Kanye West & his girlfriend Kim K. are back from their trip to Italy.  And their first stop as soon as they got back into the states tonight was the 2012 Angel Ball held at Cipriani Wall Street.

Check out Kim & Kanye hobnobbing it up with Ashanti & Nelly, Solange & her mom Tina inside...

It's that time of the year when celebs step out in full force for Denise Rich's Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. The Foundation funds medical research for prevention and treatment of Lymphoma, Leukemia and related cancers.  And plenty of your faves were on hand to support the cause of the 16th annual Ball.

In a stunning cobalt blue gown with two slits and a pair of sky high black ankle strapped Thierry Mugler heels (yes we'll admit that we finally like one of Kanye's picks) Kim K. stepped out of Kanye's Soho apartment with her boo Monday night to hit the event.  And Kanye, looking dapper in something else other than leather pants, put on his best camera ready face:

Looks like Kim's been offering 'Ye some tips and practicing red carpet poses with him in the mirror:

Work.

Ashanti put on a sexy sparkly black dress with a thigh high slit as she hit the carpet with her man Nelly.

Gorgeous look for Ashanti.  And we're loving the suspenders on Nelly.

The couples snapped a pic with Smokey Robinson (who performed) and his wife Frances.

Angela Simmons looked great in a deep pink one shoulder gown with a wrapped slit.  And she accessorized with cobalt blue accessories. 

Gorgeous look.

Angela and Kim posed it up with Star Jones.

Solange & Tina Knowles put on their chicest prints for the evening.

And Mama Tina's face is looking snatched to the lords of Botox.  Not mad.  She looks fab these days.

The Knowles gals posed with Denise Rich.

Loving this gold printed gown full of sheen.

And Solange's look is, of course, our fave of the night.  It from Badgley Mischka's Fall 2012 collection.

The metallic geometric printed gown flaunted her cleavage and slim curves effortlessly.  And the gold & white clutch set off the look perfectly.

Gorgeous.

Tiki Barber was there with his new wife Traci Lynn. 

Estelle hit the event in an interesting dress.  Feathers and animal print?

Wendy Williams kept it demure with a black own with a thigh high slit.
 

And Russell Simmons brought his chick of the moment.

Pics: GETTY/SPLASH