It’s an event where fashion takes centre stage but in the closing moments of the 2015 Logies ceremony a humble beanie left the sequinned gowns and tuxedoes looking a little drab.

After being awarded the Gold Logie, Carrie Bickmore, presenter of Network Ten’s The Project, abandoned protocol and pulled a blue beanie over her coiffed hair to raise awareness of brain cancer.

GALLERY See all the red carpet action here

“I want to get the nation talking about brain cancer,” said Bickmore, who lost husband Greg Lange to the disease in 2010.

“Every five hours, someone is diagnosed. It kills more people under 40 than any other cancer.

“In 2010, my husband Greg was one of the unlucky ones. Over 10 years, he lost feeling down one side [of his body] … he was a great father,” she said.

Instead of the usual applause for her award, the speech drew tears from some audience members and an ovation from the room. Social media lit up with praise and support.

It was an emotional moment for an event which is more often about self-congratulation than social awareness.

Bickmore, who earlier won a Logie for the Most Popular Presenter, said throughout Lange’s cancer journey he used to wear a lot of beanies.

She urged everyone on television in Australia on Monday to wear a beanie and talk about the disease that kills more people aged under 40 than any other cancer. Bickmore’s passionate and heartfelt speech about brain cancer ensured she won hearts as well as the coveted Gold Logie.

Before Bickmore abandoned style for substance, the night began as every Logies ceremony does – with primped and preened TV celebs posing for the cameras on the red carpet.

Once the domain of plunging necklines, taffeta and “what were they thinking?” moments, Aussie stars are now rising up the style ranks.

In a night which saw a couple of big statements – most notably Lee Lin Chin in a whole lot of netting, an Asher Keddie childhood flashback and a touching Richie Benaud tribute – the clothing nearly managed to detract from the drama.

While Carrie Bickmore took home the Gold Logie, many stars scored serious style props, and a couple of raised eyebrows, for their clothing choices.

Best dressed

Livinia Nixon: In royal blue, off-the-shoulder Craig Braybrook Couture, the Channel Nine presenter looked positively regal. Never underestimate the power of matching your dress to your eye colour, everyone.

Megan Gale: Alex Perry knows how to dress a woman. Nowhere is this more evident than in this glittering gown, worn by the stunning Megan Gale. The one-shouldered column silhouette is perfect for the statuesque model/mother and her simple, swept-back hair lets the dress take centre stage.

Jesinta Campbell: Let’s face it – the model and former Miss Universe would look great in anything, but this red lace Lover gown is unique and modern in a sea of sameness. The drop earrings are just the right amount of statement too.

Demi Harman: She might be only 22 years old, but the Home and Away star didn’t let that stop her from pulling out all the stops. Harman’s bold Steven Khalil gown is full old Hollywood glamour and she has the poise to pull it off.

Cheyenne Tozzi: The model’s sweeping black gown could have been more Addams Family than awards ceremony red carpet, but the sophisticated silhouette and Tozzi’s playful attitude (she really made the most of the sleeves) prevented it from looking too gothic.

We love you, but…

Meghan Trainor: All eyes were on the American songstress as the resident international guest at the ceremony. Unfortunately, Trainor chose the evening to borrow her grandmother’s glad rags. She’s lucky she’s ‘All About That Bass’ because she’s not all about the fashion.Jessica Rowe: We know she has two kids, which could explain why Rowe is wearing the entire costume department of Frozen. This flouncy, ill-fitting two piece is saved only by Rowe’s megawatt smile. The gown is such an eyesore we hardly noticed the real statement: Rowe’s pale pink hair. We don’t even hate it.

Julia Morris: With the 50th anniversary of Sound of Music well upon us, everyone has been gripped by Von Trapp family fever. However, that doesn’t excuse Morris’s decision to wear her curtains to the ceremony. The funny woman detracted from her killer figure with this overly-patterned shocker.

Johanna Griggs: Aqua mesh is never a good decision. We’ll leave it at that.Samantha Jade: The pint-sized singer is undeniably gorgeous, but there’s too much going on here. Cleavage, sequins, lace, sheer panelling and Marilyn Monroe hair are all competing for attention and the result is positively distracting. Keep it simple, Sam.