Alex and Brendan Fevola make united appearance on Brownlow Medal blue carpet

BROWNLOW Medal Night used to be about AFL That was before a diamond-encrusted G-string, and that red dress...

ALEX Fevola made a stylish appearance on last night's Brownlow blue carpet, despite being seven months pregnant with her third child.

Alex Fevola, expecting a girl with Carlton's resident bad boy Brendan, almost completely hid her 27-week bump in navy blue folds, which she revealed was by Holsten.

The pair were hand in hand on the red carpet, despite officially separating earlier this year.

Fevola, obviously keen to stay in his wife's good books after their rollercoaster year, simply said, "she's always stunning".

The Carlton player was attentive to his wife throughout the dinner, but didn't fail to let his hair down later at the After Party.

Rebecca Twigley, famous beau of Fev's teammate Chris Judd, pulled another classy number out of the bag to continue her reign as Queen of the Brownlows.

Twigley was in her favourite couture courtesy of J'Aton, a soft pink fairy dress that made the most of her enviable figure, with jewellery by Myer.

Twigley is always the one the media and viewers keep an eye on since her dazzling scarlet turn in 2004. However, the WA model said she tries not to feel pressure to repeat the trick, so she can just concentrate on enjoying the night.

Meanwhile, Dr Geoffrey Edelsten's fiancee Brynne Gordon was at the other end of the exposure meter, upstaging all the WAGS in a barely-there flesh-flashing frock.

Ms Gordon, 26, braved the blue carpet in an unusual sequinned gown by US label Murielle.

The top half of the black and silver frock was little more than an ill-fitting bikini that displayed an ample cleavage and toned, tanned stomach.

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It was a head-turning choice on a night where most guests opted for elegant and sophisticated designer gowns.

Ms Gordon, who'll wed Dr Edelsten at Crown on November 29, was unfazed by the attention.

The former LA-based fitness trainer said she picked up the gown in Las Vegas recently.

She said she was looking forward to being Mrs Edelsten. "I can't wait, I am so excited."

The couple will wed in front of 500 guests. The Nanny star Fran Drescher and Seinfeld's Jason Alexander will MC the event.

Of course, Brownlow Medal Night used to be about AFL That was before a diamond-encrusted G-string, and Twigley wore that red dress.

We may have been interested in who they took as a date, but we never would have bothered ourselves with what the girl was wearing.

Search through the pictorial archives of Brownlows past and you will be lucky to find a full-length shot of anyone in a frock before about 1998.

If the woman's outfit was pictured, it was while the pair walked hand in hand, not posing Oscars-style while the national media rated their style.

We may scorn it now, but flesh flashers put Brownlow fashion on the map. Those with plunging necklines, ample cleavage and midriffs on show were in the paper the next day for reasons other than having a boyfriend who polled well in the count.

Lisa Lloyd and Tania Hird were stunning, but Tania Minnici's (now Buckley) bejewelled 2001 G-string put Brownlow fashion on the agenda.

At the same time, overseas sports couples put the spotlight on fashion. Becks and Posh tied the knot and the global phenomenon known as WAGs (wives and girlfriends) was on the rise.

Designers were learning the publicity benefits that dressing sportsmen's wives and girlfriends could bring.

While Brownlow partners had always had their gowns made by dressmakers -- thus eliminating the risk of someone else wearing the same dress -- now they were taking things up a notch.

They had ticked the bombshell box and now were looking for credit for their style, too.

By the time Rebecca Twigley stepped out in that red dress, the Brownlow was already a fashion event, but the young WA model cemented it.

It was a risky move donning a navel-revealing gown, but Twigley must have sensed it was just on the right side of good taste. Since then Brownlow fashion has been all about looking for the next Twigley moment.

Every year bigger design names get on board. Like Oscars stars, high-profile Brownlow belles are offered expensive jewellery for the night.

The pressure is on and, while some rise to the challenge, others trying the Twigley trick, crash and burn.

Some have all the right bits in all the right places, but simply no taste.

Others are unrealistic about what they can achieve.

A third, more disturbing group have too much say over their design, breaking all the rules of good style.

The Brownlow red carpet is more polished. Flashing too much flesh draws criticism and lousy designs live in memories longer than the event.

Standing out because you have good taste and an eye for fashion trends is much more difficult.