Cate Blanchett leads the stars at the Film Independent Spirit Awards

Better luck tomorrow! Better luck tomorrow! Cate Blanchett suffers a rare fashion fail as she leads the stars at the Film Independent Spirit Awards... one day before the Oscars 

By COLETTE FAHY

PUBLISHED: 20:26, 1 March 2014 | UPDATED: 22:38, 1 March 2014

She is renowned for her sense of style but Cate Blanchett got it wrong at Saturday's 29th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards. 

The ususally impeccable star arrived in a bizarre brown and beige dress which looked like it was two garments put together. 

A large blue flower on the front and a mismatched gold belt completed the look.

Hopefully the blonde star will put on a better display at the Oscars on Sunday.

Rare fashion fail: Cate Blanchett looked as if she was wearing two different dresses in a rare fashion fail at the Spirit Awards on Saturday

The Oscars got a dressed-down, beach-side rehearsal at the awards and one person who perfectly captured the laid back vibe was Shailene Woodley. 

The Divergent star, who won for the Descendants a few years ago, rocked up to the awards show, held in a tent along the beach in Santa Monica, in a cropped top which showed off her toned tummy and a matching long green skirt. 

22-year-old Woodley's cropped hair, which she cut for her role as cancer victim Hazel, perfectly matched her fun casual outfit as she walked the special blue carpet.

Laid back vibe: Shailene Woodley displayed her taut tummy in a casual cropped top and matching skirt at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on Saturday

From elegant to goofy: Shailene posed for pictures looking elegant before striking some goofy poses on the blue carpet 

Flat gold sandals and a simple gold chain completed her look.

Nominee Jared Leto was casual in a leather jacket and jeans and spoke about his love for Dallas Buyers Club.

He said: 'It was a really challenging role, I hadn't made a movie in six years and I thought this was such a wonderful way for me to return to the screen.

All that glitters: Oscar nominee Lupita Nyong'o had yet another fashion win in a gold playsuit as she perfectly captured the laid back vibe of the event 

The perfect date: Lupita brought her beloved mother Dorothy along as her date to the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday

'When people say they barely recognised me, it is the best compliment I can get. I am so lucky to be a part of the movie and I feel so incredibly lucky and honoured to be nominated with such great actors.

'Al Pacino sent me an email the last day which was amazing, I am meeting my heroes. And it's amazing going through this with my mom and brother.

'My mom used to take me to arthouse/indie movies all the time and they are such a bit part of my life.

Frocky horror show: Reese Witherspoon stepped out in a hot mess of a dress, which featured a mix of patterns and textures

Pins on parade: Anna Kendrick put her toned legs on show and opted for a backless dress as she celebrated independent cinema in Santa Monica on Saturday

'You live and learn, it's good to experiment. I always feel at home with independent cinema.

'The make-up budget was $250 dollars, it's crazy. We had a lot of people working for free. Being part of independent film is a blessing.'

Nominee Lupita Nyong'o brought her mother as her date. 

The 30-year-old actress dressed in a gold playsuit, yet another fashion win for her.

Stylish pairs: As ever Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila Alves looked suitably stylish on the blue carpet as did Michael B. Jordan and Lupita 

Quite the year: Matthew and his wife Camila have been hitting the awards party circuit hard as he lobbies for awards for his impressive role in Dallas Buyers Club 

Speaking about her role in 12 Years A Slave she said, 'The performance of Patsy was visceral, I had to go there, there was no way not to. To do her story justice I had to make myself uncomfortable.'

As for her plans after Sunday's Academy Awards, Lupita said: 'On Monday, I am getting on a plane and getting away from LA.'

Blanchett spoke about the importance of independent films and admitted most movies made in Australia would qualify as independent due to their small budgets. 

Sunshine after the rain: Paula Patton looked beautiful in a chic yellow dress as she stepped out following the breakdown of her marriage to Robin Thicke 

Privacy please: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, who often hit out at the media for delving into the private lives of celebrities, couldn't resist putting out on a PDA filled display on the red carpet 

Simple chic: Kristen Bell looked looked chic in a strapless blue dress with a black lace trim as she took to the blue carpet 

She also paid tribute to directors including Baz Luhrman for their work in Australian cinema.

Matthew McConaughey spoke out about his weight loss and revealed he relied on friends to tell him when he had lost enough weight.

Along with a shiny suit, the always dapper star chose a pair of blue suede shoes. 

Stylish pairs: Jon Hamm chatted with his Mad Men co-star Elizabeth Moss while  Chiwetel Ejiofor and girlfriend Sari Mercer also walked the blue carpet 

Stylish couple: Chiwetel Ejiofor and girlfriend Sari Mercer looked elegant as they attended the Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California

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Who didn't get the memo? Keanu Reeves and Andy Samberg went for completely different looks as they arrived at the Spirit Awards 

He showed off his tan and revealed he has recently taken to jogging on the beach.

Meanwhile, Elisabeth Rohm was lucky not to suffer a wardrobe malfunction in her orange dress, which showed off a great deal of cleavage.

The 40-year-old American Hustle actress grabbed attention from bigger names in her daring gown, which was slashed almost to her navel.

The ceremony rewards independent films with a budget of $20 million or less, ostensibly celebrating the little guys in the shadow of the Academy Awards.

Rocking out: Kristen Ritter rocked up in a yellow and black dress as she helped to support independent cinema 

Careful: Elisabeth Rohm was lucky not to suffer a wardrobe malfunction in this daring dress at the awards ceremony on Saturday

Grabbing attention: She may not have been the biggest name at the event but Rohm made sure all eyes were on her in this slashed to the navel gown

There is usually overlap between the two, but especially so this year. 

All four of the actors favoured to win at the Oscars are nominated for the Spirit Awards: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club), Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) and Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club). 

If all win on Saturday at the Spirits and Sunday at the Academy Awards, it would be the first time the acting honours lined up.

Hollywood royalty: Zoe Kravitz, whose parents are Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz, opted for casual chic as she hit up the beach ceremony

Different styles: Lake Bell opted for a billowing strapless dress while Castle's Stana Katic [centre] wore a more structured blue gown

For the independent film world, that's reason for both excitement and trepidation. 

An indie sweep in the acting categories proves how much of the best work is being done today in independent film. But it also robs the Spirit Awards of a chance to highlight films that otherwise struggle for attention.

The two leading nominated movies at the Spirits are the historical drama 12 Years a Slave (seven nods) and the father-son road trip Nebraska (six). 

The look of love: Engaged couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie skipped the carpet and took their seats inside, where they couldn't keep their eyes off each other  

Relaxed: Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka looked relaxed and happy as they strolled the blue carpet 

Legs eleven:  Rosario Dawson displayed her toned pins as she rocked up in a pencil skirt and peach top

Both are up for best picture at the Oscars, with 12 Years considered the narrow favourite over Gravity and American Hustle (neither of which was eligible for the Spirit Awards).

The Spirits, to be hosted by Patton Oswalt, could be especially soggy. The Los Angeles area has been swamped by a heavy rain storm that's caused flooding and rock slides. Weather forecasters expect the storm to continue through Saturday. 

Organisers said they've added tents and canopies for the red carpet.

Didn't you get the memo? Sarah Paulson's fussy white cropped top, shirt and skirt was a bit too much for the casual event 

But the Spirits, which are presented by Film Independent (a group of filmmakers, industry professionals and movie buffs), hope to shine a light on many movies that will be absent from the Academy Awards. 

The other best picture contenders are the Coen brothers' '60s folk tale Inside Llewyn Davis, J.C. Chandor's shipwreck drama All Is Lost and Noah Baumbach's black-and-white New York comedy Frances Ha.

The stars of All Is Lost (Robert Redford) and Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) are also nominated for best actor.

Jeff Nichols' Arkansas coming-of-age drama Mud is up for best director for Nichols, but has also already been chosen for the Spirits' Robert Altman Award, an honour founded in 2007 for best ensemble and director.

Comeback kid: Jared Leto, who has received numerous Best Supporting Actor nominations for his role in Dallas Buyers Club, showed up in a leather jacket and jeans 

Different styles: Dallas Buyers Club star Jared Leto went for laid back biker chic while American Hustle's Jeremy Renner was dapper in a suit 

Also nominated are: Enough Said (James Gandolfini is posthumously nominated), The Spectacular Now, Before Midnight, Fruitvale Station, Short Term 12, Upstream Color and Computer Chess.

The show will be aired Saturday night on IFC.

Oswalt earlier said that he would release live birds instead of the show's bird-themed statues. The actor-comedian, alas, has since repeatedly insisted he was joking.

Dapper duo: Joseph Gordon-Levitt scrubbed up well in a navy suit while Garrett Hedlund was slightly more casual in his blue suit as he opted for no tie 

Contrasting styles: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer and Aubrey Plaza opted for three wildly different looks as they hit up the blue carpet at the awards 

Hunky stars: Michael Fassbender and Jon Hamm both arrived at the Spirit Awards in suits as they joined their fellow actors on Saturday

Casual chic: Both June Squibb and Jane Lynch opted for casual looks as they attended the awards in Santa Monica on Saturday