Elegant Anne Hathaway shimmered like an Oscar statuette, Kate Winslet channeled Grace Kelly and looked not only fresh but fashion-forward, glamorous Angelina Jolie was draped in black with a heart-shaped bodice and Brad Pitt on her arm, and Meryl Streep, with regally high hair and shoulder-baring elegance, looked like the Hollywood royalty that she is.
The Best Actress and Supporting Actress nominees were the fashion stars of the night even before they started giving out statues at the Academy Awards Sunday night.
But before we get back to the ladies, a huge "OMG, you looked great!" goes out to Robert Downey Jr., who cleans up real nice. Many of the men chose to wear black ties with their black tuxes, but no one looked more polished and more dashing than Downey, a Supporting Actor nominee for "Tropic Thunder."
Pitt (a Best Actor nominee for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), in a classic tux with bow tie, and Best Actress nominee Jolie of "Changeling" brought the wow factor to couples on the red carpet.
Back to the boldly dressed beauties of the night, and there were many.
Supporting Actress nominees Taraji P. Henson ("Benjamin Button") and Amy Adams ("Doubt") both chose statement necklaces, with Adams one of the few women in a strong color. Her scarlet Carolina Herrera gown was complemented by a colorful, jeweled necklace. Her red hair was pulled back and clasped at the nape of her neck, another trend of the night. Henson was a vision in a strapless white gown constructed of uneven tiers and an antique diamond flower necklace.
Viola Davis, a Supporting Actress nominee for "Doubt," glowed in a head-to-toe gold halter; and Best Actress nominee Hathaway of "Rachel Getting Married" was in Armani Prive, who also dressed her for the Golden Globes. She was a golden girl on the red carpet, with crystals and circular pailettes, and a jeweled clasp at the back of her strapless dress and one in her hair.
Young Hollywood arrived early and in very different styles: Miley Cyrus' heavily embellished ball gown with scalloped petal skirt and complementary accented belt "weighs more than I do," she said, but it worked. Vanessa Hudgens' form-fitting, mermaid-bottom black gown with white accents by Marchesa wasn't as youthful as her pretty face and dangly earrings.
Cyrus' dress echoed the silhouette of Supporting Actress winner Penelope Cruz's vintage white confection, with silver brocade embellishment and full skirt. The "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" star often chooses black, and it was nice to see her brighter and lighter in the color of the night, a shade of white. Along with Sarah Jessica Parker, in "barely mint" Dior couture, their cinched-waist ball gowns were made to be twirled on a dance floor. "Mama Mia!'s" Amanda Seyfried was a standout in a tasteful tomato-red dress and diamond flower necklace.
Winslet, in Yves St. Laurent, made a daring choice in a blue-gray satin, one-shoulder gown with black lace accents and draping. She won Best Actress honors for "The Reader." Marisa Tomei, a Supporting Actress nominee for "The Wrestler," also stepped up to the plate in a white Versace with layer upon layer of pleated fabric.
Hair pulled back at the nape of the neck or soft, flowing curls and waves were among the big looks. The beauty-parlor hair of Best Actress nominee Melissa Leo ("Frozen River") felt a little bit Donna Reed. Davis' soft, swept-to-the-side waves were more up-to-the-minute.
It would be too easy to take shots at some of the folks who didn't reach the heights of some of the glam girls and guys. Mickey Rourke, a Best Actor nominee for "The Wrestler," was less weird than usual in a white suit with a black vest. He kept eulogizing his dead Chihuahua at every step along the red carpet. How can you knock a guy who just lost his best friend?
And we'll never know if Philip Seymour Hoffman would have taken off his skullcap if he had won Best Supporting Actor for "Doubt" because the award went to the late Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight."
Amid the sea of black and shades of white and gray, lovely Freida Pinto of "Slumdog Millionaire" graced the red carpet in a royal blue one-sleeve, asymmetrical design by John Galliano, with enough lace and sparkle to have a Bollywood vibe.
The kids of "Slumdog," who portrayed the stars at various stages, walked the red carpet with wide eyes and giant smiles, the best accessories of all.
(Sharon Eberson can be reached at seberson(at)post-gazette.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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