Gwyneth wins least supported actress in the fashion stakes

Gwyneth wins least supported actress in the fashion stakes

ANYONE hoping for a major fashion faux pas to brighten up the Oscar proceedings was sorely disappointed. As predicted after the events of 11 September, the red carpet was on the whole a platform for quiet good taste.

But the Oscars wouldn't be the Oscars without a lapse or two. Though mini-dresses and crotch-high splits were thin on the ground, there was still the odd - very odd - show of flesh. Like Gwyneth Paltrow's breasts - for which droopy isn't the word. Even the smallest breasts need a bit of help.

Never mind best supporting actress - somebody should send Paltrow a better supporting bra.

HostWhoopi Goldberg provided the only truly outrageous ensemble of the evening in a gold corset and tiny hotpants, leaving it to Nicole Kidman to set the overall elegant tone of the evening in a perfectlyjudged pale pink chiffon column dress with fluted frills by Chanel. Her hair set in loose curls, she exuded a glacial Forties elegance which stole the show.

Also much in evidence was the romantic look, with louboutin  Kate Winslet in a red sheath dress with a trailing rose neckline by British designer Ben de Lisi.

"I wouldn't like to need to pee at this point," she said, when asked if she was feeling comfortable.

Even when the dresses were fancy, many actresses were careful to tone down their look by keeping their hair very natural. Last year's Best Actress winner Julia Roberts caught hers back in a casual ponytail.

Not for the first time, Miss Roberts made a feature of her armpits in a black dress by Giorgio christian louboutin  which seemed to have been cut with excessive perspiration problems in mind.

The older nominees went for understated looks, with Dame Judi Dench choosing simple black with a modest amount of sequins. Helen Mirren showed a discreet bit of cleavage in a white shawlcollared column dress, her hair in a sleek bob.

The award for most expensive ensemble went to Mulholland Drive actress Laura Harring, who teamed a GBP 20 million diamond necklace with diamond encrusted christian louboutin shoes by Stuart Weitzman worth GBP 750,000.

Thankfully the Californian weather ensured the louboutin shoes went unharmed.

PICTURE CAPTIONS

Setting the tone for elegance: Nicole Kidman in classic pale pink Chanel couture

Droopy: Gwyneth Paltrow's breast-revealing top was a flop From left: Judi Dench, the epitome of quiet good taste in black Kate Winslet: curvy and chic in a red Ben de Lisi sheath dress Julia Roberts: well ventilated in plain black cutaway Giorgio christian louboutin  But there's always one ... Whoopi Goldberg in outrageous feathered corset and tiny hotpants

Understated: Helen Mirren maintained regal grandeur in a white satin dress with shawl collar