Madonna and Gucci ignore Kabbalah claims

A glittering cast of stars including Drew Barrymore, Salma Hayek, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher is expected to turn up for Gucci and Madonna's red-carpet charity bash in New York tonight, despite the furore surrounding the fundraising gala. Gucci is celebrating a new flagship store on Fifth Avenue with a star-studded party hosted by Madonna, as part of New York fashion week. But the event, which hopes to raise $2m for orphan charity Raising Malawi and Unicef, was hit by controversy after Fox News accused Madonna of having "conned" Gucci into raising money for Kabbalah under false pretexts. "Raising Malawi is merely a front for Philip Berg's Kabbalah Centre of Los Angeles," the Fox News website stated last month.

Madonna - who has been a Kabbalah devotee since the mid-Nineties - and the fashion house both deny the claims, made last month. A representative for the singer called the rumours "outrageous, incorrect, inaccurate, hurtful and malicious". Madonna has an adopted son from Malawi, David Banda. The auction is still going ahead tonight, and will be compered by comedian Chris Rock.

Meanwhile the other controversy raging at New York Fashion Week was actually on the catwalk - over hemlines. While Halston and Jonathan Saunders showcased fluid floorlength gowns, DKNY and Proenza Schouler unveiled collections featuring sassy short dresses and mini-skirts.