Hollywood’s biggest stars kicked off the 2013 Awards Show Season in style, donning an eclectic array of fresh and fun looks to tonight’s People’s Choice Awards.

If tonight was a preview of the fashion to come this awards season, we’re in for a sartorial treat. As diverse as it was stylish, the red carpet was full of fresh fashion eye candy.

From bright and bold to simple and sophisticated, subtly sexy to serious sparkle, refined romance to modern minimalism,we’re rounding up all the red carpet’s most buzz-worthy fashion.

There were plenty of style surprises but none more stunning than Taylor Swift‘s sparkle- and- pastel-free ensemble. We couldn’t have imagined a better revenge look than stunning white Ralph Lauren gown that the newly-single star donned. The curve-skimming silhouette topped off with the plunging neckline cast the singer in a sexy new light that screamed, “Eat your heart out, Harry Styles!

Olivia Munn and Julianne Hough also switched up their style, opting for ladylike over sexy or edgy. Also toning it down after a series of overly-revealing red carpet looks: Heidi Klum, who wowed in a black-and-gold cutout dress that showed just enough skin.

Naomi Watts also went with the glam color combo, donning a backless gold-and-black Alexander McQueen number. The Impossible star’s edgy updo (did she visit Miley Cyrus’ hairstylist before the show?) offered an unexpected contrast to the glitzy gown. Also heating up the red carpet, Lea Michele sizzled in a sparkly pink mini dress with sheer paneling.

Red carpet newcomer, Chloë Grace Moretz seems set on making a name for herself as one of the season’s standout style stars. The young actress shined in a neon lace frock. Meanwhile awards show veterans Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullockshowed the young’ens how it’s done in chic fashion-forward styles.

Of course, all that red carpet risk-taking rarely comes without casualties…

While in past, we’ve seen everything from the outrageous to the tawdry and just plain tacky, this year’s fashion faux pas were less overt. Still, it never gets old seeing which stars just plain missed the mark.

See our picks for the People Choice Awards’ best-dressed stars. Then check out the night’s biggest fashion flops.

Do you agree with our picks?

Who wore your favorite look of the night? Share your picks for the night’s best- and- worst-dressed stars below.

Half the fun of awards shows is what happens beforehand.

We’re talking about the red carpet fashion show that precedes all the season’s big awards show, from the People’s Choice Awards to the Golden Globes and Oscars.

If it weren’t for the red carpet, how would Angelina Jolie’s left leg ever have launched its career as an Internet meme? Or how would we have seen Ryan Seacrest falter as Sacha Baron Cohen (aka “The Dictator”) dumped ashes on his shiny new tux — and hair.

And of course, without the pre-show red carpet extravaganza, we wouldn’t get some of the most memorable fashion moments.

While the ridiculous easily come to mind (recall: Bjork‘s swan costume at the 2001 Oscars or Lara Flynn Boyle’s ballerina costume at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards), some red carpet gowns have been responsible for launching a career or two. Nicole Kidman’s chartreuse Dior Haute Couture dress at the 1997 Oscars and Michelle Williams’ canary Vera Wang confection at the 2006 Oscars are just two examples of game-changing gowns.

Who are this year’s front contenders for the red carpet’s best-dressed lists? And which stars could launch their red carpet career this awards show season?

To prep you for the official start of this year’s Awards Show Season — which starts this week with the People’s Choice Awards on Wednesday followed by the Golden Globes on Sunday — we’ve rounded up a list of the starlets to look out for on the red carpet.

A few are best-dressed regulars, while others have had one or two…or three (but who’s counting?) fashion mishaps before. (One actress even challenges the standard convention that pants are necessary in public, but that makes her all the more interesting to watch, no?)

Take a look at the stars we’ll be watching out for this red carpet season and see if you agree. 

Who are you most excited to see on the red carpet this season?

Play the video for a look back at the best and worst red carpet moments of 2012.

By Amelia Mularz