Flesh color makes fashion splash at Oscars
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-01 13:35

Flesh was in fashion at the Oscars on Sunday, but not in the way that would make censors delay the telecast.

Flesh-tone gowns that shimmered in the sun with the help of beaded crystals or gold and silver ornaments were worn by many of the celebrities attending the gala, including best actress nominee Charlize Theron, who looked stunningly beautiful in a gown designed by Gucci.

Supporting actress nominee Naomi Watts' skin-toned Versace sparkled with crystals while designer Vera Wang's own gown was punctuated by a big gold-metal leaf broach.

Best supporting actress nominee Patricia Clarkson also wore the flesh-tone shimmering look and singer Alison Krauss' skin-toned gown was accessorized with $2 million Stuart Weitzman stiletto sandals with over 500 Kwiat diamonds.

From pastels to bold shades of the rainbow, color came back with a vengeance at the Oscars, Hollywood's ultimate black-tie and often black dress affair.

It was in vivid contrast to the last two years, when war in Iraq (news - web sites) and the Sept. 11 attacks darkened the mood of the country and the "red carpet" procession.

Catherine Zeta-Jones wore red, as did supporting actress nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo, who proudly explained that her beautifully fitted gown was designed by an Iranian designer.

"I wanted to be in something a little dark but royal," said pregnant best supporting actress nominee Marcia Gay Harden, sporting a royal blue gown.

This year's red carpet -- one of the world's most watched fashion events, and the official start to the Oscars -- provided glimpses of award show regulars like Nicole Kidman, sporting a pale green Chanel gown with a ruffled neckline and train, and "Lost In Translation" star Scarlett Johansson in a bright green couture gown.

Many of the actresses wore their hair pinned up in glamorous "up-dos" or softly curled, reminiscent of the golden era of Hollywood, punctuated by shaded, dangling diamonds.

"The key words in fashion this year is light, airy, feminine. It's the same thing with the jewelry," said Carol Brodie, a spokeswoman for jeweler Harry Winston.

DIAMOND EARRINGS

Winston's long stiletto diamond earrings were a big favorite with the stars, as were his bracelets, wore in stacks by several stars.

While black is usually always a safe bet for some awards attendees, actress Liv Tyler's stunning black Givenchy seemed to stand out in sharp contrast to the colors.

Lucrecia Perez, who did the music for the nominated documentary "Balseros," wore a head full of neon multi-colored dreadlocks, while Katja Esson, director and producer of a "FerryTales," nominated for best documentary on a short subject, wore an orange top accompanied by a brightly tie-died skirt.

Classic white was also worn by some luminaries like best supporting actress winner Renee Zellweger, who wore a Carolina Herrera strapless gown and Cartier jewelry.

"It feels like old Hollywood, the glamour of old Hollywood and I kind of wanted to be part of that," Zellweger said backstage on Sunday.

While there were no outfits reminiscent of a "Janet Jackson " Super Bowl moment, Frederic Fekkai, hairstylist to the stars, said many stars intended to look glamorous as well as sexy.

As in years past, many of the stars wore million-dollar couture, outfits lent gratis for the day by the world's top designers. Designers compete for the privilege of lending their pieces to stars on the theory that a picture translates into millions of dollars in free promotion and sales.

Many stars, fearful of criticism from the likes of Joan Rivers on her popular E! Network pre-show, now hire stylists to help them select the right look and avoid a fashion faux pas that could reverberate for years, such as in the case of Bjork's "swan" dress in 2001.

Many of the men appeared to duck the traditional black tuxedo on Sunday, sporting dark blue or black suits with conventional ties rather than bow-ties, or no ties at all.

"I'm not a fan of bow ties, but I'm sure there are a few here," said Adrien Brody, who won the Oscar last year for best actor and who wore an Ermenegildo Zegna all black, narrow fitting suit with a slim black tie.