4

Glamour for Oscar

Many of the stars nominated for this year's Oscars were not what you'd call household names. But what really kept us glued to our sets was who would win Best Frock.

Special article by Marcel Smith
Former Cosmopolitan magazine editor

Charlize Theron and Renee Zellweger

Photo: The best actresses pose for the cameras

Who'd look breathtaking? Whose outfit would make us groan? How much flesh would be exposed? Would any female lead who isn't a size two be allowed into the theatre? With the exception of Renee Zellwegger in a strapless white satin dress that draped across her voluptuous hour-glass figure, bigger-than-size-two women certainly weren't allowed in the front row. Renee wore a diamond bracelet, no necklace or earrings, her blonde hair swept off her face into a gentle twist at the back of her neck. She looked simply sensational. Slender Aussie Naomi Watts, nominated for 21 Grams, had a similar hairdo. Her pale gold sparkling strapless dress hugged her elegant body and she's one of those women that men and women sigh about. Charlize Theron, clutching her Oscar for best actress, may have been the most beautiful woman in the room. That was a close call.

Her golden strappy dress with the kick pleat at the front looked marvelous against her pale tan. A wide diamond bracelet lent just the right note of old-style Hollywood glamour. What was striking this year was the absence of flesh. Partly, of course, because few female stars have any, but even those that do were not baring it. Fifty-something Susan Sarandon has Tim Robbins, sex appeal in spades, an Oscar and beautiful breasts. She was one of the few, maybe because she's one of the old school, maybe because her breasts are real, who decided to show off. A wide shoulder strap of her black dress fell half way down her right arm all evening. We were left in little doubt as to the size and shape of her charms. Yes, of course, Susan Sarandon gets away with it. This was the year of so many elegant, ladylike, feminine dresses that cleavage is beginning to look coarse. The big story is satin.

Julia Roberts

Photo: Julia Roberts arrived flanked by two friends

Sofia Coppola looked simple and understated in a black satin, plunge neck dress with little frills on the shoulders. No cleavage, of course, and hair that looked glossy and natural as if she'd just washed it herself. Angelina Jolie looked positively majestic in a halter-necked, creamy satin, flowing, plunge to the waist dress. Again, not a hint of cleavage. Another figure who looked simply terrific was Oprah Winfrey. She wore a 1950s-style grey taffeta moiré long sleeved low necked dress with a full skirt. The diamond drop earrings shone against her black flicked hair. She was faultless. The young woman who is unbelievably beautiful, talented, poised with the body of a real flesh-and-blood woman is Scarlett Johansson.