The ten most festive red carpet dresses of Christmas 2021
Watch: Penélope Cruz pays tribute to Almodóvar as she receives MoMA honour
It's not the Christmas most of us were hoping for when it comes to social events - but the stars have been making the most of December, and our favourites have been bringing their most festive fabulous to the red carpet.
Pulling out all the stops when it comes to Christmas dressing, the A-list has gone for sequins, spangles, scarlet and sweeping trains, with stars choosing frocks on a spectrum of bright red seasonal bows to icy-silver Frozen chic.
We may not be able to mingle much right now - but at least we can dream about these gorgeous designer numbers, AKA The Most Wonderful Looks Of The Year.
Penelope Cruz in Chanel
Penelope Cruz attended a Chanel and Museum of Modern Art collaboration in New York this week, wearing a stunning scarlet silk dress by Chanel, with silver lace detailing and a huge bow. The actress accessorised with diamond jewellery and a sharply-cut fringe, and brought extreme Mrs Christmas vibes - if Mrs Christmas was a beautiful millionaire. She wins Christmas.
Kate Middleton in Jenny Packham
The Duchess is no stranger to occasion dressing, but she looking particularly Christmassy in a sequinned, custom-made forest-green dress by Jenny Packham as she attended the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall. The event kicked off Christmas season on Nov 18.
Kate wore gold jewellery and heels and glittered like a sparkling decoration.
Read more: Keira Knightley recalls wardrobe malfunction: ‘Just full on naked body’
Jennifer Lawrence in Dior
The award winning actress dazzled in Dior on the black carpet for her new comedy, Don't Look Up. The pregnant star wore a floor length, gold shimmering gown by the fashion house with sparking threads and a cream cape, and accessorised with diamond earrings for a elegant but celebratory winter look.
JLo in Elie Saab
The actress and singer attended the premiere of The Tender Bar, her partner Ben Affleck's new film, on December 12. She wore a floor-sweeping silk chiffon gown in ice blue by designer Elie Saab Couture, and carried a silver Tyler Ellis clutch bag. The dress added to its Frozen-style allure with a plunging neckline and silver bow belt.
Zendaya in Alexander McQueen
Actress Zendaya looked fantastically festive in Alexander McQueen as she posed at the press call for Spider-Man: No Way Home in London on December 5. She ever accessorised with Christmas trees, to complement her diamanté sparking tights and Bvlgari earrings, along with her oversized, embellished tuxedo jacket.
Marisa Tomei in Zuhair Murad
Marisa Tomei, who also stars in Spider-Man: No Way Home looked spectacularly Christmassy in glorious gold sequins, with a thigh split and jewel embellishments. The couture gown was by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad. The designer told Vogue that women who wear his pieces "want to be on stage, they want the light shining on them, like that of chandeliers on a palazzo on the Grand Canal.”
Read more: Zendaya rocks the red carpet in sizzling Spiderman chic
Halle Berry in Christian Siriano
Halle has been tearing up the red carpet in some fierce looks this season, including a sequinned super-hero jumpsuit and a gold kimono. But she really launched Christmas when she wore a berry-red above the knee dress with a train to the Celebration of Black Cinema and Television in LA on December 6. The cocktail frock was by Christian Siriano and Berry accessorised with glittering crystal shoes by Jimmy Choo.
Cardi B in Irena Soprano
Singer Cardi B is not shy when it comes to flashing the flesh. But at the People's Choice Awards on December 7, she went full vintage-Hollywood hourglass, in a plunging dress embellished with Christmassy purple paillettes that shimmered like a Quality Street wrapper. The custom-made dress was from SOL by Irena Soprano, and Cardi definitely brought the sparkle.
Nicole Kidman in Armani Privée
Nicole is a veteran of red carpet dressing, but this beautifully wintry dress, by Armani Privée, was a winner. the silver-grey net gown was embellished with crystals across the bust, and she wore it with her hair up, Jimmy Choo shoes and diamond-drop earrings for a classic December look, at the LA premiere of her new movie Being the Ricardos on December 6.
Sarah Jessica Parker in Oscar de la Renta
The new reboot of Sex and The City, 'And Just Like That...' premiered on Dec 8, and Sarah Jessica Parker, its star and fashion icon, chose the perfect designer to showcase. She wore custom Oscar de La Renta, cut in a 50s style, with a glittering silver chiffon dress and sequinned cape. Her skirt was slashed to reveal layers of ballet-pink tulle beneath and she wore contrasting rose-pink satin heels from her own shoe collection.
SJP showcased the designer in the final episode of Sex and the City, when she wore a grey tulle many-layered Oscar de la Renta ballgown in Paris - just before her rescue by Mr Big.
Watch: Sarah Jessica Parker brings husband Matthew Broderick and Son James to premiere
