Beyoncé's Sheer Givenchy Gown Polarizes 2012 Met Gala Fashion Critics

At an event as A-list as the Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art — the "Met Ball" for short — the competition for most talked-about ball gown is bound to be fierce. Or, in this year's case, Sasha Fierce.

Beyonce Knowles, 30, making her grand return to the red carpet after giving birth to Blue Ivy Carter in January, towered above other A-listers attending the annual event in New York City, among them Gwyneth Paltrow, Heidi Klum and Scarlett Johansson. But the jury is still out as to whether Beyonce's purple-befeathered, sheer sequin Givenchy Haute Couture gown, which showed off choice cuts of the singer's curvy physique, was tastefully eye-turning or spectacularly gauche.

"Beyonce's combined body stocking and ombre train ... made for the sort of gown a Cirque du Soliel performer would wear," wrote Stylelist.com, adding the pop star to their list of the worst-dressed.

"The super-star's post-baby body looks amazing and her face is glowing, but Beyonce's Met Ball gown is nuts! The sheer black tulle looks tacky and the gradient purple ostrich feathers are Muppet-esque," wrote the editors at Yahoo's "Shine" blog.

Marie Claire UK, however, praised Beyonce's choice, calling it "daring," and ranked the singer among the event's best dressed stars.

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