Madonna landed on the red carpet wearing a shocker of a green feathered frock when she attended a New York charity gala.

The 50-year-old singer seemed to be taking the phrase "free as a bird" a bit too literally in the mini-dress which resembled a budgerigar from Louis Vuitton's Spring-Summer 2009 collection, which is not yet available to buy.

Madonna - used to flashing plenty of flesh on stage in skimpy costumes during her Sticky And Sweet tour - bared her arm muscles and showed off her athletic pins in fishnet tights at the Unicef party hosted by Gucci.

The queen of pop appeared to have been taking style advice from close friend Gwyneth Paltrow with her junky belt and bracelets and dominatrix-style buckled, high-heeled shoes.

But the star - who is said to have signed a £6.5 million deal as the new face of Louis Vuitton's latest range of bags - was looking glowing from the neck up.

Her soft blonde waves in a side parting, subtle make-up and red lipstick oozed 1940s Hollywood glamour, but unfortunately did nothing to detract from her outfit.

Madonna is said to have posed for a photoshoot with photographer Steven Meisel - who is credited with taking the images for her controversial 1992 book Sex - for the Louis Vuitton bag campaign.

Her spokesperson told The Daily Mail: "I know she's done the ad but don't know for how much."

Source: Evening Post