California Apparel News

(From left: Photo by Photo Agency; Photos by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Yesterday afternoon’s threatening rain clouds hanging over L.A. parted because Mother Nature wouldn’t dare rain down on Hollywood’s equivalent of the Super Bowl—the 82nd Academy Awards, held at the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood and Highland complex.

While many were in anticipation to find out the recipients of the accolades to be handed inside the Kodak Theatre, our chief concern was which celebrities would dazzle and delight out on the red carpet.

The Oscar red carpet is one of the most heightened stages for glamour, and many of the looks emulated Tinseltown’s bygone eras as sweeping hemlines, sculpted silhouettes and endless sparkles shined. Here are a few standouts of the red-carpet trends.

Going for the Gold: Metallic shades seemed to be the hue of choice on the red carpet and ran the gamut from body-hugging and statuesque to overflowing and voluminous. Best Actress winner Sandra Bullock went for Old Hollywood glamour mixed with modern fabrication as she paired sleek hair and wine-stained lips with a metallic gown with semi-sheer jeweled floral detailing by Marchesa. The always fashion-forward Sarah Jessica Parker wore a Chanel Haute Couture creamy golden column gown with an eye-catching encrusted bodice and a sash across the neckline. Kate Winslet stood long and lean in a silver Yves Saint Laurent gown.

(Photos by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Miley Cyrus showed a surprisingly mature look with a champagne strapless Jenny Packham gown with a sculpted bodice. Cameron Diaz opted for feminine sweetness in an Oscar de la Renta strapless gown with all-over beaded detailing.

(From left: Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Swirling Delights: Best Supporting Actress nominee Vera Farmiga created an optical illusion with the ruffled and layered petals on her deep berry-colored Marchesa gown. Zoe Saldana was probably the biggest show-stopper of the night with her Givenchy gown, which featured a nude encrusted bodice and tiered layers of lavender and purple ombre florals broken up by a long front slit.

(From left: Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Photo by Photo Agency)

Painted On: Rachel McAdams (in Elie Saab) and Best Supporting Actress nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal (in Dries Van Noten) both selected gowns with painted-on watercolor designs. McAdams went a little more muted with soft and flowing pleats while Gyllenhaal was bright and body-conscious in royal blue.

(From left: Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Photo by Photo Agency)

Blush tones: Best Supporting Actress nominee Anna Kendrick wore an off-the-shoulder dusty rose gown by Elie Saab. Demi Moore went nude in a strapless silk organza gown by Atelier Versace.

(From left: Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Photo Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Photo by Photo Agency)

White hot: Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Lopez, both in Armani Privé, showed different looks from the venerable fashion house. Seyfried’s metallic pearl gown was a happy medium of architectural construction and a soft cascading hem. Lopez created a much more dramatic effect with her shimmering sculptural gown, which featured folds upon folds that gathered at the hip. Meryl Streep glowed in a white gown with a draped neckline by “Project Runway” alum Chris March, who also dressed the Best Actress nominee for the Golden Globe Awards.

(From left: Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Image)

Feeling Blue: Two Academy Award nominees and costars for “Precious,” Mo’Nique and Gabourey Sidibe, both chose varying shades of royal and navy blue for their Oscar gowns. Best Supporting Actress winner Mo’Nique wore an electric blue Tadashi Shoji silk jersey gown with an asymmetrical neckline and ruched detailing. Best Actress nominee Sidibe’s deep-blue off-the-shoulder, Grecian-inspired gown with wrap-around jeweled detailing was custom-designed by Marchesa. Kristen Stewart kept it classic and sophisticated in a navy silk organza Monique Lhuillier strapless gown.

(From left: Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

An Education in the Art of Dress: Standout and Best Actress nominee Carey Mulligan’s black, strapless Prada gown with a demure, sweetheart neckline and form-fitted waist was updated by the textured, embroidered detailing on the bodice. Another standout, Diane Kruger, opted for an ivory Chanel Haute Couture gown accented with delicate touches of black lace and a cinched halter neckline.