Style watch: don't-miss trends at 2012 Met Gala Plunging V-necklines Feathers Orange Look-at-me lace Liquid gold Capes Peplum By Li Mi...

Style watch: don't-miss trends at 2012 Met Gala

Plunging V-necklines

Feathers

Orange

Look-at-me lace

Liquid gold

Capes

Peplum

By Li Min, Specially for Sina English

The Met ball has become the fashion Oscars. It is also the opening night of the annual fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Like every year, Hollywood stars and fashionistas were dressed to the nines at the New York Metropolitan Museum's prestigious Met Gala, famously referred to in fashion circles as the "Night of Nights".

This year's extravaganza celebrated the opening of the fashion exhibition 'Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations in New York'. From the feathery frocks Beyoncé and Diane Kruger wore to the plunging gowns on Jessica Biel and Claire Danes, see the don't-miss fashion trends at this year's Met gala.

Plunging V-necklines

Forget diamonds – tape is the best friend of Debra Messing, Claire Danes, Lea Michele and Jessica Biel, who take the plunge in cut-down-to-there dresses.

Feathers

Birds of a fashionable feather flock together, as do Beyonce, Diane Kruger and Kate Blanchett their dramatically sophisticated frocks.

Orange

Just saying no to neutrals, Katharine McPhee, Ginnifer Goodwin, Kristen Bell and Eva Mendes dazzled the red carpet in the juicy, summer shade.

Look-at-me lace

Choosing the ultimate sexy-yet-sophisticated medium to show their figures, Kristen Wiig, Rooney Mara and yes, even Marc Jacobs go with attention-grabbing lace.

Liquid gold

Is that a Cash4Gold commercial? No, it's just Karolina Kurkova, Carey Mulligan and Jessica Pare bringing their 24k glamour to the spotlight of the red carpet.

Capes

While Elizabeth Banks opts for a mini capelet-esque addition to her printed peplum dress, Lana Del Rey and Italian socialite Bianca Brandolini D'Adda choose shoulder coverings that are higher impact, thanks to their floor-skimming lengths.

Peplum

Have Amy Poehler, Eva Mendes and Solange Knowles been reading trends worth trying tips? Because they all showed up to the gala wearing the voluminous waist accent.

Bow belts

Taking waist-cinching to new girlie levels, Lily Collins, Dianna Agron and Amy Adams top off a variety of gowns ranging from demure to sexy with pretty little ties.

Dramatically dark lips

Invoking a beauty fad from the era of the '90s, Jessica Chastain and Leighton Meester paint their pouts with a deep red, while Rachel Zoe opts for a rich purplish shade and Camilla Belle chooses a lip color with brown tones.

Backless gowns

It's so nice to watch them walk away – only because the rear views of Cameron Diaz, Renée Zellweger and Rihanna and are so stunning, thanks to their open-back gowns.