All the glitter and sweat from the 2016 ARIA Awards red carpet

OUR music stars sweltered, then got pelted as they walked the ARIAs red carpet. There were some outfit hits, but some big misses.

Jessica Mauboy on the red carpet at the 2016 ARIA Awards held at The Star Sydney. Picture: Jonathan Ng

THE country’s biggest music stars first sweltered, and then got pelted, as they walked the red carpet at the 2016 ARIA Awards in Sydney this afternoon.

Already a hot and sticky day, the rain decided to fall just as the celebs, including Jessica Mauboy, Robbie Williams and Samantha Jade, rolled up to the red carpet at The Star in Darling Harbour.

There’s something about the ARIAs that makes our finest local singers want to make an impact. But instead of swinging by a Westfield and picking up a perfectly stylish outfit, they decide they need to take things to the next level. It’s just like in high school when there’s that chick who keeps talking about how she’s getting her dress custom made for the year 12 formal and her parents are spending a butt-load of cash on it. Everyone thinks it’s going to be super chic, but when she rolls up and climbs out of her parents’ Ford Falcon, it’s just an all around mess.

That’s what happened to Jessica Mauboy.

Now, we love Jess Mauboy. Saturday Night is still a jam of a song and I still think she should have won season four of Australian Idol over that Irish fellow.

But it’s been almost 12 months to the day since she fired her stylist over that Melbourne Cup shoe incident, and it’s time girlfriend admits she needs to employ someone again.

If you cast your mind back, you’ll recall Jess also turned heads at last year’s ARIAs with a weird grey pantsuit that had some insane sleeve action. Despite the backlash, Jess seems to have a yen for a dramatic sleeve and doesn’t care what anyone has to say about them. Either that or she’s just trolling us now and this is all a joke. Either way, she’s brought the sleeves back. But this year, satin and patterns and layers are involved.

It’s really something else.

Jessica Mauboy and her sleeves.

Jess and her sleeves at the 2015 ARIA Awards.

You’d think it would be impossible to one-up Mauboy. But one musician managed to. And she did it with a “uterus dress”. Swedish singer Tove Lo rocked a sheer orange dress with a print of the female reproductive system printed on the front. And there’s not much more to say, really.

Tove Lo's dress has ovaries on it. 😍😍😍 #arias pic.twitter.com/mkaMvLyZhl

— steph harmon (@stephharmon) November 23, 2016

Meanwhile, anticipating the wet weather, DJ Havana Brown showed some initiative by incorporating a bikini top into her oversized, 90s-style blue pant suit. Not sure whether to wear the accompanying blazer with the highwaisted suit pants or just go without, she decided to do half and half.

Half on half off ... Havana Brown proves sometimes you can have both. Picture: Christian Gilles

Talking to the Daily Telegraph on the red carpet, the DJ said she was looking for something a bit different when she decided on the Manning Cartel ensemble.

“I want to wear something I can’t wear down the street,” she said. “I’m inspired by TLC back in the day. “This is my opportunity to wear what I want.”

British singer Charli XCX had the right idea and came prepared for the rain by co-ordinating her umbrella with her outfit. Very international. Take note, local artists.

From the front, the singer looked chic in her short and flirty white ensemble. But from behind, she dished an eyeful to onlookers who realised too late just how short her skirt was. As she walked away, she flashed some series under-butt.

Charli XCX rocks her short and flirty white ensemble on the red carpet.

Under-butt part II.

Charli XCX flashes her butt.

Havana Brown wasn’t the only one rocking the pant suit. Channel V’s Carissa Walford went bold, showing her cleavage off under a red blazer with matching flares.

#RedFlaresDon’tCare. Carissa Walford on the red carpet Picture: Jonathan Ng

Samantha Jade went bold with a long-sleeved, high-necked metallic-patterned mini dress. The singer cinched the waist in with a black belt and upped the drama with a smoky eye.

Samantha Jade goes short and sexy.

Giving Samantha Jade’s spray tan a run for its money is Anthony Callea. The singer looked freshly bronzed in black leather pants and a white longline blazer. A grey marle tee with a rather dramatic scoop neck showed off his smooth chest. He topped the look off with a leather clutch and some glitzy statement rings.

Anthony Callea kicks up his heels on the red carpet.

Also repping Australian Idol was Shannon “Nollsy” Noll. He boot scooted down the carpet in some black skinny jeans but also chucked on a waistcoat to jazz the look up for the night.

Shannon Noll arrives at The Star.

Megan Washington went wild with the frills. The theatrical singer-songwriter usually goes for quirkier looks, and she stayed true to form with a ruffled, pastel pink mini dress complete with a small black bow around her neck.

Megan Washington ruffles her way down the red carpet.

Ruffles on ruffles.

Anna Heinrich showed off some skin in a sexy black gown. The reality star, who won Tim Robards heart on the first season of The Bachelor, sizzled in the dress with cut-outs down the back and sides.

Anna Heinrich sizzles.

Sophie Monk almost risked a nip slip in her sheer and chic mini dress. While lace and sequined embellishments covered her cleavage, the star left little to the imagination, showing off just a hint of nip.

Sophie Monk shows a hint of nip.

Channel Nine’s Richard Wilkins brought along his favourite red carpet accessory — his son, Christian “The Prince” Wilkins. With his hair loose and tousled, Christian dealt with the heat by unbuttoning his shirt to his navel. He glammed things up with a sparkly trouser.

Richard Wilkins and his son arrive at the ARIAs.

And the Wilkins weren’t the only boys going bold with their outfits. While Robbie Williams rocked a patterned tuxedo jacket, Aussie singer-songwriter Ben Lee went all out with a bright yellow suit. I don’t even know where you’d purchase a bright yellow suit. Maybe from some kind of online store. Anyway, even he looks like he regrets it.

Robbie Williams and Ben Lee go bold.

ARIA Awards red carpet 2016

VIEW GALLERY

Originally published as All the glitter and sweat from the 2016 ARIA Awards red carpet