Rihanna in queen's garb shuts down Met Gala carpet

Rihanna arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala 2015 celebrating the opening of "China: Through the Looking Glass," in Manhattan, New York May 4, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Never let it be said that Rihanna doesn't know how to make an entrance.

On a night when big stars were a dime a dozen - try George and Amal Clooney, Lady Gaga, Madonna and Cher - the pop singer still managed to pull the red carpet out from under the rest of them at the Met Gala on Monday when she swooped in wearing a fur-trimmed yellow cape with floral swirls of gold and a train so long it required three wranglers.

The ensemble came with a little pink mini-dress underneath, and a sparkling tiara. In keeping with the evening's theme - China, and its artistic influence on the West - the outfit came from Beijing-based designer Guo Pei, whose sumptuous designs also are on display in the current Metropolitan Museum exhibit, "China: Through the Looking Glass."

As befitting a star - or fashion royalty - Rihanna commanded premium attention on the carpet by being one of the very last to arrive. But compared to another A-lister, she was an early-bird.