A return to old school glamour on the Oscars red carpet

Strapless and asymmetrical gowns in sombre shades dominated the 81st Academy Awards. Best Actress winner Kate Winslet admitted she had tried three stylists before settling on Yves St Laurent's Stefano Pilati to create her black and midnight blue gown. Meanwhile, Best Supporting Actress winner Penelope Cruz looked elegant in a white vintage scalloped-tailed Balmain gown with silver embroidery which was rather more bridal than red carpet. And Best Supporting Actress nominee Anne Hathaway went for a jewel-encrusted champagne-coloured Armani Prive gown topped with more than $1 million of Cartier jewels. A-lister Angelina Jolie stuck with her usual black, with a sweetheart-neck strapless gown by Elie Saab, while her other half, Brad Pitt, wore a classic tuxedo. The pair managed to avoid Pitt's ex-wife Jennifer Aniston, who arrived on the red carpet with her on-off beau John Mayer. It was the first time the two couples had attended an event together. Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto wore an electric blue John Galliano gown with Martin Katz jewellery while her pint-sized co-stars wore custom-made outfits by Brooks Brothers. Naturally there were a few frock horrors, such as 44-year-old Sara Jessica Parker's pale mint Dior Couture full-skirted gown whose bodice was two sizes too small and which was worn with what looked like a cheap belt. Miley Cyrus also had fashionistas scratching their heads in her white Zuhair Murad dress which had tiers of midnight-blue beaded petals. And Tilda Swinton, who is never one to conform, wore a beige Lanvin dress which did little for her complexion. But there were some blasts of colour on the red carpet in the form of Natalie Portman's Rodarte gown in orchid, while model Heidi Klum woere a ruby red Roland Mouret gown with a high split which showed of those enviable legs.

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ITN | February 23, 2009