Midlife bodycon and more style lessons from the red carpet at the Bafta TV awards
Take a deep breath in everyone, because the bodycon trend is back, if the fashion at the Bafta awards is anything to go by.
From Susanna Reid and Kate Winslet in slinky black, to Bridgerton’s Golda Rosheuvel with a silver embellished bodice, and Billie Piper in a cobalt sequinned Richard Quinn bodysuit, the biggest winner of the night, in fashion terms, was the shapewear most likely to be hiding under every red-carpet look.
It was all very tasteful though, which was not always the case with television awards in the past. The streaming revolution and mega-budget shows like The Crown have raised the calibre of these events and, with it, the fashion, which last night was a who’s who of designer labels. Witness: Sharon Horgan in The Vampire’s Wife, Lesley Manville in Alberta Ferretti, and Emma Willis in slashed coral Alexander McQueen.
It also delivered some useful style lessons which could be applied to wedding guest and Royal Ascot dressing this summer. There were capes, as seen on Rosheuvel and Freema Agyeman which add drama, as well as a little coverage.
That a clever cut with draping in all the right places – a la Dame Harriet Walter and Rebecca Ferguson – can make any body look sensational, not that either of them needed any help.
We also learnt that separates and suiting, as seen on Kirsty Young, Claudia Winkleman and Maxine Peake, can and should have a place in formal environments. Emily Maitlis, almost regal in a Solace London gown with a corseted top and black column skirt, along with red opera gloves, took that idea to the next level.
The men in attendance held their own too. Damian Lewis in a classic tux. David Tennant’s purple jacquard dinner jacket, which injected just the right degree of flair. Will Sharpe, in black-on-black suiting, furnishing his reputation as one of the best dressed British celebrities at the moment. And Jason Isaacs proving that a well-chosen pair of trainers can lend a fresh edge to an otherwise traditional look.
The colour of the night? Unquestionably yellow, from Cush Jumbo in pale buttercup, to Rosie Jones in ruffled lemon, to Danni Minogue, enjoying something of a renaissance at 51 in a Crayola bright shade, complete with corsage and cape.
It can be a challenging hue to carry off, but there is truly a shade for every skin tone. Mellow? It’s anything but.
