Silver and artistry sparkle on red carpet

Gold may be the color of the coveted Oscar award but silver gowns dazzled on the red carpet at the world's leading film awards, while those featuring intricate bodices, beading and master detail earned many a second look from admiring crowds.

Cate Blanchett wore a stunning silver beaded one-shoulder Armani Prive that captured the right amount of shimmer and elegance while Helen Mirren, of The Queen, chose a pale gold Christian LaCroix gown with a lace bodice for the evening.

"I really do feel like a Queen or a fairy princess or a fairy Godmother." Ms Mirren said after winning the best actress award.

Kirsten Dunst's pale silvery blue gown featured delicate sequins and feathers at the hem, while Jennifer Lopez's Grecian-inspired Marchesa gown in a pale silvery shade of lilac was adorned with five tiers of sparkling beads at the neck.

"That's more fun than anything," said Ms Lopez, of dressing up for the Oscars. "That's the part I like.

Even Jennifer Hudson, who won the best supporting actress award, sported a silver bolero over a brown Oscar de la Renta gown, an unusual combination that caused a few raised eyebrows among fashion critics.

The quality of craftsmanship on the red carpet was stellar. Rachel Weisz's Vera Wang in champagne satin featured a crystal-encrusted bodice. Of getting dolled up on Oscar night, last year's best supporting actress said, the final product is "a fantasy version of ourselves!"

Best actress nominee Penélope Cruz wore a dusty rose Versace with an intricate ruched bodice, while Beyonce Knowles's mint-coloured Armani featured a strap on one shoulder adorned with matching beads. Sheer pleats at the bodice of a terra cotta Zac Posen worn by Gwyneth Paltrow captured interest.

"There's a real appreciation of artistry," said Hal Rubenstein, In Style magazine's fashion director. "It's all about the detail work of a dress. It used to be it was enough to get away with sequins. Nowadays, even the sequining needs to be intricate."

Even the diminutive, 10-year-old Abigail Breslin of Little Miss Sunshine sported an intricate bodice on her frothy pastel dress featuring ornamental flowers and latticework.

Male nominees and presenters displayed a black-tie flair not usually seen on the red carpet. And Jack Nicholson stunned the crowd with a shaved head.

Letters From Iwo Jima actor Ken Watanabe wore a tuxedo with Asian-inspired ornamental button-and-loop fasteners. Director Spike Lee sported a jaunty black beret and cream-colored jacket, while best supporting actor nominee Eddie Murphy chose an indigo tuxedo and sported a large diamond in his ear.

Some of the most eye-catching looks on this year's red carpet came from India and Japan. Deepa Mehta, director of best foreign language film nominee Water, donned a vintage gold and rose sari once owned by her grandmother, while Mr Watanabe's wife looked regal in a robins-egg blue kimono.