Met Gala 2012: the top 10 dresses - in pictures

Beyonce matches feathers with lace and manages to cover her top half right down to her fingers while revealing much of that enivable derriere. A look that anyone except her would find hard to pull off
Photograph: Startraks Photo / Rex Features

Victoria's Secret model Anja Rubik has something of a Liz Hurley in that Versace dress moment in this hip-split Eddie Borgo dress Photograph: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images

January Jones channels her X Men character Emma Frost in this arresting bright yellow Versace dress, complete with superhero-esque basque Photograph: Richard Young / Rex Features/Richard Young / Rex Features

Carey Mulligan literally shone in Prada, with a wind-defying quiff to match Photograph: JUSTIN LANE/EPA

Florence Welch has clearly taken note of the Met Ball's high tolerance for sartorial extravagance and opted for an Alexander McQueen dress with more feathers, layers, ruffles and shine than our eyes can take
Photograph: Matt Baron/BEI / Rex Features/Matt Baron/BEI / Rex Features

A very petite Christina Ricci stood out in this black on white Thakoon dress. The massive bow shouldn't really work, but it does Photograph: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images

Lana Del Rey is accompanied by Joseph Altuzarra, the man who designed her outfit for the evening. It's not easy to achieve subtlety in a dress that resembles metal but the Video Games singer did just that Photograph: BEHAR ANTHONY/SIPA / Rex Feature/BEHAR ANTHONY/SIPA / Rex Feature

Transparent, ankle length, lace and matched with jewelled pilgrim shoes from the designer's autumn/winter 2012 collection: Marc Jacobs's shirt dress was saying a lot. And his face said: 'you wish you had the balls to pull this off, don't you?' Photograph: JUSTIN LANE/EPA

Mary Kate Olsen faced off fellow celeb-turned fashion designer Kanye West in a high-neck black dress from her own label, The Row. Of particular note is her ghost white hair and bag-cum-handkerchief Photograph: Erik Pendzich/Rex / Rex Features/Erik Pendzich/Rex / Rex Features

Model Karolina Kurkova looked a pillar of strength, and just a little like Qatar's Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser al Missned, in this Rachel Zoe dress Photograph: Matt Baron/BEI / Rex Features/Matt Baron/BEI / Rex Features