It was fashionable:

Best Actress nominee CHARLIZE THERON was head-to-toe sparkle in her nude, crystal, GUCCI gown with a daring low back, and her natural makeup and hair that said 1930s femme fatale! And Oscar winner and presenter JULIA ROBERTS also went for the pale look and was soft and sexy in a champagne-colored satin gown, stiletto earrings and wavy, loose hair.

Blonde bombshell and best actress nominee NAOMI WATTS also lightened things up and arrived in an ornate, nude-hued, strapless, floor-length gown donned with silver and crystal beading, and diamond drop earrings brought the gorgeous ensemble full circle.

But some dazzling divas like SCARLETT JOHANSSON donned bright and bold colors. The 'Lost in Translation' star turned heads in a deep teal green, satin dress, '40s hair and substantial amounts of diamonds. Brunette beauty and presenter JENNIFER GARNER in what she called an "appropriately dramatic," one-shouldered, tangerine frock with a full skirt. And boy, she didn't forget the bling! She wore a pair of eye-catching, multi-carat diamond earrings! Presenter CATHERINE ZETA-JONES also looked smoking hot and defined va-va-voom in her form-fitting, red, beaded, VERSACE gown complemented by her feminine, flowing, raven hair.

Presenter and last year's Best Actress winner NICOLE KIDMAN combined sleek and womanly with her silver charmeuse gown finished in feathers. Her famous red tresses were partly pulled back with sexy curls falling in all the right places, and green BULGARI diamonds sparkled around her neck. And her 'Cold Mountain' co-star RENEE ZELLWEGER looked like old Hollywood in her white CAROLINA HERRERA, draped, asymmetric gown.

Best Supporting Actress nominee HOLLY HUNTER was decked out in both VERA WANG jewelry and a stunning, pale lavender dress by the designer. The '30s inspired gown had a halter front, bustled open back, and small train.

And 13-year-old best actress nominee KEISHA CASTLE-HUGHES was pretty in pink and kept it sweet, demure and age-appropriate in a baby-pink satin gown with a gem-encrusted whale hair clip (a la her movie 'Whale Rider'). [Entertainment Tonight]

After two years of wearing basic black to fit the somber mood of the country after Sept. 11 and the Iraq war, actresses turned to flesh-tone gowns at the Oscars — gowns that shimmered in the sun with the help of beaded crystals or gold and silver ornaments.

....Best supporting actress nominee Patricia Clarkson also wore the flesh-tone shimmering look and singer Alison Krauss' skin-toned gown was accessorized with $2 million Stuart Weitzman stiletto sandals with over 500 Kwiat diamonds.

From pastels to bold shades of the rainbow, color came back with a vengeance at the Oscars, Hollywood's ultimate black-tie and often black dress affair.

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