Old-school glamour on Oscars red carpet
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Jessica Chastain, best actress nominee for her role in Zero Dark Thirty, arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Actress Charlize Theron wearing white Dior Haute Couture column gown arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux arrive at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Singer and Oscar telecast performer Adele, nominated for the song Skyfall from the James Bond film Skyfall, arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Actress Reese Witherspoon, wearing a black and royal blue Louis Vuitton gown, arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Australian actor Hugh Jackman, best actor nominee for his role in Les Miserables, and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness arrive at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Amy Adams, best supporting actress nominee for her role in The Master arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Steven Spielberg, best director nominee for his film Lincoln, and his wife Kate Capshaw arrive at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Halle Berry (right) poses with Quenzhane Wallis (left), best actress nominee for her role in Beasts Of The Southern Wild, at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013 -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Actor Michael Douglas talks with his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Actress Kristen Stewart arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday on Feb 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. -- PHOTO: INVISION/AP
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Actress Sally Field arrives at the Oscars at Hollywood & Highland Centre on Feb 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Jennifer Hudson arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013 -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Actor Channing Tatum arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Helen Hunt, best supporting actress nominee for her role in The Sessions, wearing Martin Katz jewellery, arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Anne Hathaway, best supporting actress nominee for her role in Les Miserables, arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Actor George Clooney, left, and Stacy Keibler arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. -- PHOTO: INVISION /AP
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Actor Bradley Cooper arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday on Feb 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. -- PHOTO: INVISION /AP
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Actor Daniel Radcliffe arrives at the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. -- PHOTO: INVISION /AP
Jessica Chastain, best actress nominee for her role in Zero Dark Thirty, arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actress Charlize Theron wearing white Dior Haute Couture column gown arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux arrive at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Singer and Oscar telecast performer Adele, nominated for the song Skyfall from the James Bond film Skyfall, arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actress Reese Witherspoon, wearing a black and royal blue Louis Vuitton gown, arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Australian actor Hugh Jackman, best actor nominee for his role in Les Miserables, and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness arrive at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Amy Adams, best supporting actress nominee for her role in The Master arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Steven Spielberg, best director nominee for his film Lincoln, and his wife Kate Capshaw arrive at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Halle Berry (right) poses with Quenzhane Wallis (left), best actress nominee for her role in Beasts Of The Southern Wild, at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013 -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actor Michael Douglas talks with his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actress Kristen Stewart arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday on Feb 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. -- PHOTO: INVISION/AP
Actress Sally Field arrives at the Oscars at Hollywood & Highland Centre on Feb 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. -- PHOTO: AFP
Jennifer Hudson arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013 -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actor Channing Tatum arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Helen Hunt, best supporting actress nominee for her role in The Sessions, wearing Martin Katz jewellery, arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Anne Hathaway, best supporting actress nominee for her role in Les Miserables, arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, Feb 24, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actor George Clooney, left, and Stacy Keibler arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. -- PHOTO: INVISION /AP
Actor Bradley Cooper arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday on Feb 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. -- PHOTO: INVISION /AP
Actor Daniel Radcliffe arrives at the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. -- PHOTO: INVISION /AP
HOLLYWOOD (AFP) - Tinseltown's A-list stars offered up a healthy serving of old-school Hollywood glamour on the Oscars red carpet Sunday, with strapless gowns and pale colours most definitely in vogue.
Best actress nominee Jessica Chastain, a frontrunner for Oscars gold for her role as a CIA agent tracking Osama bin Laden in Zero Dark Thirty, sparkled in a strapless beaded flesh-coloured Armani gown, her red tresses flowing.
"It's a 'Happy birthday, Mr President' kind of dress," Chastain said, referring to a classic Marilyn Monroe fashion moment. "It's an honour to wear a dress that evokes old Hollywood."
But she told CNN her chances to win were slim: "I just don't think it's my year... I don't think I'm going to win."
Chastain's main rival, Silver Linings Playbook star Jennifer Lawrence, strutted her stuff in a strapless cream Dior gown with a full puffy skirt.
"This was such a passion project for all of us," she told E! television on the red carpet, referring to the romantic comedy with an edge that earned a total of eight nominations, including one for best picture.
Nine-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis, the youngest ever best actress nominee, for Beasts Of The Southern Wild, wore a bejeweled navy blue Armani dress - accessorized with an age-appropriate fluffy puppy purse.
"It has been crazy!" Wallis said of all the attention given to her breakout performance, adding that her fellow nominees were "more sophisticated."
Amy Adams, a best supporting actress nominee for her performance in The Master, was on trend in a strapless pearly gray Oscar de la Renta princess gown with soft layers of tulle floating to the ground.
Reese Witherspoon got the strapless memo, but changed up the color palette in a cobalt blue and black Louis Vuitton, and glammed it up with some old-school Veronica Lake curls tumbling down.
Les Miserables star Amanda Seyfried opted for a pale purple halter neck Alexander McQueen with a sexy keyhole neckline and upswept hair.
Best supporting actress nominee and two-time Oscar winner Sally Field, who starred opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln, made a bold statement in a signature Valentino red dress with sheer long sleeves and a train.
And she definitely won the award for best accessory of the night - she arrived with Lincoln co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays her son in the film, on her arm.
For fashion and jewelry designers, having an A-list star show up on the Oscars red carpet in one of their creations is worth more than any print advertising - thanks to the global coverage of Tinseltown's biggest night.
Last year, Angelina Jolie's leg-popping appearance in a strapless black velvet Versace gown with a thigh-high slit went viral - and gave the Italian fashion house unbeatable media exposure.
