The trend: On Show
The details: Mid-driff flashing made a comeback last year with crop tops aplenty, but it’s been taken up a level to red carpet status with cut-out dresses, lace peep holes and subtle slashes at the waist. Perhaps the most dramatic was Sarah Jessica Parker’s 2005 Louis Vuitton lace peplum at Paris Fashion Week, a Carrie-esque dress if ever we saw one; over at the Fun and Fearless Cosmopolitan party, Dakota Fanning rocked her icy silver Miu Miu, showing just a slice of mid-driff; and Stacey Kiebler has it, so she flaunted it in a deep teal dress.

The trend: LBD
The details: Karlie Kloss, Poppy Delevigne and Cameron Diaz all took to their trusty LBD’s this week, with Karlie’s cut-out and Poppy’s thigh-slit maxi making their mark at the Marc Jacobs Exhibition in Paris and Cameron Diaz played it safe with figure hugging Fendi at a Tag Hueur Promotion Event.

The trend: Polished prom
The details: Fun, flirty and carefree, we can’t seem to shake our love affair with full skirts – perhaps its an ode to our childhood or that the shape is universally flattering? Both Mena Suvari‘s Alice + Olivia and Emily Blunt‘s Naeem Khan monochrome dresses had a touch of the traditional about it but it’s Fan Bing Bing‘s intricately worked Louis Vuitton – complete with matching head scarf – that would win her the Prom Queen tiara.

LWD (or Little White Dresses as they’re known) proved they come in all shapes and sizes this week with teen queen Kylie Jenner, TV host Laura Whitmore and Victoria’s Secret Angel Erin Featherstone going all white on the night.

We are still mildly obsessed with the part ladylike, part raunchy appeal of lace and these ladies proved it is here to stay by opting for inky hues. Tali Lennox teamed lace with feathers for an interesting contrast, Zooey Deschanel went head to toe in black and Alexa Chung teamed hers with achingly cool flatforms.

Tangerine, cerise and violet all shone brightly this week with a colourful slew of hues. Attention grabbing they are not, Agyness, Imogen and Lauren show us how it’s done by keeping lines simple, accessories to a minimum and make-up subtle.

The Oscars 2012 were not only a triumph for The Artist (congrats!) but for the dresses too. From peplums to polka dots, lace to laser cut, this year’s style certainly didn’t disappoint. And you can get the look of some of the most awe-inspiring dresses right here; take your inspiration from these leading ladies.

Gwyneth’s Tom Ford caped gown has a minimalist, simple quality to it which is accentuated by an unexpected cape. Choose this simple dove grey Alexander McQueen mini for an edgier version.

A bejewelled, sequin dress never goes out of fashion and Rose Byrne‘s Vivienne Westwood  is updated with barely-there accessories. Apply the same ethos to our Marchesa Notte evening gown – less is more.

It’s all about the neckline and bright shade of Emma Stone’s Giambattista Valli dress – we love! For a similar look, simply create your own extra-volume neckline on this Halston Silk Column dress by tying a piece of fabric in the same shade in a loose, looped bow around your neck. Think of it as a glammed up neck scarf!

Push this Dina Bar El off the shoulder a la Stacey Kiebler‘s Marchesa gown to show off this year’s sexiest body part – the shoulders.

Kristen Wiig plays down her tiered J Mendel gown with loose, beach waves but the key to this look is to complement your dress to your skin tone – hers is the perfect shade of caramel. Ooze the same sex appeal in this nude Zimmerman maxi.

We like to think Meryl Streep was sending subliminal messages by dressing as the Oscar statue! Lanvin‘s gold lame wrap dress may err on the tacky side for some, but by shortening both the length and the sleeves, Halston’s version veers into stunning territory.

This week we are loving LaDress and their beautiful dresses made from the best quality fabrics from Paris and all over Europe.  Designed by Dutch fashionista Simone Von Trojen, her dresses are timeless and classic, tested and designed by Simone in order to create the perfect fit and feel of the dress.  In every colour of the rainbow and more, her dresses come in a variety of styles and fabrics such as silk, wool, jersey and cotton.

The Beau Tunic is stunningly bold with its all over floral print.  Made from satin silk, this dress can be worn in a variety of ways.  Team with ballerina shoes in the summer, black tights and shoes in the winter or heels for an evening out.  LaDress even suggest styling it over jeans with a belt to cinch you in at the waist complimented with heeled wedges.

For the entire hirable LaDress collection visit LaDress@GirlMeetsDress.com

By Caroline Dawe