicated their lives to finding the cure for AIDS,” Uma Thurman (in Versace) told InStyle.com as she arrived to the event, which raised money and awareness for AIDS research and advocacy projects around the world. “I’m just bringing my love and energy and my prayers to their mission.” Before the gala started, the evening began with a military-themed fashion show made up of looks donated by leading menswear designers, including Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, and Michael Kors. Kenneth Cole, amfAR’s Chair of the Board, happily played along: “I’m wearing fatigues to anticipate anything that could come of tonight—I’m prepared for it,” he joked to InStyle.com.

After the bumping runway beats faded, guests made their way to the ballroom where Thurman got down to business giving out honors while guests bid on silent auction items as they dined. “What’s special about this evening is that we’re honoring them not for their artistic achievements but for their ability to inspire us,” Thurman said of the honorees. Valentino earned the Award for Inspiration, accepted on his behalf by Iman (in Valentino), Alan Cumming took home the Award of Courage, and Jennifer Lopez (in Tom Ford) received the Humanitarian Award. “I’m deeply touched,” Lopez said tearfully. “I’m grateful that I have the opportunity of helping to improve the lives of others even if it’s in a small little way. We all just need to do a little bit and then all of a sudden all these amazing things happen.” The evening concluded with a group sing-a-long to “Call Me Maybe” spearheaded by the hitmaker herself, Carly Rae Jepsen. Click the photo to see more.

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Valentino took over the New York City Ballet last night! The legendary Italian designer lent his decades of couture expertise to the NYCB’s annual fall gala, where he created costumes for all of the principal dancers in four of the five vignette performances, each of which contained a hint of classic Valentino red, from the peekaboo lace to the pointe shoes. (Scroll down to see the photo of him on stage to take a bow.) “You always know when someone has skill, but to see it at work like this, to see the discipline of creating, not just a dress but a costume, my admiration for him has grown ever more so,” said Sarah Jessica Parker (in Valentino Haute Couture), who conceptualized the idea of having the designer collaboration as co-chair of the gala. The entire evening was filled with admiration for the 80-year-old always-tan man, as his celebrity fans like Anne Hathaway, Karolina Kurkova (in Valentino red!), Iman, and more filed in to congratulate him on a job well done (while all wearing Valentino). “They were breathtaking and out of this world and totally him,” Hathaway said of the costumes. The event kicked off the fall season of the New York City Ballet, and raised money for the artistic organization. Bravo! *Throw a rose!* *Throw a rose!*

Plus, see more stars who love Valentino.

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