Oscars 2009: Best and Worst on the Red Carpet

We rate the highs (Anne Hathaway, Evan Rachel Wood) and the lows (Beyonce, Heidi Klum) on the red carpet
By Meeta Agrawal
Updated October 13, 2009 at 08:00 PM EDT

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Anne Hathaway

The Rachel Getting Married nominee brought serious silver-screen glamour to the red carpet in a paillette-laden Armani Prive gown.

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BEST DRESSED

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Tina Fey

Taking a break from her customary black, the 30 Rock star shined (and sparkled and shimmered) in her deeply gorgeous, and deeply plunging, platinum Zac Posen.

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WORST DRESSED

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Tilda Swinton

Another year, another Lanvin sack. At least she gets points for being consistent.

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BEST DRESSED

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Taraji P. Henson

The Benjamin Button nominee wowed in her trail of Roberto Cavalli tiers, set off with the best necklace of the night (courtesy of Fred Leighton).

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WORST DRESSED

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Beyoncé Knowles

This House of Dereon number achieved the trifecta: a bad print in a bad silhouette with a truly bad neckline.

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BEST DRESSED

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Penélope Cruz

Trust the Best Supporting Actress winner (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) to bring the drama to the red carpet, this time in a vintage Balmain gown that was a little bit bridal, but all glamour.

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WORST DRESSED

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Amanda Seyfried

It's hard to get red right — and, unfortunately, the Mamma Mia! star didn't, in a gown a shade too orange, with a silhouette fit to be tied...for a high school prom.

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BEST DRESSED

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Alicia Keys

No one could resist the singer's lilac Armani — with a beautifully draped bodice in a refreshingly not neutral shade, Keys hit all the right notes on the red carpet.

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WORST DRESSED

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Amy Adams

While red has usually been a winning look for the Doubt nominee, with an oddly piped bodice and Skittles necklace this time the crimson beauty fell short.

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BEST DRESSED

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Evan Rachel Wood

It's a bold move for someone as pale as the Wrestler star to turn up in a practically matching alabaster gown. But, having proven she knows the art of mixing unexpected shades (see her navy and fuchsia combo from the SAGs), the actress pulled it off again in this exquisitely fitted Elie Saab.

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WORST DRESSED

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Heidi Klum

It takes a lot to make a supermodel look bad. And this deconstructed to the point of destruction RM by Roland Mouret gown, aided by Klum's hangdog hair, did the job.

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BEST DRESSED

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Kate Winslet

The Best Actress winner (The Reader) combined a very modern Yves Saint Laurent gown — black embroidered netting, shaded silk, single shoulder — with a retro coif to perfectly timeless effect.

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WORST DRESSED

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Miley Cyrus

Even Nashville would have to admit: That's a lot of dress. A new rule of thumb for the carpet: Your dress shouldn't outweigh you.

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BEST DRESSED

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Meryl Streep

For an actress who can sometimes be mysterious and kooky in her choice of outfits, the Doubt nominee channeled Helen Mirren-style glamour in this off-the-shoulder Alberta Ferretti.

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WORST DRESSED

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Jessica Biel

There are beautifully pleated napkins, and then there are bibs. Biel's Prada would have been a best, if she had only remembered to remove hers before hitting the ceremony.

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BEST DRESSED

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Freida Pinto

With a single sheer sleeve, the Slumdog Millionaire star hinted at sari chic in her cobalt John Galliano.

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WORST DRESSED

Credit: Michael Yada/A.M.P.A.S.

Reese Witherspoon

Did the former Best Actress not know where to draw the line? This look was black and blue and worst all over.

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