Today’s guest post comes from Bel, who is not a writer, she just drinks a lot about it. She blogs with Lou at sassy is convenient and is on twitter @BellaHM during business hours in personal capacity.

Taking our lead from The Telegraph‘s list of the Top 10 Most Iconic Dresses of the last 50 years, here is an equally unreliable and nonauthorative compilation of outfits and ensembles wore by humans, but inspired by the animal world.

HUMAN: Björk
ANIMAL: swan

This is what happens when pixies are allowed to attend red carpet events. At the 2001 Oscars, Björk not only wore a deliciously frothy white swan dress, but she also enacted laying an egg. What did it all mean? Who knows, I’m not asking – I can barely understand a word her cute wee face says.

HUMAN: Cate Blanchett
ANIMAL: hummingbird

Another dress with a bird on it – and yet we find a rather different result. Best Actress nominee at the 1999 Oscars, Cate Blanchett wore this embroidered Galliano gown which manages to be both sweet and sexy. It would have been perfect to receive a statuette in – except she was ROBBED! ROBBED I TELL YOU!

HUMAN: Cher
ANIMAL: East African crowned crane

The Oscars are shaping up as Hollywood’s favourite place to show their love for the animal kingdom. Cher is always one to make a statement, and in 1986, she and long-time fashion collaborator Bob Mackie drew attention to 1) Cher’s head, and 2) the national bird of Uganda.

HUMAN: Marion Cotillard
ANIMAL: fish

People say that the French are irrefutably fashionable and chic without trying, but it seems they are also susceptible to making their clothes look like their pets. In this case, I’m guessing Mme. Cotillard has a poisson d’or at home, and couldn’t resist asking Jean Paul Gaultier to whip her up something for the 2008 Oscars to match!

HUMAN: Isabella Rossellini
ANIMAL: anything that can mate

You’ve seen Green Porno, right? You guys, come on – it’s educational!!

HUMAN: Naomi Campbell
ANIMAL: anything that has fur

As a spokesperson for PETA, Naomi Campbell declared she’d “rather go naked” than wear fur. But in a recent ad campaign, she appears naked whilst wearing fur. Riiiiight. Wow, I guess you’d want to get your hands on a nice piece of jewellery to go with that outfit, huh?

HUMAN: Shania Twain
ANIMAL: leopard

Shania Twain may have planted the seed that eventually sprouted into recent years’ “cougar” phenomenon. And that is even more unfortunate than her luggage-encompassing onesie.

HUMAN: Bettie Page
ANIMAL: leopard

Bettie Page knew how to keep it real: she sewed her own outfits, did her own hair and make-up, and would accessorise a leopard print outfit with real leopards.

HUMAN: Grace Jones (possibly from outer space?)
ANIMAL: various

Grace Jones has never let the dictates of human-based fashion restrict what she would put, or not put, on her body. That would be no fun at all.

HUMAN: Philip Treacy
ANIMAL: generally things with wings

Milliner extraordinaire, Philip Treacy is known for adorning the head of Isabella Blow and pairing his creations with the collections of Alexander McQueen. His sculptural works wouldn’t withstand Wellington winds, but still make me smile.