At first glance, Katy Perry's gown was relatively demure for the famously kooky dresser. Floor-length, pale pink and white, it seemed she had decided to play it safe.

But then the lights went down - and Katy began to glow in her fantastic colour-changing dress.

Concealed rows of fairy lights gave the CuteCircuit design a fluorescent aura at the star-studded event, which attracts the toast of New York society.

Stealing the show: Katy Perry's CuteCircuit dress at first appeared demure, but was lit up from below with LED lights as she arrived at the Costume Institute Gala Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

It was the best possible advert for CuteCircuit, a fashion company based in London that designs wearable technology.

As Katy walked down the red carpet all eyes were on the glowing singer, who accessorised with Christian Louboutin shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

She was attending the Costume Institute Gala Benefit to celebrate the opening of the American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Glow in the dark: Katy lights up the gala, as she arrives with the designer

Light it up: Katy's eye-catching flashing gown stole the show on the red carpet

CuteCircuit are no strangers to hi-tech fashion. In 2006 their Hug Shirt was named one of the Best Inventions of the Year by Time Magazine.

Katy's dress is a more wearable version of the design duo Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz's stunning Galaxy dress - a hi-tech gown embroidered with 24,000 tiny LED bulbs now on display in an American museum.

'I feel like I really have to represent those girls that just go for it and do their own thing and, you know, have their own bit of spontaneity and self confidence,' she said.

'I think sometimes in fashion it can get a little stuffy so I wanted to lighten up!'

And she told Us magazine she controlled the lights with a switch inside her bra.

'I love it, it's so much fun,' she said. 'I have this thing in my bra. I don't know if that's a good place for it or not.'

The 25-year-old left fiancé Russell Brand at home for the evening, instead arriving on the arm of a designer friend.

They were joined by a host of stars at the event, including British actress Emma Watson, now a student at nearby Brown university on Rhode Island.

'I'm pretty lucky I get the best of both worlds and that's why I'm so blessed,' she said.

Mature style: The Harry Potter star wore British label Burberry; she is the face of the brand

The 20-year-old showed off a mature style in a white floor length gown designed by Burberry, slashed to reveal her leg.

As the face of the label her one shoulder white silk gown was custom made, along with her clutch bag and shoes.

But Emma could have done with some tips from posing from Kate Hudson, 31, who wore a similar gown.

Girl's night out: Kate Hudson wore a slashed dresses, then joined her friend Liv Tyler and their dress designer Stella McCartney on the red carpet

Pink and blush: Gwen Stefani in her own L.A.M.B design, Jessica Alba in a Sophie Theallet for GAP dress, House of Lavande jewels and Ferragamo clutch, and Sarah Jessica Parker in Halston dress and Fred Leighton vintage diamond bracelets

The actress made sure photographers got a good shot of her legs in their Casadei shoes, by angling one outside her Stella McCartney dress.

Kate accessorised with a Roger Vivier clutch and Fred Leighton jewels.

Also wearing Stella was Kate's friend Liv Tyler, who like last year joined her for photos on the red carpet. Lord Of The Ring star Liv wore Roger Viver shoes.

Bridal Barbies: Jennifer Lopez in a strapless Zuhair Murad gown, Stephen Russell jewels, and Judith Leiber clutch joined Anne Hathaway in a Valentino dress, Bulgari jewels and Ferragamo bag

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