Trending: Cut out dresses

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.

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'.

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.

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.

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.

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 twentie.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.