Originally published Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 7:15 PM

A rainbow of Oscar gowns, 2001-2009

A gallery of Oscar dresses past, in rainbow hues, from Marcia Gay Harden's 2001 red Randolph Duke gown to Freida Pinto's 2009 blue John Galliano.

By Moira Macdonald

Seattle Times movie critic

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A.M.P.A.S.

Marcia Gay Harden, best supporting actress winner for "Pollock" in 2001, matched the red carpet splendidly in a gown by Randolph Duke.

LONG PHOTOGRAPHY / HO

Orange you glad you're Jennifer Garner? The actress, wearing Valentino in 2004, looked like she was.

COURTESY OF AMPAS

Michelle Williams, nominated for "Brokeback Mountain" in 2006, was a vision in sunshine yellow Vera Wang.

A.M.P.A.S.

Nobody wears green quite like a redhead ... and Julianne Moore knew it in 2003, accessorizing her Tom Ford dress with matching emerald earrings.

MATT SAYLES / AP

Freida Pinto sparkled in blue in 2009, wearing a one-sleeved gown by John Galliano.

JON DIDIER / A.M.P.A.S.

Natalie Portman wore Rodarte's bubble-gum-hued gown in 2009.

KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / AP

Jessica Alba, walking the red carpet for two in 2008, wore a stunning purple Marchesa.

On tonight's red carpet, we'll surely see a few Oscar attendees in white (trying, probably in vain, to channel Penélope Cruz last year), some playing it safe in black, and a few bravely trying not to look washed out in that fashionable but impossible-to-wear shade called "nude." (Isn't it odd that people who presumably look great nude don't look so good in "nude"?) But it's almost spring, and I'm hoping for a rainbow. Here's a look back at a decade on the red carpet, with a favorite dress in every hue.

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