Elegant Anne Hathaway shimmered like an Oscar statuette, Kate Winslet channeled Grace Kelly and looked not only fresh but fashion- forward, glamorous Angelina Jolie was draped in black with a heart-shaped bodice and Brad Pitt on her arm, and Meryl Streep, with regally high hair and shoulder-baring elegance, looked like the Hollywood royalty that she is.

The best actress and supporting actress nominees were the fashion stars of the night even before they started giving out statues at the Academy Awards last night.

But before we get back to the ladies, a huge "OMG, you looked great!" goes out to Robert Downey Jr., who cleans up real nice. Many of the men chose to wear black ties with their black tuxes, but no one looked more polished and more dashing than Downey, a supporting actor nominee for "Tropic Thunder."

Pitt (Benjamin Button), in a classic tux with bow tie, and Jolie brought the wow factor to couples on the red carpet last night.

Back to the boldly dressed beauties of the night, and there were many. Supporting actress nominees Taraji P. Henson and Amy Adams both chose statement necklaces, with Adams one of the few women in a strong color. Her scarlet Carolina Herrera gown was complemented by a colorful, jeweled necklace. Her red hair was pulled back and clasped at the nape of her neck, another trend of the night. Henson was a vision in a strapless white gown constructed of uneven tiers and an antique diamond flower necklace.

Viola Davis glowed in a head-to-toe gold halter and Hathaway was in Armani Prive, who also dressed her for the Golden Globes. She was a golden girl on the red carpet, with crystals and circular pailettes, and a jeweled clasp at the back of her strapless dress and one in her hair.

Young Hollywood arrived early and in very different styles: Miley Cyrus' heavily embellished ball gown with scalloped petal skirt and complementary accented belt "weighs more than I do," she said, but it worked. Vanessa Hudgens' form-fitting, mermaid-bottom black gown with white accents by Marchesa wasn't as youthful as her pretty face and dangly earrings.

Cyrus' dress echoed the silhouette of supporting actress winner Penelope Cruz's vintage white confection, with silver brocade embellishment and full skirt. Cruz often chooses black, and it was nice to see her brighter and lighter in the color of the night, a shade of white. Along with Sarah Jessica Parker, in "barely mint" Dior couture, their cinched-waist ballgowns were made to be twirled on a dance floor. "Mama Mia!'s" Amanda Seyfried was a stand-out in a tasteful tomato-red dress and diamond flower necklace.

Winslet, in Yves St. Laurent, made a daring choice in a blue-gray satin, one-shoulder gown with black lace accents and draping. Marisa Tomei, a supporting actress nominee, also stepped up to the plate in a white Versace with layer upon layer of pleated fabric -- designers did cheat on the cloth, forcing escorts to do a red carpet dance to avoid stepping on the many long trains of the gowns.

Hair pulled back at the nape of the neck or soft, flowing curls and waves were among the big looks in do's; a don't was nominee Melissa Leo's beauty-parlor hair that felt a little bit Donna Reed. Viola Davis' soft, swept-to-the-side waves were more up-to-the-minute.

It would be too easy to take shots at some of the folks who didn't reach the heights of some of the glam girls and guys. "The Wrestler's" Mickey Rourke, less weird than usual in a white suit with a black vest, kept eulogizing his dead Chihuahua at every step along the red carpet. How can you knock a guy who just lost his best friend?

And we'll never know if Philip Seymour Hoffman would have taken off his skullcap if he had won best supporting actor because the award went to Heath Ledger.

Amid the sea of black and shades of white and gray, lovely Freida Pinto of "Slumdog Millionaire" graced the red carpet in a royal blue one-sleeve, asymmetrical design by John Galliano, with enough lace and sparkle to have a Bollywood vibe.

The kids of "Slumdog," who portrayed the stars at various stages, walked the red carpet with wide eyes and giant smiles, the best accessories of all.