What’s black and white and red all over? Academy Awards fashion.
The three colors bedecked some of the biggest names at the “Grand Prix of Glamour” last night.
And then there was the noncolor seen on almost everyone – flesh.
Bare made its debut on shoulders, backs and decolletes via strapless and strappy gowns worn by all but the most mature.
Kicking off the hot color brigade was Marcia Gay Harden, our pick for “Best Dressed.” This Best Supporting Actress winner for “Pollock” embraced the look of old Hollywood in a strapless red Randolph Duke, becoming a real brunette bombshell from the Marilyn Monroe school.
Accented by Harry Winston diamonds, she said, “For the drip painter, I wanted to drip with diamonds.”
But Kate Hudson, who had been the odds-on favorite for the award Marcia scooped up, wouldn’t have even taken home a fashion award.
Wearing a strappy, platinum-gray gown by Stella McCartney, her look was ruined by a “wrap” that looked like a fringed lampshade across her shoulders.
She and her mother, Goldie Hawn, who was simply chic in Vera Wang, should have traded gowns.
Best Actress-nominee Joan Allen was resplendent in Michael Kors’ coral beaded gown, with an oh-so-flattering turtleneck racerback neckline that exposed her sexy shoulders. This was a glamour gown with a capital G.
Interestingly, Laura Linney wore, conceptually, virtually the same gown as Allen – a flowing coral gown with a high neck, designed by Valentino.
Quipped her “You Can Count On Me” writer and director, Kenneth Lonergan: “Laura Linney’s dress probably cost more than what she was paid for the movie.”
Juliette Binoche was highly stylized, but a fashion miss in her Jean Paul Gautier. It was too, too much with pearls and a corset and the mixed styling of flapper hair and dominatrix boots.
Ellen Burstyn was cool in a cream sheath, but pushed the thermometer with her necklace – fiery tongues of yellow and orange gems, designed by Christian Dior.
The hand’s down winner of the simplicity award was Best-Actress winner Julia Roberts. While all others were trying to out-peacock each other, Roberts relied on the tired and true – a vintage black strapless gown with white “Y” trim by Valentino.
Delicate, snowflake-shaped diamond jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels and her ebullient grin perfectly accented her look.
Her gorgeous beau, Benjamin Bratt, complimented Roberts perfectly in a sleek, black, one-button tuxedo with matching vest and regular-collar shirt and white necktie.
Catherine Zeta-Jones, presenting and attending in support of “Traffic,” showed off her post-pregnancy bod in a strapless black, bustier dress by Versace.
Erika Christensen, also part of the “Traffic” team, wore a Giorgio Armani pink-and-gold-beaded leaf dress.
Jennifer Lopez, presenting Best Song, went for classic beauty in a gray and taupe, one-shouldered ball gown by Chanel. You’d never know she used to be a rapper’s moll.
The most-improved award goes to Angelina Jolie. Last year’s fashion loser-Supporting Actress winner looked to have figured out how to let her beauty shine through in a simple white satin tuxedo by Dolce & Gabbana.
Probably the most bizarre fashion look was worn by musician Bjork. The flesh and white dress with a full skirt featured a swan’s neck and head that wrapped around the singer’s neck.
Joan Rivers kicked off the evening, hosting the E! Entertainment Television pre-show in, what else, Vera Wang. Although the dress was gorgeous, it wasn’t for her. Someone should take her own advice.
But she did have the pre-show’s funniest moment when she asked E! President Mindy Herman to turn around, ostensibly to see the back of her gown. Joan, ensuring her spot for next year, bent down and placed a smacker on Herman’s backside.
Daughter Melissa, on the other hand, looked lovely in a white-sequined, strapless gown. But who cares what she wore – we could barely see beyond the 3-inch-wide Harry Winston diamond choker she was sporting.
Best-dressed family had to be Sting in Gucci, his wife, Trudi Styler, in an ornate butterfly-and-flower-embroidered Gautier, and daughter Coco, quite possibly the youngest person alive to sport a couture by McCartney for Chloe.
For the first time in many years, there were definite trends emerging for men’s wear.
For one, there was the long-coat look worn by Best-Actor winner Russell Crowe and Samuel L. Jackson.
And the classic, solid satin tie, instead of a bow-tie, sported by some looked modern, sleek and grown up.
But menswear designers should generally just pack it up and not even bother trying to dress Hollywood’s men – Giorgio Armani has the market covered.
Host Steve Martin looked like the class act he is in a black, three-button tuxedo, a regular-collar tuxedo shirt and a black necktie.
Dominating the Best Leading Actor category, Armani dressed four of the five contenders.
Crowe wore a knee-length, Edwardian-style tuxedo with ornate, black-on-black braiding at the cuff and the button closures.
Nominated for “Quills,” Geoffrey Rush wore a one-button tuxedo with pearl satin tuxedo shirt and taupe satin necktie.
Ed Harris, nominated for “Pollock,” wore a sleek, three-button tuxedo with a powder-blue, satin, pleated shirt that matched his eyes. How’s that for a splash of color?
Long-shot nominee Javier Bardem, recognized for “Before Night Falls,” wore a streamlined, three-button tuxedo.
Armani also dominated the Best Supporting Actor category.
Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro wore a snap-closure tuxedo, made charming by his askew bow tie and floppy hair.