Top 10 red carpet designers
The red carpet has evolved into a catwalk in its own right over the last decade, with viewers more interested in who wore what rather than who won what. The choices a celebrity makes on the rouge runway can catapult them from Z-list to A-list in one night. So who are the must-wear designers?
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Versace: spring/summer 2000Versace
Under the creative control of Donatella, the house of Versace makes our list if only for J.Lo's plunging dress that she wore at the Grammys in 2000.
Since then the design house has produced countless Empire line gowns for glowing mums-to-be and thigh-high splits for the more adventurous actress, not to mention that glitzy red number that turned a little known Catherine Zeta Jones into an A-list megastar or Liz Hurley's career-launching set of safety pins...
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The 73rd Academy Awards 2001: summaryValentino
A firm favourite on the red carpet, Valentino gowns are the epitome of grown-up elegance – the perfect accompaniment to a dazzling Hollywood smile.
At the 2001 Oscars, Julia Roberts scooped the Best Actress award in a vintage Valentino and sparked a runaway trend for archive styles. Her monochrome dress and chic updo were the very essence of Old Hollywood glamour.
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Elie Saab Haute Couture: autumn/winter 2003-04Elie Saab
The red carpet revels in a good dose of shimmer and sparkle and couturier Elie Saab provides it by the bucket load.
Fashion and the Academy Awards go hand-in-hand, and for Lebanese designer Saab, this couldn't be more true after his headline-grabbing gown for Halle Berry back in 2002 helped him secure a coveted spot on the Paris Haute Couture schedule.
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Media Bite: Lagerfeld ConfidentialChanel
Ultimate chic is what Chanel does best and on a red carpet full of glittering glamazons, its minimal elegance stands out from the crowd.
The list of Tinseltown starlets who have sported a Chanel dress over the past decade is almost as long as the red carpet itself, but no-one quite steals the show like porcelain princess Nicole Kidman who went on to become the face of the brand in 2003.
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News: Ford and De Sole announce Tom Ford menswear labelTom Ford
Whether designing for Gucci, YSL, or his own label, Ford has dressed Hollywood royalty – both male and female, plus supermodels and just about everyone else who qualifies for A-list status worldwide.
He made Gucci the sexiest label of the late 90s and this century reworked YSL into a name to lust after. Now, as the creative force behind his ultra-luxe menswear, he vies with Giorgio Armani as the tuxedo-provider of choice at the biggest red carpet events.
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Cannes 2008: top 10 red carpet fashionAlber Elbaz
From the plunging black YSL gown Chloë Sevigny wore to the 2000 Oscars, to the Lanvin dresses Natalie Portman has recently chosen, Alber Elbaz is red carpet gold dust.
After receiving a standing ovation from the fashion-pack for his spring/summer 2008 Lanvin show, the collection proved just as popular with the celebs at Cannes this year. Portman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kristen Scott Thomas and Carine Roitfeld all sported the chic French label.
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Golden Globes 2007: red-carpet trendsHervé Léger
We're throwing you a curveball here as Hervé Léger sneaks into our Top 10. The iconic bandage dresses are undergoing a major revival that is impossible to ignore.
Since its relaunch last year, pretty much every hot-bodied celeb has shoehorned herself into at least one of its breath-defying dresses for a red carpet appearance. Usually of micro proportions, we loved the modified version Emily Blunt wore to the 2007 Golden Globes.
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Christian Dior Haute Couture: spring/summer 2007 (John Galliano 10th anniversary)John Galliano for Christian Dior
Galliano is one of the greatest couturiers of our time. It is no surprise then that his work for Dior sweeps effortlessly into our Top 10.
They are the dresses every young actress dreams of wearing one day, gowns fit for red carpet royalty. From frothy frills to chic origami folds – there has been a Dior gown to suit every girl and every taste. There are simply too many to mention.
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Celebrity Style: British Fashion AwardsMarchesa
Launched in 2004, Brit label Marchesa has taken the rouge runway by storm and is one of the great success stories from the latter part of this decade.
Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig have pretty much dressed every celeb worth their (size zero) weight over the past four years, from West Coast dolly Mischa Barton to sultry seductress Dita Von Teese. They also claimed the prize for Red Carpet Designer at the 2007 British Fashion Awards along the way. Well done ladies!
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Celebrity style: The Met Costume Institute GalaGiorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani is the undisputed king of the red carpet, responsible for dressing both the leading ladies and their male counterparts.
Heart throb George Clooney is such a fan of the classic Armani tux that he boasted about wearing the same suit for 10 years - much to the dismay of the designer himself, who sent Clooney a new tux with a note saying: "Please either wear this or stop saying you're wearing Armani, because it's frayed."
