Baring skin on the red carpet can spell disaster but the stars did it with style

Baring skin on the red carpet can be risky if you want to keep it classy. So who pulled off the double act of sexy and stylish?

Margot Robbie arrives at the Oscars and shows that skin and style can meet beautifully on the red carpet (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

OPINION

Red carpets have been awash with brilliantly buff and polished skin for years now.

Since that infamous moment when Cher donned THAT creation (pictured below if you need reminding) there seems to have been a race, each time a red carpet is rolled out, to show as much skin as possible.

But this year, I am happy to say lashings of skin collided beautifully with bling resulting in good old style. I mean, hardly a red carpet runner relied on cheap tricks to grab the attention of us mere observers.

From Margot Robbie, who looked like a gold Logie, I mean Oscar, in her deeply plunging Tom Ford gown and Forevermark diamonds. Then there was Jennifer Lawrence, who wore a Dior, verging on up-market bordello, lace dress that made seeing so much skin ultra sleek and cool.

I know. I know. I am very sorry to disappoint you and not be able to list a whole lot of haute howlers and hideous cut-outs and splits up to the there and necklines down to there. But this year, the ruby rug fashion just all gelled together.

Naomi Watts nailed her look and showed her exquisitely toned shoulders in an Armani Prive beautifully blinged gown with Swarovski crystals while her jewels and her bag were from Bulgari. Even the occasionally awkward Roony Mara made showing her alabaster complexion an Olympic sport in her Givenchy lace and buttoned gown.

Sofia Vergara, too, showed skin but in a very, very tailored and intricately bodice way. Oh for godsake, she looks good in anything, so who am I trying to kid?

Even Olivia Wilde, who showed front boob, side boob and nearly parts of entire boob in her pleated Valentino dress did it in an ultra chic way. The way she wore that diamond choker took her look from potential trash to positive flash.

While skin wasn’t exactly on the agenda of Heidi Klum — I mean you could hardly see any under that sea of bridesmaid mauve — thank god for that killer red Dior dress from Charlize Theron and, gulp, those US$3.7 million worth of Harry Winston diamonds.

But let’s move on from skin. Let’s talk about jewels and in particular, earrings.

Yup, there is no question they were the numero uno accessory on the red carpet, trumping rings, bracelets and necklaces as THE killer piece of jewellery.

Zoom into most of the Oscar stars and you will see one mighty exquisite earring with Cate Blanchett absolutely leading the ear-charge with a tiered diamond pair from Tiffany & Co as my absolute standout favourite. (Oh and her sea-foam Armani gown made the grade, big time too.)

While in previous years it has been the time for extraordinary necklaces to shine, it was all about lobe detail and the bigger, the more diamonds and more OTT were certainly the better.

All hail skin!

Follow Melissa Hoyer on Instagram and Twitter @melissahoyer

Originally published as Baring skin on the red carpet can spell disaster but the stars did it with style