SINGAPORE – It was tasteful, if a touch restrained, on the Star Awards 2025 red carpet.

The 30th edition of local entertainment’s biggest night had promised spectacle, but the artistes in attendance on July 6 overwhelmingly opted for trusty suits – mostly in penguin colours, though some dared a navy – safely pretty black dresses, lucky red ones and standard sequinned gowns.

It felt like sober good sense taking over in the third decade of the awards show, teased by backstage pictures of the stars sipping bird’s nest tonics from little flasks supplied by celebrity hairstylist David Gan.

The upshot was competent, even relaxed looks, with few misfires. Fight through the polite applause and one might find interest in the details: host Quan Yi Fong’s windswept tromp l’oeil tie, newbie Tiffany Ho’s clover-shaped “bib” or actor Desmond Tan passing off a tassel for a tie.

And with the likes of actors Li Nanxing, Sharon Au and Jeanette Aw making their Walk Of Fame comebacks, there was enough going on to keep oglers occupied. A new crop of actors from the hit series Emerald Hill (2025), as yet too fresh to keep it chill, also turned up the heat.

Here are the most memorable hits and misses from the annual extravaganza.

Like a true clothes horse, Low made no concession to the weather in this feathered Chanel jacket and skirt set. The charmeuse top, with its jewelled buttons, gave a sense of occasion. The spring green was bright, without being timid. The matching jacquard skirt with a Chanel camellia motif was faultless. Her Chinese period drama-esque hairdo might have tipped the look into costume, if not for the flash of those black velvet platform boots. All in all, a rock star look from the Emerald Hill star.

Here was another Emerald Hill lead – and Low’s bestie – looking to make an impression. Ng’s divisive, barely there chainmail dress of 2023, and sports bra-flashing, white overlay fishing net number in 2024, showed her admirable scorn for quiet dressing. This time, she finally nailed it in her most conservative look yet. He...