The 5 Best-Dressed Mamas at the 2012 Met Gala

The Met Costume Institute Gala is one of the highlights of the red-carpet season—stars from the worlds of entertainment, fashion, music and culture all come out to flaunt their style and to celebrate the latest fashion exhibition at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

There were so many amazing looks this year (and, as always, a number of serious head-scratchers [Marc Jacobs? Elizabeth Banks? Whoever did Scarlett Johansson's hair?]) but we decided to focus on the five mamas who really turned our heads. (For the record, when/if Christina Ricci and Emily Blunt have kids, they will be added to this list retroactively.)

Gwenyth Paltrow

 Though the sight of all of those ribs makes us want to reach for the BBQ sauce, we still love Gwyneth's lilac mini gown by Prada. What with her mile-long legs, bare back and her smidgen of side-boob, this dress is ultra-sexy, but still manages to cover the parts one generally wants to cover.
Photography by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images