Trending: Cut out dresses

Actress Michelle Monaghan 's scoop-neck navy dress perfectly marries a sporty and revealing aesthetic, at the 40th Annual FiFi Awards

Emilio Pucci's navy and black lace tiered ruffle dress looked suitably stunning on Bella Heathcote and, more importantly, mirrored the gothic-inspired style of her peers at the premiere of Tim Burton's latest film 'Dark Shadows'.

Panels of transparent material cut graphic shapes down the hips of models at Prabal Gurung's spring/summer 2012 show.

Cut-outs can be made conspicuous by adding a giant ruffle or two. See Alexander McQueen's spring/summer 2012 show stopping, intense red mini dress for inspiration.

Christopher Kane's clean lines and origami-style tailoring lends itself well to cut-outs, especially when in zany hippie-esque prints, as seen on the spring/summer 2012 runway.

Inspired by Scandinavian folklore, Aminaka Wilmont decked out models in explosions of ethereal and midsummer prints. Embrace your feminine side with floral patterned cut-outs.

There was a distinctly 'sexy Spartan' vibe at Hervé Léger's spring/summer 2012 show. Constrained silhouettes were emphasised by cut-outs in metallic fabrics for a totally fearless look.

Singer Taylor Swift put paid to her reputation as a country cutie, at the Academy of Country Music Awards, in this sleek white cut-out gown by J Mendel.

Calling on designer Zac Posen for a chic, black cut-out dress fit for the SAG Awards, actress Amber Heard accessorised the look with an oversized quiff.

Actress Emily Blunt gave her cheeks a rosy hue to match this pink minimalist cut-out dress by Calvin Klein, at the Met Gala.

Actress Chloë Sevigny chose a purple cut-out frock to attend the preview of her new TV show 'Hit and Miss.'

With a catalogue of figure-hugging dresses to her name, this black cut-out Dion Lee number is no shocker for actress Charlize Theron.

Stella McCartney has staked her claim as the 'waist minimiser of women' through her carefully sculpted tailoring. This emerald, velvet cut out dress, as seen on actress Naomi Watts, is no exception.

Anthony Vaccarello gave new life, and introduced a whole lot more flesh, to the traditional little black dress, in his SS12 collection. NB: the only accessories needed are a dark lip tone and a whole lot of attitude.

Versus's spring/summer 2012 cut-outs in sugar sweet pastels and knife cut pleats brought a relaxed modernism to this season's foray back to the fashion of the roaring twenties.

French designer Roland Mouret teams edgy torso cut-outs with a delicate pale peplum finish - a chic choice for January Jones at the fashion-forward show 'Mad Men's' fifth series premiere.

The creative forces behind Cushnie et Och's spring/summer 2012 collection certainly got snip happy, as cut-out garments in baby pink, nude and white all graced the catwalk. This black number balances out its fierce nature with a playful swing skirt.

Steal the show, like actress Jennifer Lawrence, in shimmering metallic gold. This Prabal Gurung number includes a train as well as slinky cut-out side panels.

Cut-outs in black leather offer a striking colour contrast against nude skin, as seen on actress Rooney Mara's Dion Lee dress, at a Rome photocall for 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'.

It's time to get snipping: worn well, cut-outs can show off your most flattering body parts, be it your waist, back or shoulders.

Compiled by Alice Newbold.
hannel Diane Kruger's Cannes look and lace up your cut-outs. And if you're brave enough to embrace the mini, this Versus pleated number provides the perfect inspiration.