Class and Dazzle Back In Fashion

The only thing generating more Monday morning buzz than the Oscar winners themselves are the eye-popping fashions Hollywood's biggest stars showed off at the Academy Awards ceremony.

Most celebrities at this year's Academy Awards kept any outrageous fashion impulses locked in the closet.

The audience at the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday was awash in sophisticated gowns and sober tuxedos, reflecting old Hollywood more than bold daring.

Women's Wear Daily put Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman on its Monday cover because, says editor Bridget Foley, their gowns epitomized the shift away from Italian dominance to French dominance.

"I think Julianne Moore was beautiful in Chanel, very elegant and romantic, very End of the Affair kind of thing,"Foley said on The Early Show. "Nicole was bold and controversial - a Christian Dior look."

Kidman, who accompanied husband Tom Cruise, wore gold, which unfortunately came out looking more like mustard on TV.

"Nicole takes a chance,"Foley said. "That was what she brought to the party last night. It was basically no horrible don't's and she wasn't afraid to be a little bit overt, a little bit daring."

Foley's vote for most elegant went to Cate Blanchett. "She looked amazing. This is truly French. This was a Gaultier couture dress and her use of jewelry [gold Cleopatra bracelets] was great. Where the dominant look was sparkle - diamonds - she went for a more exotic look and it was beautiful."

Oscar winner Hillary Swank looked like a princess, Foley said. "Those diamonds [a necklace] were certainly bold and maybe a little bit overpowering for the look, but she looked very much the princess."

Even Cher came down with a case of class, leaving her trademark beaded, see-through numbers and towering headdresses at home. The actress arrived on stage in a classic - and modest -black gown to present an award.

"You probably noticed already that I am dressed like a grownup. No, no, I wish to apologize to the Academy, and I promise that I will never do it again," she joked.

"It was a Bob Mackey," Foley said. "I think it was probably smart for her to low-key it."

The guys from South Park didn't disappoint, however.

South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone flank songwriter Marc Shaiman

"Everyone just looks fabulous," said Stone, whose accessories included a cigarette behind one ear.

Parker was tanned and bra-less and wore tight green sequined boxer shorts. His rhinestone flip flops were designed by Karen Mark, he said, and his long, flowing hair was held together a la Lopez, with a black fabric band.

"We're not ashamed of our bodies," Parker told Reuters. "This event is the most important thing in the world."

Oscar winner Angelina Jolie looked like Morticia Addams in a black, long-sleeved dress with a train and waist-length black hair. "She did it to get a reaction," Foley said. "When everyone is playing it so safe, it's fun to see someone dare a little bit."

Drew Barrymore was completely herself in a black knit dress low enough in back to show off her below-waist angel tattoo.

Singer Erykah Badu showed up in a handmade "wearable work of art" made by a friend consisting of green leather squares sewn together with yellow raffia with dried flowers tucked into the seams.

"We literally just finished making this gown 20 minutes ago. I love it. It's my favorite color," the actress, who appears in The Cider House Rules, said. Her African-inspired turban was made from three pieces of cloth tied together with yellow raffia.

"I thought she looked beautiful and interesting," Foley said. "Not everyone can pull that off but, again, it's a personal statement and a touch of bravado in an otherwise calm evening."

But most celebrities played it safe this year and covered up.

Actress Charlize Theron epitomized old Hollywood in a tangerine form-fitting V-neck halter by Vera Wang. Hilary Swank appeared in a strapless bronze gown, Uma Thurman wore a red chiffon pleated dress.

Pregnancy didn't get in the way of fashion for Oscar nominee Annette Bening. The nine-months-pregnant star of American Beauty was decked out in a black, multi-layered, beaded tulle gown with sheer black tulle and rhinestone wrap by Giorgio Armani.

"She looked just beautiful," Foley said. "It's a shame she didn't present; it would have been great to see her longer on camera. she looked amazing It was great to see her out there like that, no pun intended, and she looked gorgeous."

Lucy Liu moved closer to daring in a racy red hand-beaded Versace dress with lots of see-through. It was, she said, the only dress she tried on.

Others, such as Salma Hayek, Tyra Banks and Ashley Judd caught spring fever and chose a palette of pastels.

Foley said Cameron Diaz, who came closest to replicating the Jennifer Lopez look wore a backless, low-cut Versae that looked beautiful.

Singer Faith Hill, on the other hand, wore a deep v-necked body-hugging silver Versace gown that appeared to be made of hundreds of tiny silver metal rectangles. Foly said she "supplied the sort of razzle-dazzle glitz that was seen in Hollywood's past."

"It's very easy to wear," Hill gushed.

Actress Chloe Sevigny wore a Yves St. Laurent black halter dress with a deep V-neck, chosen, she said, for its comfort.

Men, too, mostly opted class, though actor Samuel Jackson wore a long, deep purple jacket, black shirt and purple tie. For the young men of Hollywood, Keanu Reeves among them, a black shirt and tie was trendy.

"The men were mostly traditional," Foley said. "Kevin Spacey went with Armani, always great, and others had custom-made tuxedos. I believe Michael Caine did that and Jude Law, as well."

Blame the blandness on professional Hollywood: The Oscars show has also become biggest fashion show of the year.

Platoons of designers, stylists, makeup artists, jewelers, agents, publicists and assistants invade the city's swankiest hotels weeks ahead of time to pitch their wares to the stars and the professionals who dress them.

Awards night is a merchandising mecca, diminishing displays of individual taste, said designer Randolph Duke.

"I wish it was still the days of the woman and the designer," Duke said before the show.

Now the dress is decided by committee, he said, leading to nothing awful, nothing outrageous and nothing really stunning; just something that looks nice.

"And nice isn't good enough for the Oscars," Duke said.

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