IT was cocktail hour on the Brits red carpet as the stars showed off their pins in high, high hemlines.

The floor sweeping frocks were left at home as a bevy of leggy lovelies kept up the awards' cool factor by braving the freezing February temperatures in not much fabric.

Most celebs legged it down the carpet in flattering but d.u.l.l. black.

But a few brave souls - including beth Ditto and Fearne Cotton - went for pops of colour to keep things interesting.

Here are our Brits and misses of the night.

HITS

Leona Lewis - Here Roberto Cavalli dress was made for a moment like this. A bit safe, but seriously stylish - a winning look.

Rihanna - There's no style SOS from Rihanna who looks cute in a metallic dress by Posh's favourite Giambattista Valli.

Abbey Clancy - Crouch's girl keeps it simple in a (very) little LBD and mega heels. Top fashion points for her OTT necklace, but we're not sure about the leopard print knickers.

Beth Ditto - The Gossip singer looks like a larger than life sugar plum fairy in her pretty pink prom dress by Luella. Girl power personified.

Gemma Atkinson - Jungle Gemma ditches the WAG look and keeps her cleavage under wraps for possibly the first time ever in a classy black shift dress.

MISSES

Fearne Cotton - Top marks for trying Fearne but this satin Aladdin style playsuit is not working it's magic on us. At least it'll take the heat off pal Holly Willoughby's wardrobe for a few days.

Adele - In the battle of the big girls, Brit winner Adele lets the side down by plumping for boring black.

Denise van Outen - Essex girl Denise keeps the boys happy in a bum-skimming, plunge-front piece of bacofoil. Even those £400 Yves Saint Laurent heels fail to add any class to the outfit.

Kylie - Kylie might be smiley but that black corset D&G dress is just frumpy. Bring back the gold hotpants Ms Minogue, we thought you were a red-blooded woman!