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Not only did Reese Witherspoon and Rachel Weisz win Oscars for their movie roles at Sunday's Academy Awards, but their exquisite gowns and glamorous look made them big winners on the red carpet, too.
And while stars including Britain's Keira Knightley and Judi Dench and "Brokeback Mountain" actress Michelle Williams may have failed to snag a coveted golden statuette, they went home with the accolades of the fashion world.
Witherspoon, 29, who won best actress for her role as June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line," set exactly the right tone of high style and retro glamour with her original Christian Dior gown from 1955.
Her dress of heavily embroidered shell pink silk with satin details and silver threaded beading, looked spectacular.
"I found it in a vintage store in Paris, and it's mine! I worked with some wonderful people and they helped repair it and bring it back to its original condition," she confided backstage.
The seven months pregnant British actress Rachel Weisz, who walked off with the best supporting actress trophy for "The Constant Gardener," wore black silk -- a perfect dress by Narcisco Rodriguez.
Fellow Briton Knightley, 20, who nominated for her role in "Pride and Prejudice" but lost out to Witherspoon, wore an exquisite plum coloured one shouldered Very Wang silk taffeta dress, with a multi-coloured vintage Bulgari jewellery.
Similarly striking in Vera Wang was Williams, wearing a mustard coloured silk chiffon dress, fitted tightly around her tiny frame and extending at the back into a beautiful flowing train.
The diamonds from jewellers to the stars Harry Winston, formal curls and matt red lipstick completed a look straight from the golden age of Hollywood for the young actress, who saw her best supporting actress hopes dashed by Weisz.
Versace was one of the designers of choice on the red carpet, which has become the most glamorous fashion runway in the world in recent years.
Previous Oscar winner Hilary Swank wore a black strapless evening gown with a pleated chiffon train, while presenter Uma Thurman chose a shell pink lame Versace creation with a layer of silk chiffon and elegant train. Both starlet Jessica Alba and Mexican actress Salma Hayek wore gowns from Atelier Versace.
Hollywood's favourite fashion icon, Nicole Kidman looked truly elegant in a heavily embroidered cream strapless gown by Balenciaga.
Fellow Australian Naomi Watts, who introduced country music queen during the show Dolly Parton, chose a neutral coloured one shouldered chiffon gown by Givenchy with fluttering tulle details and train although the overall impression was rather too beige.
"Crash" actress Sandra Bullock, arriving with her former "Speeed co-star Keanu Reeves, wore a petrol blue gown by Angel Sanchez with sheer black chiffon detail.
Also in black was South African star Charlize Theron, winner of the best acrtress award two years ago, looking less than comfortable in a stiff satin John Galliano gown with an enormous bow on one shoulder.
Her hair, similarly stiff, was teased into a rather unflattering "beehive" which seemed too old for her years.
The grandes dames of Hollywood were exactly that.
Best actress nominee Judi Dench wore an aqua and silver sequinned outfit by her favorite design team of Sandeep Khosla and Abu Jani and mocie legend Meryl Streep, this year presenting the honorary Academy Award to Robert Altman, seemed most excited about her Christian Laboutin shoes as she hiked up her dress to show them to the press.
Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez wore olive chiffon from Rita Watnick at Lily et Cie and Junebug's Amy Adams chose a cream and chocolate gown from Carloina Herrera.
Needless to say, the black tuxedo once again proved to be the most flattering choice for men.
Hollywood heart-throb George Clooney, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jack Nicholson and others wore this perennial classic.
Morgan Freeman chose an open-collar white shirt and dark cravat and Joaquin Phoenix wore all black with Jamie Foxx bucking the trend with a vivid blue shirt.
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AFPEntertainment-Oscars-film-fashion
AFP 061026 GMT 03 06
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