September 21, 2012 3:17 pm

Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Hathaway, Martha Stewart at Valentino’s Ballet Gala

By Jenni Avins

Photo: Nicholas Hunt/©Patrick McMullan

There was a sea of Valentino’s signature red dresses in the audience at last night’s New York City Ballet gala honoring the designer and his costumes for the company. But in the evening’s final performance, Bal de Couture, there was only one red dress onstage, worn by principal dancer Tiler Peck. Her standout look hadn’t been part of choreographer Peter Martins’s original plan, but Valentino insisted upon it, Peck explained after the show. “Peter was like, ‘but I don’t have a girl [to wear it],’” she said. “And I just walked in. And they were like, ‘Well, there’s a girl!’ So I got to be the one in the red dress.” Just then, Valentino walked over and planted a kiss on her cheek. “You look sensational!” he exclaimed. Meanwhile, fellow guest Martha Stewart discussed Blake Lively’s cooking skills, and Daphne Guinness suggested that Galliano design for the opera. See more in our slideshow.