Imagine the consternation when it was announced that a settlement had been negotiated with the screenwriters and the Oscars were definitely on. Did this mean curtains (as in doing a Kim Basinger and wearing hideous drapes) for the Baftas?

The truth is, there are more than enough delicious dresses to go around all the awards. What gives the Baftas a fillip is the relatively relaxed tone — a mixture of British irreverence combined with a refusal to get too worked up about fashion on a Sunday. It’s unlikely, for instance, that Keira Knightley would mosey down the Oscars’ red carpet in the dour black jacket (by Alexander Wang) that covered her gorgeous Valentino couture dress last night. But as the actress pointed out, “It’s February. It’s ****ing freezing.” Full marks for alliteration and practicality.

Rosamund Pike looked faultlessly chic in a fitted, sapphire-blue RM by Roland Mouret day dress, accessorised with bottle-green Christian Louboutin shoes (very next season) and jewelled Jimmy Choo bag. Like Sienna Miller, in long-sleeved, black-jersey Dior, she aimed for — and achieved — a glorious understated elegance. Her husband, Joe Wright, should ditch the Roy Orbison shades, though. Unless he is actually blind.

Tilda Swinton wore Dior — a magnificent structure festooned with jet-beaded fir trees. Top marks for pulling off what only Tilda Swinton can pull off.

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Thandie Newton always gives good dress (which is why she’s endlessly invited to non-events) and looked sexy and classy in slinky, one-shouldered, satin Alexander McQueen. For combining a jolt of edgy neon colour with dignity, she graduates summa cum laude.

Emily Blunt looked like a lovely, albeit slightly Hollywoodised, mermaid. Julie Christie revived the spirit of British fearlessness in the face of controversial fashion choices with leopard-print trousers and a tailored Sophia Kokosalaki jacket, inspired by an old picture of Patricia Neal. I liked it, but it split votes.

It was lucky that Kate Hudson kept moving in her Stella McCartney gold beading or she might have been mistaken for a pylon. However, she’d plaited her hair herself — see, they come over here and take all our best ideas.

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