It’s hard to dress up for ice and slush, snowstorms and slippery streets in below zero temperatures. While festival dress codes are clearly defined for such places as Cannes (full on black tie) and Venice, Berlin and Toronto (cocktail attire), it’s a different story for Sundance, a festival that takes place in a ski resort, Park City, Utah. Let me be clear: Europeans and East Coasters always fare better here than Californians whose idea of cold is an ocean breeze while sipping sake on the patio at Nobu Malibu.

Thankfully, the days of exposed belly buttons are as much a thing of the past as Paris Hilton sightings and more swag suites than movies shown at the festival. Which isn’t to say that some people did not underestimate the weather forecast or simply decided to ignore it. The cloudy beginning of the Sundance Fest with temperatures in the mid to high thirties turned into a full-blown snowstorm over the weekend and a freezing drop – albeit to clear skies- by Monday. Premieres are mostly held at The Eccles and The Mark Theaters where the red carpet is in a tent without heat lamps, or on the street in front of the Egyptian on Main Street. High heeled stiletto boots and exposed flesh made us shiver just looking at it. Some Los Angelenos slid up and down the narrow streets in sockless linen sneakers or – even worse – in soaking wet Ugg boots. Only people living on a beach would wear Uggs in real winter. And yes, this does not just look ridiculous, it is also a recipe for disaster -i.e. broken limbs – when worn on snow and ice.

We admit it is hard being fashionable when you brave the winter climate and most non-famous festival attendees look like they just rolled off the slopes (which some actually did). Actors want to look their best, which explains why the gorgeous Emayatzi Corinealdy showed up in a lacey black top for the premiere of Miles Ahead. To her credit she did wear sturdy winter boots.

Kathryn Hahn mistook her L.A. gym leggings for a pair of pants that would have ensured she stayed warm while co-star Viggo Mortensen looked handsome and insulated in a black suit and camel cashmere scarf for their Captain Fantastic opening.

Fashion icon Chloe Sevigny paired her denim capri pants and ruffled shirt by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini with Louis Vuitton boots and a warm shearling coat by Coach, while Love & Friendship co-star Kate Beckinsale mistook Sundance for a warm Cannes night: in silk pants, high heels and a white silk top (all by Rebecca Vallance) you just wanted to wrap a thick blanket around her naked shoulders and arms. The lady made you shiver just looking at her. Kerry Washington elicited the same notion in a sleeveless black leather top by Jiohny and a slit white Tibi skirt. But in her defense she was only in Park City for a dinner that lasted two hours to promote her upcoming HBO film Confirmation before flying back to balmy L.A.

Unlike Greta Gerwig whose white sleeveless dress by Proenza Schouler and dainty heels would have fit better in Toronto or Venice.

Singer and producer (of Underground) John Legend was lost in denim but wore warm boots to avoid the slush on Main Street.

Southside With You producer and lead actress, Tika Sumpter (she plays Michelle Robinson before she became Mrs. Obama) stayed warm on top but tackled the snow in dangerously high-heeled boots. She had that in common with Gabrielle Union who stunned in a warm Altazzurra dress but very high heels at the premiere of the festival’s most talked about film The Birth of a Nation.

Julie Delpy could have fit a pack of Wiener Dogs (the title of her movie) under her boldly patterned dress but didn’t look particularly insulated from the freezing temperatures. On Sunday – when the snowfall didn’t let up, even for a minute – Brooklyn Decker was dressed in a thick oversized beige sweater and matching cap under a very chic military green parka but decided to forgo tights and showed bare legs in her cognac colored boots when she arrived at Harvey Weinstein’s football party.

Not so Sarah Gadon, the star of James Schamus’ directorial debut Indignation. As a girl from Toronto she has a knack for looking great without getting cold. She paired a Thom Browne black and white-checkered coat with warm black tights. Schamus, himself a New Yorker, looked comfortable and warm with his wife Nancy, too.

Lily Rose Melody Depp proved that she has inherited her father’s sense for fashion. A spitting image of her mother Vanessa Paradis, she wore Chanel, of course: a black suit, white t-shirt and colorful red scarf on the red carpert for her film Yoga Hosers.

The clear winner in appropriate Sundance dressing? No doubt Sophia Bush who paired a two-tone Coach shearling coat with yes, Sorel footwear. She shares the award for braving the weather in style with Allison Janney and Elliot Page who both wore boots, leather pants and chic but thick sweaters to their Tallulah premiere. Rebecca Hall came in close behind. The Brit wore black wool pants and cashmere sweater with a white Joseph winter coat to promote her film Christine.

Lena Dunham wasn’t going to let fashion get in the way of staying comfortable and warm, either: she wore an array of winter sweaters to various events.

Breakout star Riley Keough (Elvis Presley’s granddaughter) stayed warm in an ASOS camel-colored cashmere turtleneck dress and flat boots.

Knit hats were very popular among the men: Don Cheadle wore a grey and white one to compliment his black outfit for the premiere of Miles Ahead, Michael Shannon opted for dark grey to go with his casual outfit. Rosanna Arquette topped herself off with a fashionable black crochet hat over her blonde tresses

The best-dressed gentleman? Without a doubt director/writer/actor Nate Parker looked wonderfully dapper at his Birth Of A Nation premiere in an Armani suit and orange handkerchief.

For more Sundance looks. visit check out our gallery, here.