PHOTO: They Outshone the Oscar Statue

Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet, Evan Rachel Wood and Penelope Cruz were only some of the best dressed on the red carpet.

Ahead of the 81st Academy Awards this year, the red carpet was full of beautiful actresses in gorgeous gowns that seem to be more and more luxurious each year. Some actresses were loyal to classic black outfits, such as Angelina Jolie, who chose a long Elie Saab Couture dress, emerald earrings, a Lorraine Schwatrz ring, Ferragamo shoes and a black clutch handbag by Lane Marks. 

The night of the Oscars loves classic 

One of Angelina’s competitors in the category of best actress, Kate Winslet, shone in a silk Stefan Pilati dress with Yves Saint Laurent shoes and handbag. She borrowed her diamonds from Chopard. Anne Hathaway chose a tight shiny Armani dress, a long clutch handbag of matching colour and Casadei high heels. She also chose Cartier’s jewellery.

In the category of best supporting actress, the winner was Penelope Cruz who was truly classy in a 60-year-old vintage dress by Pierre Balmain with a golden Judith Leiber handbag. She accessorised the white combination with Chopard diamond jewellery worth almost three million dollars. Nominated in the same category, actress Taraji P. Henson, showed off her beautiful skin in an ivory coloured Cavalli dress. White-skinned actresses Nicole Kidman and Evan Rachel Wood also chose long, light coloured dresses that seemed to blend with their bodies. Kidman chose a L’Wren Scott dress and Wood chose a beautiful strapless Elie Saab Couture dress which she accessorised with Neil Lane’s diamonds and platinum jewellery.

Shy play with colours 

Singer Beyonce chose a golden and black combination by House of Deron, while Halle Berry chose a tight little dress by Marches with a Jimmy Choo golden purse and H. Stern jewellery.

Host Jennifer Anniston shown in Valentino’s Haute Couture dress, Jimmy Choo evening sandals and Bulgari diamonds, while her nominated colleague, Marisa Tomei, was elegant in a long, white dress by Atelier Versace and vintage jewellery by Van Cleef & Arples.

Indian actress Freida Pinto, the star of awarded film “Slumdog Millionaire”, selected a blue John Galliano dress. On her finger she had a 150-year-old ring from India and on her feet Jimmy Choo sandals. Natalie Portman wore a pink dress by Rodarte, while singer Alicia Keys wore a plum-coloured dress from the Armani Prive line.

See the photo gallery: Best Dressed Actreses on Red Carpet at Oscars