03/26/2001

By Rob Brinkley / The Dallas Morning News

"Tonight, you're going to see what money can buy!" effused cable-show queen Joan Rivers from her privileged position on Oscar's red carpet.

Her Middle America Majesty was right: The parade of luxe gowns, glittering jewels and proper tuxedos ambling into the Shrine Auditorium looked more "Monaco" than "metro L.A." – proving once again that Hollywood does love to play dress-up.

Which, really, has become virtually painless. Blame it on the propensity for professional stylists, but almost everyone at the Oscars – and almost any awards show these days – looked smashing. Diamonds and décolletage for the ladies; crisp, pleated shirts and perfect bow ties for the gents. Nary a mistake was made. Almost makes you long for the days of Cher's see-through shockers.

Even among all that picture-perfect polish, some remarkable style did stroll down the carpet. Here, a rundown of some standouts, ladies first:

• Joan Allen in her turtleneck-halter, beaded Michael Kors gown in juicy coral-orange. That's a very unusual color to see at the Oscars – and it worked. It was perfect with her blond hair, which was tousled and racy in a chunky, modern bob.

• Winner of the girl-can-do-no-wrong category was best- actress winner Julia Roberts. As if her vintage Valentino gown – an amazingly simple sheath of black with a train and thin, white shoulder straps that met in a "V" in the front and continued, in a single, elegant line, down to the hem – weren't enough, her hair brought the award home. It was pinned into a supersleek, mod bun 'do that perfectly complemented the dress. Bravo.

• Supporting-actress winner Marcia Gay Harden in her rich-red strapless dress and wrap, classic red lips and weighty diamond necklace and earrings. Her dark hair was glamour-gal gorgeous in soft curls. "I just wanted to look and feel like a movie star," she said. Mission accomplished.

• Sigourney Weaver, also the lady in red, but in cutting-edge Christian Dior by John Galliano. There was a lot to see: the bias-cut seams of the dress itself, a Carmen Miranda-esque spray of red flowers over one shoulder and a laced slit creeping up one leg. Elegance, meet avant-garde.

• Two reliably fashionable gals went gray – as in the predominant colors of their Oscar attire. Kate Hudson beamed in her snug, pale-gray Chloé by Stella McCartney (with matching fringed shawl-jacket), while Jennifer Lopez raised eyebrows (again) in her gray one-shouldered "twisted" top and ivory satin skirt, both by Chanel. "I love clothes," she said before the show. "I can't help it." Viewers couldn't help noticing just how sheer that Chanel top really was.

• And finally, Björk, who has snatched the fearless-fashion torch from dear Cher. Her red-carpet arrivals have become highly anticipated fashion spectacles. Leave it to the talented pixie from Iceland to arrive wrapped in a blinding-white "swan," feathers and all. The neck of the swan arched gracefully around Björk's own neck and terminated in a flurry of feathers as a skirt. "A friend made it for me," whispered the shy singer-actress. With friends like that, you don't need an army of stylists.

And now, let's hear it for the boys. Natty, elegant, handsome – it's refreshing how well Hollywood's current crop of leading men wear their formals. Benicio Del Toro, Javier Bardem, Tom Hanks – all opted for classic black tie. Singer Sting looked especially dapper in his well-cut Gucci tuxedo.

There were a handful of disappointments: Tom Cruise was notably underdressed; Lou Gossett Jr. took the gangster rap in his sparkle-threaded pinstriped gray suit paired with a too-floppy bow tie; slicksters Geoffrey Rush and Ed Harris shimmered too much in their silky shirts; and Russell Crowe – well, Gladiator he may be, but no one was glad to see him in his bad hair (gelled bangs rolled too low on the forehead), ponderous, to-the-knee military coat and humorless, gum-chewing expression. Lighten up, Russell. After all, you won best actor. Smile.