Rihanna and Beyonce may have been among the last to arrive at the 2015 Met Gala in New York – but their extraordinary outfits ensured they still got plenty of attention.

Beyonce and her husband Jay Z arrived so late that many photographers were giving up and leaving the annual fundraising gala for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. But the music star was worth the wait in her ultra-sheer, bejeweled Givenchy Haute Couture gown by Riccardo Tisci.

Beyonce and Jay Z (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Beyonce and Jay Z (Charles Sykes/Invision)

Deep, ruby reds, shimmery golds and other jewel tones dominated the colour scheme as the multitudes of invited celebrities embraced this year’s China: Through The Looking Glass theme. There were sequins aplenty, and embroidery was everywhere.

Rihanna (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Rihanna (Charles Sykes/Invision)

Rihanna guaranteed she stood out in a canary yellow fur-trimmed cape, with a train so long it required three minions to carry it for her.

Madonna in her cape (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Madonna in her cape (Evan Agostini/Invision)

Madonna also opted for a cape to go with her black dress, showing she is not suffering any post traumatic stress syndrome from her Brit Awards debacle.

Solange shields off any more rumours (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Solange shields off any more rumours (Charles Sykes/Invision)

Beyonce’s sister Solange arrived separately from her sister and brother-in-law. One year ago video footage emerged of Solange attacking Jay Z in a hotel lift after the star-studded benefit gala.

Solange apparently hoped to eclipse all memory of that night, wearing a bizarre metallic-effect circular mini-dress, as if to deflect all gossip.

What is Lady Gaga hiding under that billowing dress? (Charles Sykes/Invision)
What is Lady Gaga hiding under that billowing dress? (Charles Sykes/Invision)

Lady Gaga arrived with designer Alexander Wang in a Geisha-inspired gown and head-dress by Balenciaga.

The singer drew cheers when she waved to the crowd packed behind barriers across Fifth Avenue from the museum.

Justin Bieber (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Justin Bieber (Evan Agostini/Invision)

Justin Bieber also channelled the oriental theme in his tux embroidered with gold dragons by Balmain and side-buttoned shirt.

J-Lo flaunts her famous curves (Charles Sykes/AP)
J-Lo flaunts her famous curves (Charles Sykes/AP)

Jennifer Lopez bared a lot more skin in a red Versace gown with sheer side panels.

Kanye lets Kim take centre stage (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Kanye lets Kim take centre stage (Charles Sykes/Invision)

Kim Kardashian opted for sheer, too, in a white gown with a feathery train by Peter Dundas for Roberto Cavalli, the designer’s first for the house.

Kendall Jenner (Clint Spaulding/AP)
Kendall Jenner (Clint Spaulding/AP)

Little sister Kendall Jenner went with Calvin Klein, sparkling in green with sexy laces on each side.

Mr and Mrs Clooney (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Mr and Mrs Clooney (Evan Agostini/Invision)

One of the world’s most watched women, Amal Clooney, arrived on her husband’s arm in a tiered ruby-red gown by John Galliano for Maison Margiela.

Jennifer Lawrence (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Jennifer Lawrence (Evan Agostini/Invision)

And Jennifer Lawrence wore a fitted black dress with a floral bodice, that continued as a panel all down her back.

The back of J-Law's dress was just as stunning as the front (Evan Agostini/Invision)
The back of J-Law’s dress was just as stunning as the front (Evan Agostini/Invision)

Cara Delevingne broke with convention and wore what appeared to be a black Spandex leotard, with body art on her chest, shoulders and arms.

Cara Delevingne (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Cara Delevingne (Charles Sykes/Invision)

And Rita Ora, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus all shunned the apparent trends of capes, trains and sheer gowns, opting for bright and bold colours instead.

Rita Ora (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Rita Ora (Evan Agostini/Invision)

Brit star Rita was a lady in red.

Katy Perry (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Katy Perry (Charles Sykes/Invision)

While Katy debuted a new pixie crop hair-do with a graffiti-ed dress and matching spray paint can handbag.

Miley Cyrus (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Miley Cyrus (Charles Sykes/Invision)

Miley looked her usual rebellious self in a studded black dress with cut-out sides.

Sarah Jessica Parker, who was one of the unqualified hits on last year’s red carpet in elegant custom Oscar de la Renta, did not disappoint this time around, appearing in a towering red headpiece that resembled fiery flames.

SJP (Charles Sykes/Invision)
SJP embraced the theme (Charles Sykes/Invision)

Designed by milliner Philip Treacy, the piece bore long red tassels on each side. SJP paired it with a one-shoulder black gown embellished with sashes comprised of bits of vintage fabric and beads from Sweden — a collaboration with H&M and the company’s Conscious Collection, which focuses on sustainable fabrics.

SJP said she’d been working on the outfit since November, after getting “piecemeal clues” from the gala’s longtime head, Anna Wintour on what this year’s theme might be. “We thought it told a great story, and also gave you ideas on how you could rethink what is important in your life and ways to reuse it again,” the Sex And The City star said.

Anna Wintour organised the whole shindig (Charles Sykes/AP)
Anna Wintour organised the whole shindig (Charles Sykes/AP)

The Vogue editor-in-chief sported an orange-and-red floral couture gown from Chanel as she walked up the stairs to kick off the star-studded party that raises millions for the Met’s Anna Wintour Costume Centre.

She was followed by a succession of stars from film, music, fashion, TV and even sports unrivalled anywhere but perhaps the Oscars.

Kate Hudson looked like an Oscar statuette herself in gold (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Kate Hudson looked like an Oscar statuette herself in gold (Charles Sykes/Invision)

As actress Kate Hudson noted: “It’s like Oscar night for the fashion world, but without the pressure of who’s going to get an award.” The actress was dressed in a sleek gown of gold sequins, by Michael Kors.

Cher (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Cher (Evan Agostini/Invision)

One of the biggest stars of the evening — and a surprise, until the last moment — was Cher, in an understated sequinned Marc Jacobs gown in grey and purple with a floral motif.

Ellie Goulding and Lorde share a joke on the Met steps (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Ellie Goulding and Lorde share a joke on the Met steps (Evan Agostini/Invision)

British singer Ellie Goulding went for a silver flapper-style dress and arrived giggling with pal Lorde in a long navy gown.

Sienna Miller (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Sienna Miller (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Alexa Chung (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Alexa Chung (Evan Agostini/Invision)

Other Brits on the red carpet included Sienna Miller in a red trouser suit, open at the front to reveal she was topless underneath, and Alexa Chung in floral pink satin.

Dakota looked daring (Evan Agostini/AP)
Dakota looked daring (Evan Agostini/AP)

Fifty Shades Of Grey star Dakota Johnson has very little to hide after appearing in the raunchy film, and wore a tiny silver mini-dress to the prestigious event.

Sophia Veraga looked radiant (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Sofia Vergara looked radiant (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Uma looked elegant (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Uma looked elegant (Evan Agostini/Invision)

Sofia Vergara went for floaty white with jewelled detail, while Uma Thurman arrived in a very simply white Grecian-style gown.

Kristen Wiig sees the funny side (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Kristen Wiig sees the funny side (Evan Agostini/Invision)

Actress Kristen Wiig embraced the evening’s colour scheme, wearing a flowing yellow chiffon number by Prabal Gurung, who accompanied her on the carpet.

Anne Hathaway (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Anne Hathaway (Charles Sykes/Invision)

Anne Hathaway shimmered in a sleek hooded body-skimmer from Ralph Lauren. Her hair in a temporary bob, Katie Holmes took Zac Posen’s arm in one of his designs, a sparkly blue gown with cutouts at the back.

Katie Holmes (Charles Sykes/Invision)
Katie Holmes (Charles Sykes/Invision)

Chinese actress Tang Wei glittered, literally, in a silver dress embedded with thousands of crystals. “I came here to see beauties,” she said, “all the beautiful actresses.”

Tang Wei (Evan Agostini/AP)
Tang Wei (Evan Agostini/AP)

The guests all seemed aware of a new ban Anna Wintour had placed on selfies inside. They seemed to be happy to go along with it.

Gabrielle Union (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Gabrielle Union (Evan Agostini/Invision)

“I think selfies can kind of cut into the moment and the fun,” said Gabrielle Union, in purple Posen, accompanied by husband Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat. “It’s not that fun if you need to document the whole thing.”

Gong Li in rich wine red (Evan Agostini/Invision)
Gong Li in rich wine red (Evan Agostini/Invision)

There were also a number of Chinese celebrities in attendance, perhaps chief among them actress Gong Li, who offered a girlish tilt of her head as she waved in a deep red velvet gown with black lace and a fan design. Celebrated film director Wong Kar Wai was there as the Met exhibit’s artistic director.