10 Best Black Dresses from Met Gala

Rooney Mara stuck to her now-signature dark glam style in a stunning black lace Givenchy dress. The one-shoulder gown was finished off with a leather belt and sheer lace skirt. Edgy and fabulous.

Funky much? A mirrored dress that showed the underpinnings isn't a likely choice for a swanky event like the Met Gala. But nobody expects Chloe Sevigny to show up in something ordinary. Some fashion types -- well, at least the ones at E! -- called Chloe's dress a fashion disaster, but I think it fits her personality perfectly (and her shaggy haircut is adorable.)

With its laser-cut leather that looks like lace and feather trim, Amy Poehler's gown would've been too much look in any other color but black. But in black it looks just right (and really flatters her figure!)

Liv Tyler upped her style quotient in an edgy black Givenchy dress. The dress featured a black beaded strappy dress layered over a stretchy black tank piece, for a sexy layered look that definitely had an alternative look to it.

In a trend that started with earlier-this-year awards shows, Rosario Dawson donned a leather dress for this red carpet event. The super sleek Calvin Klein leather dress was accented by a funnel neck to bring focus to the face.

Rihanna's dress was probably more striking in person, but it lost a bit in the camera translation. The long-sleeve Tom Ford gown was made of super-textured, croco-stamped. If featured an open back. The most interesting part of the whole look was Rihanna's major Dragon Lady fingernails.

Another celebrity who wore a long-sleeve black gown, was Rosie Huntington-Whiteley who wore a black and copper beaded dress by Burberry. JustJared.com reported that the dress was made of tulle and featured glass beads and hand embroidery.

And yet another black Givenchy dress: this one worn by supermodel Gisele Bundchen. The beaded dress featured a sexy zip front and high slit with a high-low hem.

Does Cate Blanchett ever look bad on the red carpet? She's got a knack for looking absolutely elegant, and this Alexander McQueen look is another winner. One of Cate's talents is the ability to wear dresses as if they were jeans: she pulls off this elaborate feathered black fishtail as effortlessly as if it was a pair of her favorite worn blue jeans. The ponytail adds a casual vibe that finishes off her effortless chic.

Although she's frequently wearing Carolina Herrera, we're glad Renee Zellweger opted instead for this black silk Emilio Pucci gown. It's a knockout on the fortysomethign actress, with its backless silhouette and sheer cutouts. The dress was finished with a long, ruffled organza train that gave the dress a super glam look (especially from the rear view.)