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Refined glamour as stars hit Oscars red carpet

Despite an economic recession that has many Americans pinching pennies, stars didn’t pare back their finery, delivering the glitz for which Hollywood is known.

“If I turn my head, I don’t see any change,” designer Valentino said on the red carpet, adding that any toning down of Oscar style would be “very, very bad.”

Style experts called the night a return to clean, sophisticated Hollywood style, saying actresses such as best actress nominee Kate Winslet and “Slumdog Millionaire” star Freida Pinto went for classic looks.

Winslet achieved her retro look in a grayish blue one-shoulder gown with black details by Yves Saint Laurent that she told reporters was “quite comfortable,” a swept-back hairstyle and diamond earrings.

Pinto donned a darker blue beaded one-sleeved gown by John Galliano.

Winslet and Pinto stood out for the choice of blue, as many actresses favored white and other light colors.

Night of white

Penelope Cruz, who picked up the best supporting actress Oscar for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” and her fellow supporting actress nominee Taraji P. Henson of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” wore voluminous strapless white gowns.

Best actress nominee Anne Hathaway also wore a white gown, studded with sequins, that style expert Jennifer Fisher called ”perfect Hollywood glamour.”

Asked on the red carpet why she had chosen the Armani gown, Hathaway said: “Wouldn’t you want to wear this dress?”

Other light-colored gowns included Sarah Jessica Parker’s belted light mint green strapless dress by Dior.

Chunky, collared necklaces were also one of the night’s big trends, with best supporting actress nominees Henson and Amy Adams of “Doubt,” garnering the most buzz with their Fred Leighton designs.

“Thank God the necklace returns to Hollywood,” style expert Michael O’Connor said.

Other necklaces that stood out on the carpet were best actress nominee Melissa Leo’s spider-shaped diamond pendant, designed by her friend Katherine Wallach, and best actor nominee Mickey Rourke, who wore a picture of his Chihuahua, Loki, both around his neck and in a pin on his lapel.

“I was going to bring her with me,” Rourke said of the dog, who died six days ago. “But she is with me.”

Fashion misses for the evening for Fisher included supermodel Heidi Klum’s bright red Roland Mouret futuristic gown, which she paired with big, chunky diamond earrings and bracelets by Lorraine Schwartz.

“It looked like it should have been on Star Trek,” Fisher said.

For O’Connor, best actress nominee Meryl Streep missed the mark with her gray off-the-shoulder gown.

“It was just not the right shape for her,” he said.

Here are the winners as they are announced:

• Best Movie: Slumdog Millionaire

• Best Actress: Kate Winslet - The Reader

• Best Actor: Sean Penn - Milk

• Best director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

• Best supporting actress: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Best original screenplay: Milk
• Best adapted screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire
• Best animated feature film: Wall-E
• Best animated short film: La Maison en Petits Cubes
• Art direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Costume design: The Duchess
• Make-up: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire
• Best live action short film: Spielzeugland (Toyland)
• Best supporting actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
• Best documentary feature: Man on Wire
• Best documentary short subject: Smile Pinki
• Visual effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Sound editing: The Dark Knight
• Sound mixing: Slumdog Millionaire
• Film editing: Slumdog Millionaire
• Best original score: Slumdog Millionaire
• Best original song: Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire
• Best foreign language film: Departures - Japan
  
  

Click here for the detail list of Academywinners and nominees

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