Active Mode Out for Gala FIT Set

  Alber Elbaz, Jessica Chastain, Tony Bennett, Francisco Costa and Karolina Kurkova were among the more than 500 faces in the crowd that the Fashion Institute of Technology has helped to raise more than $ 1.2 million Monday night at its annual gala.

Fashion-heavy mass at Cipriani 42nd Street was there for a long time supporter of honor George Kaufman of Kaufman Organization, Inc., Ann Kay Krill and Stefano Tonchi of W magazine. Arie Kopelman, Joan Smalls, Maria Cornejo, Anh Duong, Gilles Mendel, Lisa Perry, Ralph Rucci, Reem Acra, and Tom Florio were also on hand.

During cocktails, Bennett mentioned another institution - school Frank Sinatra $ 70 million Arts, he started with his wife Susan Benedetto, an elementary school teacher. His friend Kaufman "changed his life" by donating the property in Astoria, Queens.

Bennett said: "Cheek to Cheek", his new album with Lady Gaga will be released in two and a half weeks. "She is a beautiful singer. Humans by how great they can sing is shocked," said the musician.

With the new album ready to go, planned three books and an exhibition about the art of Montreal later this year, Bennett said he can not work enough. "I work every day, just because I like it., It is not, if you know what you love," he said.

As someone with his own style, Bennett said: "Style is only people who are being of any other person, which makes you more elegant.."

With a break before the start of filming of "Interstellar" Guillermo del Toro and Christopher Nolan's "Crimson Peak," Chastain said she was flying to Maui vacation Tuesday with his family. Dressed in a gold one-shoulder Lanvin dress, the Academy Award nominated actress says she probably will not try surfing. "I do not do well in the sun because I am so beautiful., But I do not know well all under one roof," she said.

Krill presented with his prize, Kurkova said: "Not only Kay created a successful business, but it also created a benevolent one."