Winners return to golden age

The smouldering eyes, the bare shoulders, the S-bend of a silhouette ending in a full kick of a hem - watch out, the Hollywood Vamp is back.

Yes, the news from the red carpet of the 78th Annual Academy Awards, the most high-profile catwalk in the world, is that dangerous curves and strapless necklines from the golden age of the screen goddess are where it is at.

Forget the sideline in film awards, it's fashion that really counts at the Oscars these days. Or why else would the Academy of Motion Pictures schedule the prestigious gong show straight after the latest round of international collections?

You've seen the catwalk offerings of New York, London, Milan and Paris; now see the frocks really take off on your favourite Hollywood star.

Keira Knightley exemplified this with a look that took the va-va-va-voom of cartoon pin-up Jessica Rabbit and a pinch of Mae West's "Come up and see me sometime" sauciness in her Vera Wang deep-claret, silk-taffeta dress to winning effect.

Also slinking down the carpet to the pop and fizz of the paparazzi were Hilary Swank in a black strapless dress, complete with train, and Jessica Alba in an equally figure-hugging, gold-lace-and-chiffon halterneck - both by Donatella Versace, of course - followed close behind by Jada Pinkett Smith in peacock-blue Roberto Cavalli with an artfully draped and pleated bodice, Michelle Williams in a peachy tulle-andsilk crêpe number, also by Vera Wang, and Memoirs of a Geisha star Ziyi Zhang in a black bustier and crystal-studded full skirt by Giorgio Armani.

Jennifer Lopez has always known that a little old-world glamour goes a long way, and this year was no exception. Her draped and twisted olive-green vintage dress by Rita Watnick set off her most famous asset to perfection.

Scoring top marks for fashion savvy, Nicole Kidman picked out an embroidered cream strapless dress by ultra-cool Nicholas Ghesquiere at Balenciaga, Jennifer Aniston went for a gothic black number with a seven-foot train from Olivier Theyskens at Rochas, and Naomi Watts stepped out in Givenchy haute couture by new boy Riccardo Tisci.

Best Actress winner Reese Witherspoon also scored top marks for style with her choice of a silver-lace, vintage Christian Dior dress.

And it is not just about the frocks. Don't forget that diamonds are a girl's best friend, too. Ms Kidman chose matching diamond bracelets by Fred Leighton, Ms Knightley went for a colourful vintage Sixties necklace by Bulgari and Ms Williams went to Marilyn Monroe's favourite, Harry Winston, for her statement necklace.