2012 Critics Choice Awards Red Carpet Best Dressed

I have helpfully sorted the gowns at the 2012 Critics Choice Awards, held last night in LA, into four clear red carpet trends for you. Let's start with the classics. Beautiful black dresses. Charlize Theron continues her reign of triumph on the red carpet with this tiered and scalloped Azzedine Alaia gown. Kirsten Dunst opted for a translucent Christian Dior dress, which suited her perfectly, and newly engaged Evan Rachel Wood wore a flocked Valentino strapless number. Nicely pitched all three of you.

There was also an interesting black and white moment on the red carpet when the majestic Tilda Swinton donned a three-piece YSL trouser ensemble and Michelle Williams did the exact same combination in blunt tones with her Chanel dress. They both looked successfully elegant, sophisticated and unsual, but I don't think that they could match the beauty of the Charlize dress above.

Colour hit the carpet just like it did at the People's Choice awards on Wednesday evening. Simple, clean and bold is the way to do colour this season, although cutie-pie Emma Stone did mix things up a bit in her green on-trend Jason Wu dress. She is such a clever lady with regards her style. Always looking approprite, but never looking predictable. Jessica Chastain was super-surprising in this pink Balenciaga halter dress. I actually love it a lot. Almost as much as I liked that pink dress on Ginnifer Goodwin at the People's Choice. Almost. But not quite. And then Busy Phillips, Michelle Williams' bestie, and Cougar Town star, looked astonishingly good in her red floor sweeper. Usually I find her style a bit all-over-the-shop, but this is magnificent. Well played lady.

And then there was this super-interesting trend. Sherbet lemon as a colour accent, paired with grey. And I LOVE IT. Diane Kruger nailed it in her stunning Prada gown. I actually feel the need to weep with pleasure at this dress. OMG. And adorable little Elizabeth Olsen in that super-fun mini dress followed suit, from the house of Prada. What a win. Sadly Elle Fanning's attempts to capture this trend were a disaster in this Rodarte number. But that is just my opinion. Others loved it. So there you are. Which was your pick of the bunch? I think I am going with the fresh sorbet delight of Diane's Prada. What about you?