Hollywood ? The 74th Annual Academy Awards brought joy and old-style glamour back to Hollywood Sunday night.

Black vintage sequenced dresses were the predominant trend of the night, as evidenced by Reese Witherspoon, Emily Watson, Sharon Stone and Glenn Close. Many dropped the vintage and just went black, including Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Renee Zellweger, Gwyneth Paltrow and Uma Thurman, who wore a black tuxedo-like dress with slit sleeves.

Opting for color, both Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst chose a pale ash pink, while Kate Winslet was stunning in a bright red dress that simulated flowers over the shoulder. Halle Berry  the one to watch  chose a dark burgundy dress with a sheer top featuring a leaf pattern that covered her chest. Jada Pinkett Smith also chose color, pairing a white top with a full yellow embroidered silk skirt.

Although many predicted white would be the color of the night, only Helen Mirren ventured in that direction, while Sissy Spacek chose a while and black suit.

Some decided to have their jewels be the main attraction, such as Laura Harring, who wore $1 million diamond shoes and a 77-carat solitaire diamond around her neck. The “Mulholland Drive” actress said she planned to “party like a princess” later that evening.

Australian stars Russell Crowe and Kidman were a big hit of the night, getting the loudest applause from the fans in the bleachers. Fellow Aussie actor Hugh Jackman’s biggest fan was his wife, Deborra Lee-Furness, who said her husband was her “Oscar ornament” of the night.

Zellweger was one of the last to arrive at the ceremony, rushing in just before nominee Russell Crowe.