Bafta awards 2012: Six of the best outfits

Tilda Swinton. Few women can do white on the red carpet without looking a bit like a bride but Swinton's choice of shape is always interseting without being fussy. This outfit by Celine, currently one of the fashion industry's most loved labels hits the perfect note of restraint. The contrast panel on the bottom of the skirt is as ritzy as Swinton gets. But that's the point. This is a masterclass in modern award ceremony dressing Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Colin and Livia Firth. Women in trouser suits are a rare sight on the red carpet, which makes Livia Firth's choice stand out. Her sustainable tuxedo, made from ethical, organic New Zealand wool and silk was created for her by Paul Smith. Firth's green Carpet Challenge - an initiative to bring sustainable fashion to the red carpet - also saw her husband, Colin, and Michael Fassbender in Armani tuxes made from organic wool with accents in recycled PET - that is formerly plastic bottles Photograph: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Brad Pitt. Minus Angelina Jolie, Pitt plumped for a classic yet slick one-button tux with a bow tie by Gucci. Not exactly a ground-breaking outfit per se but by wearing an overcoat over the top he was part of an emerging man-trend on the Bafta carpet. His pal George Clooney and Richard E Grant both opted to keep warm with a top coat. It looks modern, Brad's long hair? It's maybe starting to work for him after all Photograph: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Michelle Williams. Sharon Stone famously wore a Gap T-shirt to the Oscars in the mid-90s. Last night Michelle Williams followed in her footsteps by wearing a bespoke eco outfit by the Swedish high street brand H&M. It was a pared back, strapless monochrome dress, white at the top, with a rosette at the waist. Williams let her cropped hair, a short necklace and a slash of red lipstick give the outfit a little edge. She also carried an Arthur Miller book-style handbag, a nod to Marilyn Monroe Photograph: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Penélope Cruz. The red-dress-on-the-red-carpet gamble is not the kind of thing that you imagine bothers Penélope Cruz when she's picking out a gown from Giorgio Armani's Privé couture line. It's not the best choice Cruz has ever made but then she was one the few stars to embrace colour with any real success. The simple shape, with its slightly stiff and straight strapless neckline, fits her gorgeous figure like a glove and the hiar and makeup are polished Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images