The BAFTAs V The GRAMMYS 2013: How modesty was a surprise winner, says Liz Jones

The BAFTAs V The GRAMMYS 2013: How modesty was a surprise winner, says Liz Jones

PUBLISHED: 19:25 EST, 11 February 2013 | UPDATED: 06:27 EST, 12 February 2013

Forget the fact that they were events showcasing the world’s most glamorous women and it was a bit like being at Royal Ascot â€" minus the horses and Clare Balding. 

A new strict dress code at the Grammys in LA â€" which exhorted stars not to bare too much flesh â€" and snow and sleet at the Baftas in London ensured that nearly all the women on both red carpets were covered up to satisfy even the most zealous members of the Taliban.

In contrast to recent years, there was very little ‘side cleavage’ (dresses cut to show a flash of bust from the side), few exposed ribs, no buttock cleavage and hardly any bosom flesh on display.

Jennifer Garner in a striking, modern grey top with black skirt by Roland Mouret

Laura Bailey in a simple salmon dress by Roksanda Ilincic with spangly clutch

Sarah Jessica Parker's Elie Saab jumpsuit was too plain for a big night out

Glam: Jessica Chastain in a Roland Mouret royal blue gown with asymmetric bodice (left) while Anne Hathaway was one of my best dressed - prim in a Burberry studded dress

Hayley Atwell played it safe in monochrome Antonio Berardi, but the ruffles did not flatter her

Helen Mirren's embroidered dress by Nicholas Oakwell Couture was a bit too bulky

It may have been chilly, but why did Jennifer Lawrence cover her fairytale Dior gown with a coat?

Even superstar singer Rihanna (surely uppermost in the minds of those CBS TV executives in charge of the Grammys when they made their cover-up ruling) managed to keep her body piercings concealed beneath layers of crimson chiffon in a deliciously romantic dress by Azzedine Alaia.

It was the most beautiful we saw all night, on either side of the Atlantic.

And do you know what? The lack of cleavage display didn’t make the women any less sexy.

In fact, the demure cuts were all the more seductive for the anatomy they left to the imagination. 

My runner-up in the best dress stakes was the black Burberry gown embellished with gold studs worn by Anne Hathaway: the bodice was cut like a T-shirt, with a round neck and short sleeves.

Florence Welch in custom-made emerald Givenchy, and a ring on almost every finger

Rihanna wore a red chiffon gown by Azzedine Alaia that was sheer but covered in all the right places

Beyonce disappointed in monochrome Osman trousers and top with slashed sleeves

Nicole Kidman glittered in a bold gold V-neck sheer lace column by Vera Wang

Carey Mulligan rocks her off-beat red-carpet style in a black tuxedo jumpsuit

Taylor Swift's J. Mendel Grecian gown showed off her willowy elegance

With a face as beautiful as Anne’s, who needs to see her shoulders, cleavage or biceps? 

Of COURSE, there will always be a couple of women who like to spoil things.

Step forward Katy Perry, who appeared to be bursting out of her mint-green Gucci gown in LA. 

There was also a smattering of bikini line-high splits, as seen on J-Lo and Thandie Newton. 

But all in all, Sunday night spelt the death knell of the body-con dress. Even its greatest exponent, British designer Roland Mouret, abandoned the sausage-skin approach to corsetry and opted instead for simple columns.

Didn't get the memo: Andrea Riseborough in a zingy lemon Vivienne Westwood that gaped around the bust (left) and Katy Perry in a mint green Gucci dress with positively obscene keyhole neckline (right)

Goodness! Beyonce and Sarah Jessica Parker even wore trousers. 

And there was another welcome sea change: Helen Mirren’s new haircut, proving that you can be gamine even if you are the wrong side of 60.

She chose the pink colour simply because it ‘seemed fun’.

How refreshing that at last we saw not only what Rihanna looks like while wearing underwear, but another rare beast: a woman who puts enjoyment before trying to look young.