Rihanna shines at GQ's Men of the Year 2012 bash

Rihanna shines at GQ’s Men of the Year 2012 bash

By Matt Donnelly

Nov. 14, 2012 12 AM PT

There’s no harm in toasting to a few good men — or raising many toasts for many good men, as GQ magazine packed Los Angeles institution Chateau Marmont with its annual Men of the Year celebration Tuesday.

On a hotel patio transformed from its usual bistro setting, cream canvas tents with chic black piping protected the coif of cover boy Ben Affleck from some aggressive wind.

Affleck chatted up another man of the year, Jamie Foxx, who has been everywhere lately supporting “Django Unchained,” something we don’t mind.

The Obsession of the Year honor went to singer Rihanna, who arrived and stole attention in a Calvin Klein cocktail dress, short and fire-engine red, with a blinged-out necklace to match.

Guys of “Glee,” including Darren Criss, Harry Shum Jr., Mark Salling and Cory Monteith (sans girlfriend Lea Michele) hung by a back bar sipping Scotch. (The Ministry applauds the Don Draper drink upgrade; it’s a GQ party, after all.)

Speaking of the Drapers, Jessica Pare, who plays Jon Hamm’s current bride on “Mad Men,” showed up in a fitted black number with a mystery man on her arm.

Diddy made an appearance with his R&B; love interest, Cassie, greeting athletes Steve Nash and Chris Bosh before settling on a couch.

Geoff Stults, Josh Hopkins and James Marsden served as eye candy in the lobby, sipping beer and gazing on funny ladies including Lizzy Caplan and Sarah Silverman.

“The Lone Ranger” star Armie Hammer came with his wife and charmed Editor in Chief Jim Nelson and various well-heeled gentlemen of the masthead while Aziz Ansari cracked jokes with fellow comedian Nick Kroll.

It was nothing short of sweet to see the men of “New Girl” reveling in their success, as Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris and Jake Johnson repped their superlative of Wingmen of the Year.

But who can resist a movie star? Certainly not Retta, “Parks and Recreation’s” Donna Meagle and a Twitter star.

“The first person I saw when I stepped on the carpet was Ben Affleck,” Retta told us, “and if there weren’t any cameras, I believe I would be directly behind him tweeting about how cute he is.”

Playing the strong silent types, Frank Ocean and Aaron Paul each roamed the party drink-in-hand, occasionally indulging in conversation but mostly taking in the scene.

Passed trays of cod-fried rice helped keep the sauce from getting the best of guests, among them Hayes MacArthur and Ali Larter, Paul Scheer, Teddy Sears, Stephen Moyer, Julianne Hough and Walter Boggins.

Affleck and Rihanna own two of the three covers, with the third belonging to Channing Tatum, who’s out of town filming “Foxcatcher.” Chan sent his wife, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, in his place.

ALSO:

Rihanna, Affleck and Tatum star in GQ Men of the Year issue Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel cozy up at 2011 GQ Men of the Year

Talk about where the boys are -- they’re all hitting the 2010 GQ Men of the Year party

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