Natalie Portman pulls off unusual textured dress at NY ballet ball

Ballet has the recent film Black Swan to thank for its resurgence in popularity and judging by the calibre of stars on the red carpet at the New York City Ballet Fall Gala, the art form is here to stay.

Natalie Portman, the movie's star, attended the event to support her choreographer husband Benjamin Millepied, who was presenting some of his original work. And the pair made a glamorous couple on the red carpet, with Natalie stunning in an unusual textured colour pop dress by Dior.

Natalie's gown was a floor length, strapless design with a black skirt and cyan and lemon yellow stripes at the torso. On closer inspection it looks like the texture of the material is spiky and almost stud-like.

[Natalie Portman Dior add banned]
[Five reasons to take up ballet]

Natalie's choice of outfit stood out against a mostly neutral red carpet. Drew Barrymore opted for a black, lacy dress, while Sarah Jessica Parker, who hosted the event, wore a dramatic, white and pale pink number, with wide skirts and a narrow belt.

Nicky Hilton also chose to wear a neutral, pale peach dress and Victoria's Secret Angel Doutzen Kroes went for black.

Overshadowing SJP in the fashion stakes is quite a feat, but Natalie's dress showed off her incredible post-baby body and the unusual combination of blue and yellow its a trend we'll be looking out for over the next season.

She finished off the outfit with a black clutch, loose hair and dark eye make up combined with nude lips. Benjamin, with whom she has a two-year-old son, looked dapper in a sharp black suit and bow tie.