Fashion Rocks at Radio City Hall

09/09/2004 7:52 AM, AP
Samantha Critchell

Fashion rocks — and Beyonce put on shimmery hot-pants and Rod Stewart wore a three-piece suit with a pocket square to prove it.

Beyonce and Stewart, along with Avril Lavigne , Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, the Black Eyed Peas, Andre 3000, Usher and Hoobastank, performed Wednesday night at a special style-themed concert at Radio City Music Hall.

Held as part of New York Fashion Week, the event was sponsored by Conde Nast Media Group. It will air on Fox on Sept. 26.

Music is a mix of sound and style, said host Denis Leary . "Rock stars dress up like beautiful women. My first crush was David Bowie ," he said in one of his milder quips to the stylish crowd that included several front rows filled with professional models.

Shock rocker Marilyn Manson appeared in his signature gothic black when he introduced Lavigne, who, according to Manson, is someone who understands that style is about individuality since she wears ties with T-shirts.

Blige, strutting the stage in a white fedora and all-white outfit, knocked the socks off the audience while singing covers of Elton John 's "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" and Janis Joplin 's "Piece of My Heart." She added a little bling with a few shakes of a jewel-encrusted tambourine.

Meanwhile, Alicia Keys made the fringe of her ice-blue flapper-style dress dance when she performed "Heartburn."

Two musical highlights of the concert came when unannounced guests appeared on stage: John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls joined Lavigne for a duet of Rzeznik's "Iris," and guitarist Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones reunited with Rod Stewart, who changed into jeans, for "Maggie May."