Look up Hollywood glamour in the dictionary and you'll probably find Halle Berry. In a figure-hugging Marchesa gown with sparkly overlay, delicate bodice and dramatic tulle train—plus gorgeous makeup and hair—the A-list actress shows everyone how it's done right. Textbook red carpet fabulousness doesn't get any better than this.
Yeah, we know Natalie Portman is totally pregnant, and walking the red carpet with a baby on board can't be the most comfortable thing ever, but we'd be lying if we didn't say we expected more from the Best Actress winner. Maybe we wouldn't have been as underwhelmed by this burgundy Rodarte number if she had mixed things up with her accessories. But instead, she went all matchy-matchy, which just made us go all meh.
It's a little surprising that Mila Kunis picked this season's biggest trend, lace, for the Oscars—the fashionista tends to go out-of-the-box with edgier, moodier looks. But that doesn't mean we're knocking her for this lavendar lace Elie Saab couture gown at all. In fact, she looks freakin' gorgeous in this very pretty and unexpectedly romantic piece. Mazel tov for mixing it up, Mila!
Reese Witherspoon really takes us back a decade to the days when Julia Roberts was winning Oscars and Legally Blonde ruled the box office in this black and white Giorgio Armani dress. And while we love how happy and bubbly Reese looks, it feels almost too soon. Sorry, babe, we're not quite ready for 2001 throwbacks just yet.
Just like the Oscars telecast, Anne Hathaway's gown this year was kind of painful to watch. Why would she wear this strapless tafetta Valentino Couture gown with rosette details when it looks like it came with a bedskirt or window treatment attached to it? And the makeup is overkill, as well. Too bad—we were expecting a lot more from this star, who almost always shuts it down on the red carpet. Good thing the show, and this dress, are done for the night.
There's been so much hype over what Helena Bonham Carter would wear to the Oscars this year. Even the actress herself predicted it would be a "catastrophe," but this black Colleen Atwood draped gown with velvet bustier and curly updo is just par for the course for the eccentric lady. She looks true to herself, and gets a little cheeky with that fun union jack garter under her dress, too—what more would you want from HBC?
Jennifer Lawrence is wearing a formfitting Calvin Klein red dress with big sexy blond hair, kind of a foolproof recipe for smoking hot, right? Duh! Of course, it would have been awesome if she didn't steal Scarlett Johansson's whole vibe from the days when we let Isaac Mizrahi roam the red carpet, but it sure beats her previous Golden Globes and SAG Awards looks. Plus, we love seeing her as the bombshell that we know she is!
Oh, Nicole Kidman. The Aussie babe just couldn't resist wearing white again. She added a pop of cute coral via the Pierre Hardy peep-toes, but this embroidered Christian Dior strapless gown looks like a bad wedding gown. The skirt is super clunky and her updo is way stiff. Nic, you so should've saved that amazing Grammys look for tonight.
Hailee Steinfeld is absolutely adorable in this custom Marchesa dress that she helped design! It's fun, unique, youthful and age-appropriate. In other words, perfect! Although we did stop and think for a second that she is suffering from a bit of a shoe fail, but then we remembered that this lovely young lady is just 14 years old and her cute win definitely makes up for that!
Would she show up or not?! That was the burning question regarding Penélope Cruz, who had a baby just weeks ago. But the Spanish beauty did walk the carpet to support her Oscar-nominated hubby Javier Bardem—and looked pretty fabulous doing it in a plunging, va-va-voom busty, deep-red L'Wren Scott gown. If there's an Oscar for Best Supporting Wife, Pen deserves it!
Mandy Moore looked like a real-life Disney princess as she made her way down the carpet in this stunning Monique Lhuiller gown. While the nude color of this dress had the potential to wash out the fair-skinned singer, she balanced it out with coral lipstick and gorgeous auburn locks. Can't say we ever expected Mandy to steal the show, but we love it!
Well, at least Michelle Williams isn't wearing a '60s shower curtain. Always gotta look at the silver lining. Instead she's wearing this Chanel column gown, which is a lovely color and fits her perfectly, but the sleeves just kill it for us, making it look too matronly. That said, her hair and makeup are flawless and gorgeous!
Just last week, Gwyneth Paltrow looked superhot in a bikini while on vacation, so we know she's got a smokin' bod. That's why we're bummed this boxy, drop-waist Calvin Klein gown (with Louis Vuitton bling and Brian Atwood heels) is making her look totally shapeless. Plus, the fitted, metallic number looks kind of like a fish, too—guess the babe can't get that beach off the brain.
So Winona Ryder couldn't be here to bring the Black Swan crazy, but at least Sharon Stone was able to step in! This black one-shouldered Christian Dior gown definitely hugs her rocking bod just right, but it's everything else that takes it over the top. Between those feathers, the big updo and the Disney villainess makeup, we're kind of afraid of her. But sometimes an awards show (and especially this one!) just needs some of that "I might cut you" cray-cray!
And the most underwhelming ensemble award could go to...Scarlett Johansson. We're just not feeling the starlet's raspberry Dolce & Gabbana lace gown with Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie bling. It's matronly, boring and the visible bra is so tacky, righ?! At least the messy bob and her makeup are spot-on, but still, that Scarlett fever the sexy actress used to bring is now reduced to a low-grade cold.
MORE PHOTOS: Academy Awards Arrivals!