In honor of the New York City Opera’s benefit tonight, DIVAS Shop for Opera, 25 designers were invited to create sketches inspired by a classical character from the stage. The last of the submissions just arrived, and we got a sneak peek. Though all are high-drama — Carlos Falchi conjured up a ballgown of metallic snakeskin — our favorites are these two fantastically vampy illustrations by power couple Isabel and Ruben Toledo. The hot-pink, fan-flapping design is inspired by Carmen from Bizet’s Carmen, and the Viking in the serious “It” helmet is their take on Brunhilde from Richard Wagner’s The Ring Cycle.
Attendees can bid on sketches during the silent auction and buy clothing donated by designers like Anna Sui, Jason Wu, Chado Ralph Rucci, and Tory Burch. Tickets are still available at the door ($75 for one, $125 for two), but be prepared to splurge: The starting bid for each illustration is $500.
DIVAS Shop for Opera, 82 Mercer St., nr. Spring St., second fl. (212-870-5622); 6–10.
