You don’t need to show skin to be look sexy – I mean just look at Brie Larson’s bling-ed out Celine dress. This seemingly understated nude-coloured dress hugs her curves in all the right places, showing some thigh, without looking over scandalous. The sequins also don’t contrast too much with the fabric, which makes the overall look subdued yet red carpet-worthy. Who says you can’t wear monochrome with bling?

With capes, you either look regal or superhero-like, but honestly, why not both? Natalie Portman’s Dior gown and cape combo gives her otherwise petite stature a strong silhouette, but we are all about the message on the cape. It’s embroidered with all the names of the female directors who are subbed by this year’s Oscars, including Lulu Wang of The Farewell, Almar Har’el for Honey Boy andGreta Gerwig of Little Women. Recreate the look by layering a blazer or trench coat over a tulle dress to for a play on masculine and feminine features on your outfit.

For a dramatic flare, go for copious amount of feathers like Sandra Oh’s Elie Saab gown. Reserve interesting fabrics and textures like feathers, jacquard, embroidery and diamante for special occasions so your man knows how much effort you put in, but it’s mostly because you are just acting like the queen you are. Now go slay it.

(For a more conservative option, try balloon sleeves or a capelet with similar ruffled details.)

Rebel Wilson may not be a size 0 model, but she embraces her curves and we are here for it. The trick is finding silhouettes that will flatter your body type and accentuate your best features. If you’re tall, show off your stems with slits, or if you have a long torso, a dress with a higher waistline will give the illusion of longer legs. For Rebel Wilson, the gathered waist details helps the waist appear smaller, creating an hourglass silhouette.

Mindy Kaling is an example of a women who knows how to dress her curves, except she does it boldly. If yellow is not your colour, try other hues like fuchsia pink or cobalt blue, which are really flattering on Asian skin tones. Accessorise with a sparkly necklace or pair of earrings.

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If dressing in one uniform colour like Mindy Kaling isn’t your thing, try colour-blocking instead. Saoirse Ronan’s Gucci gown mixes black with pastel hues for a modern take on colour blocking – proving that you don’t need to look like a Mondrian painting in order to do colour blocking right. The peplum detail also adds volume around the waist, perfect for hiding a food bump. You can recreate the look by pairing a peplum top with a loose draped skirt.

Simple may be safe but simple is always beautiful. As Tan France from Queer Eye always emphasizes, it’s how the outfit fits you that really elevates it. Renee Zellweger’s dress may look like a simple asymmetrical toga dress, but fits her in all the right places. Can we also say that  based on her right arm alone, the newly-minted Best Actress winner is truly #fitnessgoals right now?

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Between all the red carpet looks this year alone, we’ve seen plenty of naked dresses, including this Oscar de la Renta number on Scarlett Johansson. The double-Oscar nominee was spotted with a dress that has elements of lingerie like silk satin, peekaboo panels and corsetry for a sexy look that turns heads. To pull off this look, include elements like a lace camisole or silk slip with your outfits.

With an outfit like that, it’s no wonder Joaquin Phoenix admired fiancee Rooney Mara from a distance on the red carpet. The sexy cut-outs on Rooney’s Alexander McQueen dress contrasts beautifully against her skin. Strategic placements of these cutouts can also give the illusion of a smaller waistline like the dresses from The Missing Piece.

Say what you will about Kristen Wiig’s red Valentino dress (netizens have compared it to everything from lasagna to sea creatures), but it takes so much confidence to pull off a dress like that and not make it seem like the dress is wearing you. Shake things up for your date by going out of your comfort zone – whether it’s a different colour or silhouette – and then put on an attitude that goes with it.

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Text: Ho Guo Xiong and Arissa Ha