The White House rolls out the red carpet

Claire Danes, Reese Witherspoon, Charlize Theron, Kate Hudson, Eva Longoria, Ginnifer Goodwin, Zooey Deschanel and Dakota Fanning all zipped into their Sunday best for the press pool’s biggest night, when the President drops the solemnity of his office in favour of a few jokes.

Even Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian weren’t immune to President Obama’s jests. ‘Why am I telling knock-knock jokes to Kim Kardashian?’ Obama kidded before his speech, WWD reported. ‘What is she famous for, anyway?’

If the tone was light, the fashion was seriously good, making a red-carpet event of a night usually reserved for journalists. Hunger Games actress Elizabeth Banks shone in a red Antonio Berardi gown with a fetching peplum, Goodwin showed her eco credentials in