$2.5 Million

Maria Menounos, host for a television Oscar telecast, in a diamond-studded dress from Randi Rahm. The dress is emblazoned with 3,000 diamonds totalling 2,000 carats, weighs 2.5 pounds and is worth $2.5 million. (Reuters)

$2 Million

The diamond shoes worn by Krauss. (AP)

Los Angeles, March 1 (Reuters): Flesh was in fashion at the Oscars, but not in a way that would make producers censor the telecast.

After two years of wearing basic black to fit the sombre mood of the country after September 11 and the Iraq war, actresses turned to flesh-tone gowns at the Oscars — gowns that shimmered in the sun with the help of beaded crystals or gold and silver ornaments.

Best actress winner Charlize Theron wore one, a gown designed by Gucci, and won reviews as good as those received by her film. Best actress nominee Naomi Watts’ skin-toned Versace sparkled with crystals while designer Vera Wang’s own gown was punctuated by a big gold metal leaf broach.

Best supporting actress nominee Patricia Clarkson also wore the flesh-tone shimmering look and singer Alison Krauss’ skin-toned gown was accessorised with $2 million Stuart Weitzman stiletto sandals with over 500 Kwiat diamonds.

From pastels to bold shades of the rainbow, colour came back with a vengeance at the Oscars, Hollywood’s ultimate black-tie and often black dress affair. It was in vivid contrast to the last two years, when war in Iraq and the September 11 attacks darkened the mood of the country and the “red carpet” procession.

Catherine Zeta-Jones wore red, as did supporting actress nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo, who proudly explained that her beautifully-fitted gown was created by an Iranian designer.

This year’s red carpet — one of the world’s most watched fashion events, and the official start to the Oscars — provided glimpses of award show regulars like Nicole Kidman, sporting a pale green Chanel gown with a ruffled neckline and train.

Many of the actresses wore their hair pinned up in glamorous “up-dos” or softly curled, reminiscent of the golden era of Hollywood, punctuated by shaded, dangling diamonds. “The key words in fashion this year are light, airy, feminine. It’s the same thing with the jewellery,” said Carol Brodie, a spokeswoman for jeweller Harry Winston.

Classic white was also favoured by some luminaries like best supporting actress winner Renee Zellweger, who wore a Carolina Herrera strapless gown and Cartier jewellery. “It feels like old Hollywood, the glamour of old Hollywood and I kind of wanted to be part of that,” Zellweger said backstage.

There were no real fashion disasters, although some critics said Uma Thurman’s white layered gown with bolero jacket and coloured sash fell short of her usual high standards.

Some red carpet viewers also noted that Angelina Jolie’s tattoos detracted from her gorgeous white gown.