LBD retrospective: 2013's best-dressed list

2013 has certainly delivered on the style front, with an array of delectable designer dresses in a variety of shapes and sizes. From bouffant gowns on the red carpet to scantily clad X Factor judges, there has been no shortage of ultra glamorous ball gown dresses and Team LBD loves nothing better than a good old trip down memory lane.

Ladies in Red

There was no lack of scarlet dresses this year and to say we had a hard time choosing is an understatement, but the inevitable number one has to be Rihanna at the Grammy Awards in this stunning custom made Azzedine Alaia scarlet dress which showed of her slim figure with its impressively long train. Our close runner-up, Michelle Obama, shimmered in a velvet and chiffon ruby-coloured Jason Wu dress for Barack Obama's inauguration, the same designer she wore for his first. Singer and actress Selena Gomez fought off tough competition for the third spot, but her beautifully embellished Reem Acra gown with plunging neckline worn to the Spring Breakers premiere was definitely a decision she won't regret.

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The Golden Girls

Metallic styles held the fort in 2013, and veteran of award dressing Catherine Zeta Jones won Team LBD's Oscar for best dress. Wearing king of the red carpet, designer Zuhair Murad to the 2013 Oscars, Catherine Zeta Jones gave Oscar himself a run for his money in the exquisite couture gown that featured a fishtail hem and art deco swirls across the bodice. Taylor Swift assured all eyes were on her for the Academy of Country Music Awards in a beautiful vintage chain mail style dress with cut-out back and heavily embellished neckline. Style icon and reality star Nicole Richie certainly knows a thing or two about what to wear, which is why she's our number three with her seemingly simple Marc Jacobs shift-gown that made a high impact at the CFDA Fashion Awards in LA last year.

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Beautiful in Black

Owning the number one position, Eva Longoria's thigh-flashing LBD with its cleavage-enhancing cut-out and transeasonal lace sleeves certainly caught our attention whilst the sheer train was another impeccably glamorous addition to her Emilio Pucci dress. Another actress who always gets Hollywood glamour spot on, Nicole Kidman was a sensation in this intricately embellished black and gold gown by L'Wren Scott for the Oscars. In third, Nicole Scherzinger rolled out more and more revealing gowns as the X Factor series went on, but this strapless Michael Cinco corset dress certainly got tongues wagging for its enhancing properties and sexy sheer lace skirt.

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The Bandeau Brigade

Without doubt Jennifer Lawrence's massive Dior gown was definitely one of the most talked about dresses of 2013, making headlines across the globe due to a rather unfortunate slip at the Oscars that was oh-so graceful, it could have been a Dior advert. Dior's trademark style, the bouffant skirt made another stunning appearance much to our delight at the Cannes film festival, where Nicole Kidman's beautifully embroidered couture gown was perfectly offset with a pair of coral heels. Next in line, Jessica Biel, also at the Cannes film festival, wore this strapless Marchesa gown embroidered with white feathers that had photographers going wild.

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Pure as Snow

White has been quite the colour of 2013 with white shoes proving de rigeur and dresses following suit. Top of our Snow White list is Angelina Jolie who stole the show at hubby's World War Z premiere in a beautifully created strapless white peplum dress by Ralph and Russo complete with the perfect finishing touch: an abstract gold belt. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley proved her model credentials in this strapless high-low hemmed Dior gown that she paired with white shoes for a high-fashion impact. Last but not least, Team LBD loved Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery's pretty white Alexandre Vauthier gown, with a high-necked gold embellishment that proved she is a definite style contender among the Hollywood bunch.

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