School of frock

HILARY SWANK (A)

TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, TOKYO

Gown: Giambattista Valli

There has been such a dearth of show-stopping gowns that this ethereal white and purple petal-adorned creation immediately satisfies my craving. Nice to see Swank femme it up from time to time.

---

ROSE LESLIE (B+)

THE LAST WITCH HUNTER PREMIERE, LONDON

Gown: Jenny Packham

I am so used to seeing her play plain Jane maids (Downton Abbey) or Wildlings (Game Of Thrones), Leslie's almost unrecognisable all glammed up. Lovely makeover nevertheless.

---

BEYONCE (B)

TIDAL X: 1020 AMPLIFIED CONCERT, NEW YORK CITY

Gown: Philipp Plein
Shoes: Christian Louboutin

After being MIA on the red carpet for what seems like ages, I am prepared to buy whatever Queen Bey's selling - especially if it comes with a matching fur stole. Sure, the high ponytail is silly and her boobs are threatening to make a break for it, but the grape colour is phenomenal on her.

---

LADY GAGA (C+)

ROCK THE KASBAH PREMIERE, NEW YORK CITY

Top and skirt: Marc Jacobs
Shoes: Brian Atwood

I am finding it harder to remain interested in what she wears these days, because it is neither outlandishly good nor outrageously bad but squarely middle of the road (relatively speaking). Yes, even these gaudy multicoloured floral macrame separates are barely provoking any reaction.

---

MAMIE GUMMER (D-)

MANHATTAN SEASON 2 SCREENING, NEW YORK CITY

Outfit: Not known

As Meryl Streep's daughter, she should know better than to show up at an event looking like she robbed random homeless people and haphazardly threw their stuff on.

---

SIA (F)

GEMS' 2015 LOVE REVOLUTION GALA, NEW YORK CITY

Outfit: Not known

Four words: Send in the clowns. I have to applaud the savviness of my regular worst-dressed title-holder Lena Dunham (far right) for trotting out someone who actually makes her look presentable. It can't get any more awful than bow-masked Sia, whose thighs and tummy are about to explode out of those unforgiving high-waisted bell-bottoms.

---

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

CAREY MULLIGAN vs MIRANDER KERR

This battle of the powder blue pantsuits is a tough call.

Mulligan deserves a high five for pulling off her pretty version a mere one month after giving birth. But sizzling Kerr is posing so fiercely in her FMO (For Models Only) get-up, I can overlook the bizarre and utterly pointless midriff belt. It's also impossible to compete with those abs.

MIRANDA KERR

ELLE WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS IN LOS ANGELES, OCT 19

Pantsuit: Calvin Klein Collection

CAREY MULLIGAN

ELLE WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS IN LOS ANGELES, OCT 19

Pantsuit: Marc Jacobs

---

MOST IMPROVED

CATE BLANCHETT

There is weird-bad, and weird-good. Blanchett takes a stab at the former, dressing up as a fancy manta ray-jellyfish hybrid. But seriously, that cheap white trim has got to go.

Thankfully, she returns to form a few days later in an elaborately embroidered and embellished black velvet frock that is dark and romantic at the same time. More of this and less of that please.

CAROL SCREENING AT THE BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL IN LONDON, OCT 14

Gown: Esteban Cortazar

TRUTH SCREENING AT THE BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL IN LONDON, OCT 17

Dress: Schiaparelli

---

SPECIAL MAN-TION

MICHAEL FASSBENDER

Suit: Thom Sweeney

STEVE JOBS PREMIERE AT THE BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL, LONDON

It is a bit jarring to see Fassbender all gussied up in a serious three-piece tux, when all of us who've watched his sex flick, Shame, know he is best in his birthday suit. Sloppy bow tie aside, he is still way up there in the thinking woman's hottie department alongside Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch.