03/26/2001

By Beth Harris / Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – Bjork laid a fashion egg, literally, on Oscar's red carpet.

	Laura Rauch / AP
	Singer/songwriter Bjork arrives for the 73rd annual Academy Awards ceremony Sunday in Los Angeles.

The singer-actress, nominated for best original song for I've Seen It All from her movie Dancer in the Dark, arrived at Sunday's Academy Awards in a white, feathered, knee-length dress tailored to look like a swan. It even included a swan's neck and head that she draped around her own neck.

Outside the Shrine Auditorium, she lifted up her dress and out dropped an egg.

"It was a panic. She provided the kook factor,'' said Merle Ginsberg, Women's Wear Daily's entertainment editor. "Nobody dressed badly, so you've got to have some fun.''

Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jennifer Lopez provided the glamour, all in gowns recalling old-style Hollywood.

"We definitely saw a reaffirmation of Hollywood with vintage looks,'' said Tom Julian, fashion commentator for Oscar.com.

Reed Saxon / AP
Actress Marcia Gay Harden poses with her Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in Pollock, during the 73rd annual Academy Awards Sunday in Los Angeles.

Roberts, the best actress winner for Erin Brockovich, opted for vintage Valentino – a black-and-white velvet column dress with white straps forming a "Y'' down the front. She matched boyfriend Benjamin Bratt, who wore a black tux and white-on-white tie and shirt.

"Julia stood out,'' Ginsberg said. "We expect her to look so modern. The fact that she wore a Valentino that was 15 years old, it was really stunning.''

Marcia Gay Harden, who won supporting actress honors for Pollock, livened up the Oscar fashion parade in a strapless, burgundy dress with matching wrap by Randolph Duke.

"I've always been inspired by the beautiful old-world movie stars,'' said Harden, who carried a handmade red beaded clutch. "I just wanted to feel and look like a movie star.''

	Michael Caulfield / AP
	Actress Jennifer Lopez waves as she arrives with escort Cris Judd at the 73rd annual Academy Awards Sunday in Los Angeles.

Lopez, known for her skimpy awards show outfits, raised eyebrows once again with a one-shoulder, two-tone Chanel gown with a gray, see-through top.

"I always choose at the last minute, which is bad. This is what I feel good in at the time,'' she said.

Joan Allen, nominated for best actress for The Contender, wore a sequined coral halter gown by Michael Kors.

"When the dress came up, it was a strong contender,'' she quipped, noting she has a similar-colored sweater set that people always tell her looks great on her.

Being seen in the "right'' gown or tux draws more than approval from the fans. It can be worth millions in free publicity for a designer and a star whose outfit is seen, again and again, worldwide.

Michael Caulfield / AP
Actors Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas arrive at the ninth annual Oscar party sponsored by In Style magazine to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation in West Hollywood, Calif., Sunday.

The pre-show fashion show didn't stop at just dresses, however.

"We saw more about purses, shoes and necklaces than just about the gowns,'' said Julian.

Zeta-Jones accessorized her black skirt and black-beaded bodice with a diamond necklace featuring a teardrop pale blue jewel and matching teardrop earrings.

Julie Moran of Entertainment Tonight had the evening's best purse. She toted a rhinestone-studded movie camera.

Laura Linney, nominated for best actress, chose a tomato-red gown with a high neckline. Like Roberts and Zeta-Jones, she wore her hair in an elegant upswept style.

Russell Crowe, who won the best-actor Oscar, wore a knee-length Edwardian tuxedo jacket. His grandfather's medal adorned his lapel.

	Michael Caulfield / AP
	Actor Joaquin Phoenix, nominated for best supporting actor for his work in the film Gladiator, arrives at the 73rd annual Academy Awards Sunday in Los Angeles.

Samuel L. Jackson and Ed Harris, a best-actor nominee for Pollock, reinterpreted the tuxedo in their Armani outfits. Under his black pinstriped duster, Jackson wore a cream, vertically ruffled silk satin shirt with no tie. Harris wore a similar shirt in blue.

Throwing out tradition altogether was Joaquin Phoenix, nominated for best supporting actor for Gladiator. With his white shirt untucked and his hair uncombed, he seemed to have a lock on the most-rumpled award.

Inside the Shrine Auditorium, Phoenix donned an Armani jacket but left his hair and tie askew.