Who was the best dressed? All the red carpet looks from the 2012 Met Gala

HOLLYWOOD’S NEAREST AND dearest have had more than two months to recuperate after a busy awards season and how we’ve missed critiquing their sartorial choices.

But, lest we forget who they all are (and what they’re famous for), actors, musicians and a variety of other entertainers were back on the red carpet last night for the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala benefit.

A night that is all about the designers and their dresses, the fashions are often more daring than what is seen at the Oscars or even the Golden Globes. Last night, the works of Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada were celebrated by those who made the guest list.

Some attendees got the nod to act as muses to the creators, wearing custom gowns to the event. Trying to impress and outshine each other, the outlandish outfits are sartorial heaven for photographers.

There was crocodile leather (Rihanna), lots of shiny, shiny metallics (Jessica Alba, Carey Mulligan and more ) and a sparkling hood/turban courtesy of Karolina Kirkova, plus an Elizabeth Taylor jumpsuit complete with red wine stains. Take a look and tell us who you think shone shone the brightest after the slideshow.

Who was the best dressed? All the red carpet looks from the 2012 Met Gala

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Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York
Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Tell us, who do you think shone the brightest?

Poll Results:

Rihanna (26)

Claire Danes (25)

Jessica Alba (21)

Emma Roberts (19)

Lana Del Rey (17)

Hilary Swank (16)

Karolina Kurkova (16)

Emily Blunt (and John Krasinski) (15)

Beyoncé (13)

Diana Agron (13)

Jessica Biel (and Justin Timberlake) (13)

Sofia Vergara (12)

Renee Zellweger (11)

Carey Mulligan (10)

Gwyneth Paltrow (10)

Heidi Klum (10)

Emma Stone (9)

Katharine McPhee (9)

Christina Ricci (9)

Lea Michele (8)

Cameron Diaz (8)

Florence Welch (8)

Marc Jacobs (8)

Camilla Belle (8)

Leighton Meester (7)

Scarlett Johansson (7)

Cate Blanchett (6)

Coco Rocha (6)

Hailee Steinfeld (6)

Sarah Jessica Parker (and Valentino) (6)

Marion Cotillard (5)

Eva Mendes (4)

Rosie Huntington Whiteley (4)

Mia Wasikowska (4)

Kristen Stewart (3)

Michelle Dockery (3)

Chloe Sevigny (2)

Gisele Bunchen (and Tom Brady) (2)

Jaime King (2)

Julianne Hough (1)

Alexa Chung (1)

Ginnifer Goodwin (1)

Debra Messing (1)

Shailene Woodley (1)

Brooke Shields (1)

Jessica Chastain (1)

Amy Adams (1)

Mary-Kate Olsen (1)

Liv Tyler (1)

Kate Bosworth (1)

Diane Kruger (1)

Elizabeth Banks (1)

Kirsten Dunst (1)

January Jones (1)

Kristen Wiig (1)

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Rihanna arrives to the Met Ball last night Charles Sykes/AP/Press Association Images

In Pictures

Or who pushed the limits the best may be the more appropriate question…

Author

Sinead O'Carroll

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Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute

Miuccia Prada

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Who was the best dressed? All the red carpet looks from the 2012 Met Gala

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum - New York

Poll Results: