Celebrity red carpet transformations

It's amazing what a couple of hours in hair and make-up can do for these normally low maintenance stars.

AGYNESS DEYN
Queen of East End casual with her bleached crop, baggy T-shirt and range of Dr. Martens boots, Agyness Deyn isn't what you'd call Hollywood glamorous, but slick back the hair and add a few Marc Jacobs accessories and her modelling glamour is restored.

CAREY MULLIGAN
Recently married Brit actress Carey Mulligan can best be described as hobo-chic in her spare time, but as soon as there's a red carpet in sight Miu Miu, Prada and Chanel are the order of the day.

AGYNESS DEYN
Queen of East End casual with her bleached crop, baggy T-shirt and range of Dr. Martens boots, Agyness Deyn isn't what you'd call Hollywood glamorous, but slick back the hair and add a few Marc Jacobs accessories and her modelling glamour is restored.

DAKOTA FANNING
After a lifetime in the public eye Dakota Fanning has given up the ghost, knowing you can't look glamorous all day everyday. But at film premieres and awards ceremonies the 18-year-old has the red carpet look down pat with the likes of Marc Jacobs, Lanvin and Elie Saab in her red carpet repertoire.

ELLE FANNING
Like sister like sister. Dakota's younger sibling Elle knows how to crank it up a notch. She may be just 14 but she has the Rodarte sisters and Louis Vuitton dressing her every red carpet moment.

KIERA KNIGHTLEY
Chanelling chimney sweep-chic Kiera's grey wardrobe staples are lacklustre at best for this night out in London. But add a dash of gold Valentino and a sweep of professional make-up and hey presto! a red carpet star is born.

SARAH JESSICA PARKER
Oft seen plodding around New York's Soho in her Ugg boots, a puffer jacket, sunglasses and a borderline rasta-style hat, with one or two of her brood hanging off her arm, Sarah Jessica Parker adds a sprinkling of Carrie Bradshaw glamour to her wardrobe when there's a glittering event in town.

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Oscars 2012 fashion: red carpet trends

It's called the biggest night in fashion, though quite how many of us mere mortals will be studying the Oscars red carpet to see what we'll be wearing this spring is fairly questionable.

Left to right: Meryl Streep in Lanvin for the Green Carpet Challenge; Stacy Keibler in Marchesa; Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen. PHOTOS: Getty.
This is totally fine if you're a) planning on winning one later like Meryl Streep whose custom made Lanvin for the Green Carpet Challenge gown looked a triumph next to her Best Actress statuette; b) possibly winning one like Jessica Chastain who although sadly lost out on the the night, still looked a winner in this Alexander McQueen gown; or c) escorting a potential winner like Stacy Keibler whose stunning Marchesa gown was teamed with the ultimate accessory - George Clooney. No one else need apply.

Left to right: Bérénice Bejo in Elie Saab couture; Penelope Cruz in Giorgio Armani; Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab. PHOTOS: Getty
Trends schmends. Sometimes we just want to look at a gown and sigh at how wonderfully, magically, dreamy it is. Step forward princess Penelope Cruz who channelled Grace Kelly in a dusty blue, off-the-shoulder Giorgio Armani fancy; best actress nominee Bérénice Bejo in her mint parfait Elie Saab couture gown. Of course, this is what Mr Saab does best, so no surprise that model-turned-actress Milla Jovovich also floored the competition in one of his creations.

LADIES IN RED left to right: Livia Firth in Valentino for the Green Carpet Challenge; Natalie Portman in vintage Christian Dior; Jane Seymour
Michelle Williams (top) has to be our best dressed of the night in her strapless tulle Louis Vuitton gown. She headed up a red gown gang whose notables also included Livia Firth in a stunning fairytale Valentino Haute Couture gown which was custom made for her Green Carpet Challenge from recycled polyester from plastic bottles (not your average style statement); Dior ambassador Natalie Portman who neatly dodged being predictable by choosing a vintage dress from the Dior archives from 1954; and veteran British actress Jane Seymour who by some genetic miracle managed to pull off a strappy red sparkly gown at the age of 61.

Left to right: Giuliana Rancic in Tony Ward; Rooney Mara in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci; Li Bing Bing. PHOTOS: Getty/AFP
In fact, the more romantic the better as this glamorous trio of bridal mermaids prove. And they weren't the only ones channelling the fairytale wedding vibe. The red carpet was positively fit to burst with all the floor-length white gowns on show from Cameron Diaz to Octavia Spencer. Of course, leave it to our favourite new fashion plate Rooney Mara to do it best. Her Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci gown was offset to perfection by her alabaster complexion and jet black hair.

NO-NOS left to right: Viola Davis in Vera Wang; Ann Sophie Bion; Missi Pyle.
Do not jostle and squeeze your assets into a dress that isn't equipped to deal with them properly, particularly if that dress is bright green. Never mistake a bin liner for an Oscars gown. One is for rubbish, one just looks it. And finally, try not to let your outfit look like a 1950's bedroom suite complete with frilly valance.

Left to right: Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford; Charlene, Princess of Monaco in Akris; Shailene Woodley in Valentino Haute Couture. PHOTOS: Getty
Just ask Gwyneth Paltrow whose sharply tailored white Tom Ford gown with cape detail was a total knockout without any need for elaborate frills, jewels, bells or whistles. Following suit were Charlene, Princess of Monaco who resisted temptation to over-embellish her elegant white Akris gown; and rising star Shailene Woodley who confessed that one of the major attractions of this beautiful Valentino couture gown was that she could still breathe in it.

Michelle WIlliams wearing Louis Vuitton.

Left to right: Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad; Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace; Glenn Close in Zac Posen. PHOTOS: Getty
Not every woman can pull off the whole 'I'm sexy and I know it' look without looking like they're trying too hard. Notable exceptions to this were Angelina 'OMG Amazing' Jolie who looked ready to ravish the photographers at any moment; Jennifer 'Shake Your Money Maker' Lopez whose motto is 'never knowingly underdressed'; and a surprise entry, Glenn Close whose whole demeanour screamed 'yes I may be old enough for my bus pass, but I've still got it damn you!'. Watch out Helen Mirren, there's a new sexy sexagenarian in town.

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Fashion trend report: What to ditch and what to keep for the new season in pics

Showing you which summer trends are out and what they are being replaced with from the autumn/winter 2011 collections.

OUT: Denim, as seen at Derek Lam spring/summer 2011.
IN: Leather, as seen at Louis Vuitton, Marios Schwab and Ralph Lauren autumn/winter 2011.
For spring/summer denim took on a grown up feel making it a wardrobe staple, but for the winter season it is leather that is the must-have.

OUT : Fringing, as seen at Roberto Cavalli spring/summer 2011.
IN: Fur, as seen at Donna Karan, Michael Kors and Valentino autumn/winter 2011.
Fur was seen on almost every autumn/winter catwalk, replacing the fringing trend which covered every surface in the collections earlier in year.

OUT: Tropical prints, as seen at Stella McCartney spring/summer 2011.
IN: Checks, as seen at MaxMara, Rag & Bone and Thakoon autumn/winter 2011.
Checks came in all shapes and sizes, be they tartan, houndstooth or Maasai inspired, for autumn/winter.

 

OUT: Headscarves, as seen at Roksanda Ilincic spring/summer 2011.
IN: Hats, as seen at Lanvin, Hermes and Moschino autumn/winter 2011.
The whymsical gypsy girl from the spring/summer season was nowhere to be seen on the autumn/winter catwalks. Instead hats came down the runways in all shapes and sizes.

 

OUT : Big hair, as seen at Marc Jacobs spring/summer 2011.
IN : Slick ponytails, as seen at Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs and Christopher Kane autumn/winter 2011.
Put away your crimpers and go for the slicked back look with this season's ponytail. Perhaps the easiest - and least expensive - of the trends to master!

OUT : Bianca Jagger, as seen at Yves Saint Laurent spring/summer 2011.
IN: Twiggy, as seen at Burberry, Prada and Bottega Veneta autumn/winter 2011.
Flouncy disco inspired clothes may have had their last dance, and are promptly being replaced by graphic, 60's shifts.

OUT: Maxi-dresses, as seen at Erdem spring/summer 2011.
IN : Tunic and trousers, as seen at Diane von Furtenburg, Michael Kors and Osman autumn/winter 2011.
Longline tunic tops, paired with trousers is the new approach to evening wear, so store away your maxis in the coming months.

OUT: Nude, as seen at Roland Mouret spring/summer 2011.
IN: Gold, as seen at Stella McCartney, Dolce & Gabbana and Balmain autumn/winter 2011.
A high shine opulence gave the nude trend a glamourous gold reinvention.

OUT: White, as seen at Dolce & Gabbana spring/summer 2011.
IN: Black, as seen at Alexander Wang and Chanel autumn/winter 2011.
The winter months normally see a greater number of darker clothes, however this season many of the designers went fully back to black.

OUT: Zebra print, as seen at Louis Vuitton spring/summer 2011.
IN: Snakeskin, as seen at Gucci, Chloe and Prada autumn/winter 2011.
Keeping it on the wild side, designers have replaced the swathes of zebra print with coloured snakeskin, be it as a detail on accessories or a head-to-toe look.

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Trending: nude coloured dresses

Dresses in barely-there hues are proving a hit on and off the catwalk, offering an elegant and feminine alternative to this season's 'pop' colours.

Compiled by Sophia Gardner
There was a balletic mood at Chloé for spring/summer 2011, where creative director Hannah MacGibbon used delicate fabrics and muted, dreamy tones.

This beige dress by Elie Saab compliments actress Mila Kunis's golden skin tone at the 'Black Swan' film premiere.

But the fair-skinned are getting in on the nude shades as well. This embellished, nude dress (also by Elie Saab) looks fresh with Scarlett Johansson's pale skin tone and blonde hair.

A model in a beige dress by designer Jonathan Saunders, adorned with a contrasting white geometric pattern at the spring/summer catwalk show.

This striking evening dress with floral appliqué is part of the Valentino spring/summer 2011 collection.

'Gossip Girl' star Leighton Meester wore a long-sleeved Burberry dress paired with statement Louis Vuitton accessories at the Golden Globes.

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Trending: Lace - 2

Jade Parfitt clearly liked what she saw and paired her neon Christopher Kane dress with a black jacket and boots.

Backstage at Valentino models try their black lace dresses on for size; long-sleeves and leather trimmings create a gothic-chic evening alternative to the classic LBD.

 Chanel's monochrome creation doubles up on lace, with a white lace dress under a black lace overlay: a chic, understated but red carpet-ready gown.

At Monday's Met Ball in New York, Rihanna's lace Stella McCartney gown was a two-faced ensemble, with a full-sleeve and long train on one side, and nothing but sheer mesh on the other.

 

Model, Chanel Iman channels the summer's prevailing 70s trend in a sandy-pink lace dress with flared sleeves and a wide-brimmed straw hat.

Chloe Sevigny channels the 80s instead, teaming her cream lace mini with a denim jacket.

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Trending - Animal Prints 2

For pre-fall, designers are taking a walk on the wild side with prints inspired by leopard, snakes and armadillos.

 At Zac Posen pre-fall the body-con dresses came in green leopard print.

 While not strictly animal print, Thakoon took inspiration from a leopard's markings for pieces in his pre-fall 2011 collection.

 Monochrome animal print at Tracy Reese pre-fall 2011.

 Leopard print coats featured at Valentino pre-fall 2011 - not a wardrobe must-have for the shy and retiring.

 With a nod to the Versace archive, the pre-fall 2011 collection featured leopard print dresses.

The Versace pre-fall 2011 collection featured animal-print minidresses embellished with gold embroidery.

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Trending: Paintbox brights pics

 American writer and actress Brit Marling wore a red and pink T-shirt dress by Preen to the Another Earth New York premiere.

 This sporty lime green dress with black piping by Michael Kors was certain to get Freida Pinto noticed at the 2011 Comic-Con.

 Gossip Girl actress Katie Cassidy wore a bright orange Herve Leger by Max Azria body-con dress to the Miu Miu and Lucrecia Martel's Muta party.

 Girls Aloud singer-turned-actress Kimberley Walsh ran the risk of melting into the background when wearing this plunging bright red Karen Karam dress on the red carpet.

 Alber Elbaz's spring/summer 2011 collection was jammed full of colourful dresses in a variety of silhouettes.

 The MaxMara collection was awash with bright head-to-toe colour.

 When promoting her new film, Friends with Benefits, Mila Kunis wore a red off-the-shoulder Lanvin dress.

 The spring/summer 2011 Miu Miu collection was full of dresses in bright satins.

 Roland Mouret's runway collection fused his signature ladylike glamour with a bright palette.

 Actress Rachel Nichols opted for a turquoise asymmetric Versace dress from the autumn/winter collection for the 2011 ESPY Awards.

Recently married Rachel Weisz made her first red carpet appearance since her wedding in this red Valentino resort 2012 dress.

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