Stars from Natalie Portman to Mila Kunis all dazzled the red carpet in lovely gowns at the Oscars on Sunday."Black Swan" graced the Oscars on Sunday night in several ways: Besides Natalie Portman in her Rodarte violet-colored draped gown in silk chiffon with Swarovski crystals, co-star Mila Kunis wore a very low-cut, lingerie-style Elie Saab gown in lavender with lace details. But other stars had a bit of a dancer vibe, including Mandy Moore in a gold-beaded, illusion gown by Monique Lhuillier and Hailee Steinfeld`s custom-made Marchesa.
Steinfeld accessorized her crystal-covered, hand-embroidered, tea-length tulle dress in pale pink with a ballerina-style, diamond-and-platinum Fred Leighton headband.
"Hailee Steinfeld made the perfect choice — in its endearingness and sincerity," said Susan Cernek, executive online fashion editor for Glamour.
And, added Cernek, "Natalie Portman was as gorgeous and amazing as you`d think." The gown by Laura and Kate Mulleavy made skillful use of a delicate neckline to draw attention from the empire waist that is pretty standard for maternity dresses, she observed, and the Tiffany & Co. tassel earrings were a perfect complement.
There was some controversy ahead of the Academy Awards about "Black Swan" — and who should get the credit for its very influential looks. Rodarte did design some of the outfits, but Amy Westcott was the film`s official costume designer.
"Natalie Portman was making a personal choice. She calls the Rodarte designers `friends,`" Cernek says.
Another big statement on the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles was host Anne Hathaway in a big, attention-grabbing strapless red gown from the Valentino archives.
Gwyneth Paltrow`s metallic, embroidered sheath gown with a slit-style V neck by Calvin Klein`s Francisco Costa hit the trend of a more seductive, sophisticated Oscars look versus flashy, skin-baring styles.
"Mostly I think people looked really good. They went couture and body conscious, not overtly sexy," said Hal Rubenstein, fashion director of InStyle magazine. "There was a lot of sheer, a lot of high necks. ... There was no real clunker in the bunch."
The higher neckline of Amy Adams` L`Wren Scott gown, covered in purple caviar beads with a back-hem slit, was contrasted by her chunky pendant necklace. "It was a `40s Shanghai nightclub — sexy but quite covered up," said Cernek.
"The one thing we`re seeing a consistent amount of is silhouettes fitted to their bodies, whether it`s romantic or structured," said stylist Cristina Ehrlich, who worked with Adams.
Melissa Leo`s Marc Bouwer gown, which had a collar-style neckline, was an atypical choice of this most classic and glamorous occasion of the awards-show season.
Reese Witherspoon channeled a bit of Brigitte Bardot in her black gown by Giorgio Armani Prive with a white band around the strapless bustline, and Hilary Swank`s strapless, gray Gucci had the unexpected twist of delicate feathers at the hemline.
Oscar.com fashion expert Tom Julian put Scarlett Johansson and her deep-magenta, stretch-lace gown by Dolce & Gabbana at the top of his list. (He gave his best-tux prize to Tom Ford`s fitted suit on Justin Timberlake.)
"Glamorous reds, regal and rich purples, and modern metallics took over this year`s red carpet," Julian said.
Also in red were Penelope Cruz in a sequined L`Wren Scott and Sandra Bullock, wearing a sculptured, strapless Vera Wang.
Jennifer Lawrence surely raised her profile status in a slinky, scoopneck, fire-engine red Calvin Klein gown. It wasn`t the usual Oscar-glam look. She looked more like a `70s swimsuit pinup — except for the 42 carats of Chopard yellow diamonds on her wrist — but it worked for her.
Jennifer Hudson showed off her slimmed-down figure in a tangerine-orange halter gown by Versace. "It was a great way to say, `Guess what? I`m a star, I`ve got the power and I`m fierce," said style expert Suze Yalof Schwartz. "It was the ultimate makeover dress."
If her dress didn`t do it, then her jewels did. Jeweler Neil Lane valued her 20-carat ring, long, basket earrings, and bracelets at $1 million.
Cate Blanchett went the couture route in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci. The pleated, pale-wisteria dress was embroidered with pearls, crystals covered in leather and a swath of yellow beads around the neck.
InStyle`s Rubenstein thinks Michelle Williams` beaded Chanel Couture gown will end up the controversial choice in next-day conversations, but it doesn`t deserve it. "I think Michelle Williams` dress doesn`t show up well in photos, but if you could see the iridescent beading, it`s an extraordinary piece of work. It photographs very, very simple, but it`s pretty sensational."
Another dress that needed to be seen in person to appreciated was Halle Berry`s champagne-colored Marchesa strapless gown with a pouf of tulle around the bottom.
"That dress was a movie-star dress," said Yalof Schwartz from her perch at the red carpet. "It fit her like it was melted onto her body."
More couture: Helen Mirren selected a one-of-a-kind Vivienne Westwood Couture gown in gunmetal satin with long sleeves. Marisa Tomei in a vintage, 1950s-era navy gown by Charles James from Lily et Cie paired with 1960 sapphire and diamond jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels, and Nicole Kidman in a strapless, white Christian Dior gown with silver embroidery. If the buzz wasn`t going to be about her choice to wear Dior in the aftermath of the suspension of designer John Galliano, it would have been about her 19th-century, old-mine cut diamond necklace from Fred Leighton.
Ehrlich, who partnered with Victoria`s Secret, said, "There`s a lot of psychology involved in making the looks look as effortlessly as they do. It`s all very glamorous with a lot of different takes on it."
Helena Bonham Carter worked with costume designer Colleen Atwood for her black corset gown with cat-scratched sleeves. She told E! that she chose an outfit that would "celebrate film instead of fashion."
Rubenstein said he`s just so pleased there is so much to talk about instead of a sea of safe looks. "They didn`t do cookie-cutter stuff. I was delighted."
Bureau Report