WHEN Star Awards 2009 started, I got confused: Was it an awards show or a cocktail party?

The opening catwalk - often the fashion barometer of what is to come - left me speechless.

There were too many short dresses that didn't suggest grandeur. And some of the outfits were as cheesy as the cringe-worthy magic tricks that peppered the show.

Felicia Chin didn't seem to even bother, because she turned up in a pant suit.

Best Infotainment Host winner Belinda Yeo looked like a wannabe rapper with that braid of gold chains.

Huang Biren just cannot get it right. Last year, she looked like she vomited on her dress. This year, she looked like she was wearing a grey log.

The women weren't the only ones making fashion mistakes, the men were equally guilty too.

Couldn't current heartthrob and winner of the Best Newcomer award Dai Yangtian spend a minute tying his tie? It may be Gucci, but it was still sloppy.

Was Gurmit Singh going to a baseball game after the event?

Is Best Newcomer nominee Jerry Yeo moonlighting as a waiter? Did host Dasmond Koh leave the dressing room before he was completely dressed?

Now that Biren is out of MediaCorp, Jesseca Liu seems to have inherited the crown for being the queen of wrong wardrobe choices.

Last year, she frightened viewers in a freakish green dress. This year, she was dressed like a stick of margarine.

I asked around and no one could tell me where she got her gown from. And, frankly, if I was the designer, I would keep quiet too.

But it was not all bad.

Newscaster Tung Soo Hua surprised in an elegant blue backless dress.

TV host Charlyn Lin was angelic in a white Raoul gown.

Only two women rocked their short dresses: Yvonne Lim pleased in a hot pink, while Ah Jie Kym Ng kept it simple and elegant in black.

And of course you don't always need to wear a gown to impress. Sometimes you need to just dress in an unexpected way.

Eelyn Kok surprised in a near gothic black outfit from local designer Wykidd Song.

Who knew she had that edge?

1. Was there some confusion?

Quan Yifeng was the host of the show, not a hostess at a karaoke.

Did her stylist get the wrong brief?

That Carlos Miele leopard print dress made Yifeng look like she was ready to pour drinks for your pleasure.

Her second outfit - a Vera Wang - redeemed her, but only by a bit.

2. Where's the party, Jeanette?

All Jeanette Aw needed was a sun hat and she is ready for her cabana by the beach.

That Etro dress was way too casual for an event like this.

This was just as bad as her 'going shopping' outfit from last year.

Perhaps this is her way of letting us know that she doesn't take the award ceremony too seriously.

... AND THE BEST

1. Best Actress winner Joanne Peh caps a great post-Little Nyonya year by being the best dressed (in my opinion) at Star Awards.

Her elegant olive-green Hermes gown draped well on her svelte figure and complimented her youthful energy.

2. She is famous for making people laugh but no one was laughing at Patricia Mok's Keith Png gown.

She said she had to diet a week to get into the dress.

If you ask me, the sacrifice was well worth it, girlfriend!

This article was first published in The New Paper