New York, February 6, 2008 – Each season there seems to be one mega-party during fashion week, and on Wednesday, Madonna and Gucci teamed up to throw the biggest bash we’ve seen in ages, a benefit for Raising Malawi and UNICEF.  A-list celebrities were cheek-by-jowl on the black carpet in a specially built structure on the north lawn at the U.N. headquarters in Manhattan.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes showed up unexpectedly, and caused a traffic jam of celebrities waiting their turn to step in front of the cameras.  Jennifer Lopez is absolutely enormous – some speculated that her water might break at the party.   We inquired if she was wearing heels, and J. Lo lifted the hem of her floor-length dress to reveal gold-hued heels.  Gwen Stefani, who just announced her pregnancy, still looked svelte in a black frock.  Salma Hayek made one of her first public appearances since giving birth to a daughter a little over four months ago - her fiancé, Francois-Henri Pinault, owns Gucci. 

Drew Barrymore and boyfriend Justin Long looked spiffy in Gucci.  “They gave us a dress and a suit”, Barrymore said.  We couldn’t resist asking Apple Computer spokesman Justin Long if he uses an iPhone. “I do, but it fell in a swimming pool, so it’s a little broken right now.”

Rihanna performed at the event, but said she’s more nervous about Sunday’s Grammy awards.  The Umbrella singer is also a fan of the hostess.  “There will never be another Madonna.  She’s just amazing”, Rihanna said. Madge praised the evening’s sponsor. “Gucci is important to me because they stepped up to the plate and said they wanted to support me. And that’s cool”, she said upon arriving with daughter Lourdes.