The red carpet at the 89th Annual Academy Awards is the world's stage and the stars know it.

Some, such as actress Ruth Negga and model Karlie Kloss, took the opportunity to campaign for civil rights with their blue Stand with ACLU pin. The pin represents their support for the nonprofit American Civil Liberties Union, which works to defend the rights and liberties of the Constitution and laws of the United States.

Others, such as Nicole Kidman, took the opportunity to redeem themselves from past fashion faux pas. Her outfit to the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January, a questionable green feathered dress from Gucci, received much flak.

Meanwhile, Meryl Streep (nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Florence Foster Jenkins) steered clear of the red carpet, likely to avoid a pre-Oscars brouhaha with German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld: he had mistakenly accused her of canceling a couture gown order with Chanel for another fashion house.

Lagerfeld is the head designer and creative director of Chanel.

Streep, however, took a front row seat at the Oscars in a blue, off-shouldered and sequined Elie Saab dress.

Here are some of the best and worst looks of the night.

Best

1. Taraji P. Henson

The charismatic and beautiful Henson, 46, wears the simplest of dresses so well, accessorised with a megawatt choker necklace.

2. Emma Stone

Stone, nominated for Best Actress in a leading role for La La Land, is a beautiful vision in this Givenchy beaded number with layered fringe detail. The 28-year-old looks perfectly polished with glamour curls and deep red lips.

3. Janelle Monae

Trust actress and singer Janelle Monae's determination to stick to her black and white style and make it look fresh and interesting every time. Her Elie Saab Haute Couture gown might have a lot going on - feathers, sequins and beads on a sheer bodice - but Monae, 31, pulls it off with confidence and swagger.

4. Chris Evans

Worst

1. Cynthia Erivo

The lace and embroidered dress by Paolo Sebastian just did not suit Erivo, 30. The British actress, singer, and songwriter's toned arms could have been shown to much beter effect in a toga-style chiffon dress instead.

2. Leslie Mann

Perhaps the Mann, 44, was going for Belle in Beauty and The Beast, but the wrinkles in her dress and that lackluster bow at the neckline killed that dream. What a pity as the shape of the dress is so promising.

3. Zuri Hall

Trends

1. Feathers

For better or for worse, feathered dresses continue to dominate the red carpet. Feathers can be flamboyant, like Cher's feathered headdress in 1986, but when placed at the bottom half of gowns, it just looks like a feather duster. Hopefully this trend will die down quickly.

2. Red dresses

3. The blue tux

4. Beaded dresses

Beaded dresses are a lot more elegant than sequins, which can be tacky. Heavyweight red carpet style stars such as Nicole Kidman, Emma Stone and Jessica Biel dazzled in nude or gold beaded numbers.