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Actresses Jessica Chastain, Gwyneth Paltrow and Michelle Williams at the 84th annual Academy Awards.
It's only the most important honor of the night: Who wore it best on the red carpet.
After an evening filled with many white, sequined and red gowns, TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas narrowed down the fashionable competition with her top picks.
Check out Angelina Jolie, Michelle Williams, and more A-list celebrities who dazzled in glamorous gowns.
And at the bottom of this post, vote for your favorite ... or name someone else who you liked better in the comments. (Was Miss Piggy snubbed? Let us know!)
Michael Buckner / Getty Images
Jessica Chastain's custom Alexander McQueen bustier gown complemented her fair skin and red hair in a beautifully dark and dramatic way.
Michael Buckner / Getty Images
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Tom Ford, proved less is more in a sleek, striking silhouette. Could be my favorite of the night.
Jason Merritt / Getty Images
Michelle Williams stayed true to her personal style, but turned up the volume in a bright coral Louis Vuitton peplum dress.
Jason Merritt / Getty Images
Confident and glowing, Octavia Spencer shined in her designer of choice, Tadashi Shoji.
Jason Merritt / Getty Images
Penelope Cruz graced the carpet in a Giorgio Armani ball gown, perfectly suited for a fairy tale.
Jason Merritt / Getty Images
Cameron Diaz's Gucci gown was both expected and exceptional — a bit safe for a fashion-savvy gal.
Michael Buckner / Getty Images
Natalie Portman, in vintage Christian Dior, dared to wear a polka dot print dress on the carpet. Marvelous or Minnie Mouse?
Jason Merritt / Getty Images
Emma Stone wooed fashionistas in a Giambattista Valli, reminiscent of a past Nicole Kidman look, but the oversized bow may have been overwhelming.
Jason Merritt / Getty Images
Polished and pretty, Melissa McCarthy looked lovely in a soft rose Marina Rinaldi gown.
Jason Merritt / Getty Images
Golden girl Meryl Streep took a risk in a reflective, metallic Lanvin draped dress.
Michael Buckner / Getty Images
Sandra Bullock said she was feeling "sexy" in her slinky black and white Marchesa. It's a fun, fashion-forward look.
Jason Merritt / Getty Images
Stunning Angelina Jolie stepped out, literally, in her thigh-high slit Versace Atelier. But she failed to top her Golden Globes gown (also Versace).
What do you think of the gowns? Keep up with TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas at @bobbiethomas and share your favorite looks on Facebook.
Related content:
- Photos: White, lights and brights on the red carpet
- Behold, the hotties of the Oscars red carpet
- Slideshow: The Oscars red carpet
Results
Total of 61,568 votes
| Gwyneth Paltrow | 27.5% (16,938 votes) |
| Penelope Cruz | 16.8% (10,320 votes) |
| Jessica Chastain | 12% (7,412 votes) |
| Angelina Jolie | 8.9% (5,452 votes) |
| Michelle Williams | 8.4% (5,172 votes) |
| Octavia Spencer | 8.1% (5,005 votes) |
| Cameron Diaz | 6.1% (3,772 votes) |
| Sandra Bullock | 5.6% (3,434 votes) |
| Natalie Portman | 2.8% (1,703 votes) |
| Emma Stone | 1.9% (1,191 votes) |
| Meryl Streep | 1% (613 votes) |
| Melissa McCarthy | 0.9% (556 votes) |
Leave a Comment:
Gwenth's Tom Ford Dress and Cape are absolutely immaculate! Stunning! Parfait! The hair and accessories are perfection as well. Elle est tres belle!
I've no idea who Jessica Chastain is, but her gown was to die for!
Gynneth: Stunning dress, but the stupid cape ruins it.
Vous êtes une buse...as so far as women's attire..
I absolutely loved Gwyneth Paltrow's super simple, outstandingly beautiful dress and cape. I could have worn something like that some 50 years ago. So, being more of Octavia Spencer's shape today, I must cast my vote for her gorgeous gown. OCTAVIA, YOU LOOKED MARVELOUS!
She looked like she should have been a royal in Star Wars in that dress and cape.
Milla Jovovich not even mentioned?
I agree DTWings ... Millla Jovovich was my absolute favorite. A knock-out!
Sandra Bullock looked the absolute best to me. What a dress!
Angelina Jolie looked like she was drunk as a skunk with her leg out and that crazy cheshire cat grin. What the heck was that about?
Obama / Biden 2012
TO: naomi thompson who wrote:
Viola Davis? Woof !
Hmmm... Sandra Bullock looked so hot she should have had pot holders.
As I watched the Oscar awards program, I was shocked when I saw the physical condition of Angelina Jolie. She looked bony and gaunt, as in emaciated. Has she been ill, or bulimic? She looked awful.
Thin might be in for some folks, but when thin looks like "muscle wasting," or as if the person has some type of cancer, that just might be time to get some help with an eating disorder.
Gwyn is the classiest look and she is always so beautiful.
Angelina Jolie - beautiful dress, horribly skeletal woman in it.
Angelina is anorexic even tho she denies it. Besides her skeletal appearance, her hair was not shiny or healthy looking...which is always a giveaway. From a distance it looks ok...but closer up you can see the signs. She is not as beautiful as she thinks either. Gwyneth and Michelle and Sandra Bullock and Jessica Chastain...a tie for most beautiful dress.
Angelina Jolie is way hotter than Gwyneth Paltrow, Michelle Williams (who can be pretty hot), and Sandra Bullock. I do think she needs to gain a few pounds though.
Matter of opinion.
What's with the stupid leg thing?
Angelina is an anorexic bag of bones with giant lips; defo not a role model for anyone. And she probably stuck her leg out as a way to distract people from noticing her horrifically thin and pale body. Yuck all the way around.
Viola Davis in that gorgeous green gown was perfection. Flawless!
Gynneth - what a classic and distintive style - just gorgeous!! Can't believe Glenn Close isn't on this list - she looked amazing....
Why was Viola Davis omitted? I liked her look the best. She was beautiful!
Angelina Jolie needs to eat something! She looks skeletal and ghostly.
By far, Gwyneth Paltrow's dress was elegant, graceful and stunning. She never fails to look amazing.
Why was Gwyneth wearing a super hero cape?
It was refreshing to not see spray tans this year.
All were beautiful.
All are beautiful.
Gwyneth Paltrow, STUNNING!!!
Angelina is ridiculously thin. Loved the class of Jessica Chastain. There were many beauties!
Ok, WHAT was Angelina Jolie doing with her leg?!
Was she trying to be funny? Provocative? She did stuck it out on stage and in the (above) photo. It struck me as nutty. ("Look, there's the slit in my dress, let me show you how high it goes.") The award recipients who struck their pose -- hilarious.
Many pretty looks tonight, but Viola Davis was so beautiful. Loved her hair!
Agree about the slit. What in the heck was she trying to prove? I detest that woman.
Thank you, mjb08!!! I don't see what anyone sees in her and/or Brad Pitt. He needs a haircut and shave. They must have very good publicists to always manage to keep their names in the headlines.
Where is Tina Fey? She looked GORGEOUS!!! and should be part of this poll too! She looked better than half the women on here!!!
Did you people not see Viola Davis? Or was that emerald green gown so stunning that it blinded you?
That was indeed a slight - as was her not winning in the Best Actress category. How many does Meryl need? I knew when Octavia Spencer won best supporting that The Help was going down.
But my favorite gown is not even mentioned: The Supreme Being, Milla Jojovich. She was gorgeous. (reference from The Fifth Element)
Raised by Wolves - it has nothing to do with how many awards Meryl needs! While Viola and all the others up for best actress were fabulous, Meryl, as always, was superb. I am thrilled she got the award. In my opinion she lost out for best actress many times in the 17 nominations she has received when she should have won. Meryl earns every award she gets...and more.
meryl was and is the best
I felt Jessica Chastain and Gwyneth Paltrow were the best with Viola Davis as my third choice. As for Angelina, she always looks stunning no matter how thin she is ( I think she stays so thin because she eats very healthy but very little food in reference to the milllions of children she has seen starving. Just a guess that it has more to do with her being an Ambassador than being an actress. I would just like to see different presenters...I mean how many actors exist to choose from...and I'm really tired of the older guy that opened up the show....not Billy, I love him!
I thought the real knock-out dress of the night was Colin Firth´s wife Livia. The volume, hue, and neckline/waistline were stunning. As for Angelina Jolie, she has always been wider at the hip and very skinny in the legs and arms.. check out her first films.
Angelina legs like swizzle stick with no flesh her knee cap look ugly she should keep that to her bedroom lol
Uh...where were the polka dots on Natalie Portman's dress, exactly? It looks solid red to me. Show us the photo you're writing about, not a photo of the wrong dress. This web site needs editors.
Willow Sunstar, No, You need a new computer. Your video card, display card, graphics card, or graphics adapter are to OLD
Uhmmm, you need glasses.
Definitely need to look at another picture of her dress... the polka dots were the first thing I noticed about it.
I thought Rooney Mara was gorgeous. Nice contemporary twist on an Audrey Hepburn look. Loved her dress.