Oscar fashions: There will be blood-red gowns

What do you wear on a date with George Clooney on the most glamorous night in Hollywood?

Oh, Sarah Larson, not that.

Clooney's girlfriend — a native of Kent, Wash. — showed up on the red carpet wearing what appeared to be Monet's "Water Lilies." But when you've got Clooney on your arm, does it matter? You've already won.

On Oscar night, winners flashed gold statuettes but red ruled the carpet. Dresses were strapless, sweeping and safe — but some newcomers kept things lively. "Juno" screenwriter Diablo Cody wore a leopard-print halter, best-actress winner Marion Cotillard looked like a white mermaid in Jean Paul Gaultier and was Saoirse Ronan, the 13-year-old nominee for "Atonement," wearing her nightgown? It was past her bedtime.

Faye Dunaway dressed as Oscar. But she's Faye Dunaway; she can do as she pleases.

The fashion masses dressed to match the red carpet: Heidi Klum, in an apparent tribute to Queen Elizabeth and/or Dracula; Anne Hathaway, stunning in a draped, asymmetrical crimson gown; and Miley Cyrus looking all grown-up in a cherry-red gown. You know if Hannah Montana is doing it, all the cool kids are.

Standouts who didn't blend into the red carpet included Amy Adams in a forest-green Proenza Schouler gown and Veronica Lake-style finger curls; Cameron Diaz in a strapless peach-colored architectural number; and Keri Russell, who looked like a goddess in a floaty, ivory gown. Also strapless.

The men, for the most part, went the classic tuxedo route. Johnny Depp came as Harry Potter, horn-rims and all. Julian Schnabel, thankfully, left the purple pajama pants he wore to the Oscar luncheon at home.

The fashion forecast was for color and diamonds, but at least a few stars went with basic black. Jennifer Garner showed how to do it the right way in a strapless Oscar de la Renta, diamonds and a side-swept updo. Tilda Swinton: Wrong.

Nicole Kidman and Ellen Page, in boring black dresses with long silver necklaces, oddly mirrored each other. Kidman is pregnant; Page played pregnant on-screen. Weird.

Jennifer Hudson did little to redeem herself from last year's "swoopy," Vogue-styled disaster. Keira Knightley, meantime, has apparently gotten so skinny that she disappeared — did anyone see her on the red carpet? Gone, baby, gone.

Pamela Sitt: 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com