It's not just that Keira Knightley is indescribably gorgeous: it's that she carries dresses so well and makes great fashion choices.

The dark eggplant taffeta Vera Wang dress she wore at the Oscars signaled a fashion moment (Vera Wang's spring runway was full of darkly romantic spring clothes: a fashion oddity for the season)

Keira paired the dress with a multi-colored Bulgari necklace from the '60s. Her lighter, strawberry-blonde hair, pulled into a high bow-enhanced ponytail, and smokey eyes were a series of disparate looks. But the end result was young and fresh.

 

Best Golden Girl: Jessica Alba 

From her elegant updo to her golden embroidered Versace dress, Jessica Alba was every inch the golden girl. Even her skin had a golden hue (but it looked natural, not fake, as in spray-on tans).

Jessica showed off a ladybug tattoo she sports on the nape of her neck (a bonding move she took with her mother, aunt and cousin).

 

Most Improved: Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep's been known to wear frumpy, long-sleeve dresses that hide her beauty, but this night she wore a deeply V-ed plum gown that ended in a train of sequins. Her long earrings and soft curled updo showed off her pretty face and great skin.

 

Best Vintage Look: Reese Witherspoon

Lots of actresses wear vintage, but somehow, on Reese Witherspoon vintage looks completely right.

The pale beribboned and beaded '50s Dior dress and pink earrings were soft and sweet (OK, and just a bit Southern-debutante). Reese told People Magazine that the dress was hers and she bought it in Paris (guess she didn't want a redux of the "vintage" fiasco from the Golden Globes when Chanel let her wear a dress Kirsten Dunst had donned for an after-party just a few years earlier).

 

Most Redeemed: Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman was a vision of soft feminity with a curly updo, a delicate neutral-colored gown and smokey eyes.

It's a huge improvement over her reportedly intentional faux pas two years ago when she dressed as a milkmaid.

 

Best Color: Salma Hayek

Let other actresses try to wear trendy colors that don't flatter their coloring (like Michelle Williams in mustard, possibly the most difficult color to wear on the face of the earth).

Salma Hayek in her one-shoulder, slate-blue satin dress was absolutely stunning. Paired with her long black hair (worn loose and curly) and not-too-ostentatious diamond drops, Salma was flawless.

 

Most Amazing Jewelry: Amy Adams' Aquamarine Drops

Teardrop earrings topped the evening's list of the biggest jewelry trends.

But Amy Adams' aquamarine drops (reportedly borrowed from Carolina Herrera), paired with the chocolate brown dress from the designer, made a great statement and were refreshing in a sea of diamonds.

 

Biggest Fashion Risk: Charlize Theron

With her teased updo and dark dress with exaggerated bow, Charlize Theron made a departure from her usual golden waves and glamour gown in a pretty hue.

Was it her most beautiful look? Maybe not, but she never really looks bad and she gets points for trying something new (something Jennifer Aniston who always chooses black dresses and everyday blah hair for awards shows should think about).

 

Boldest Fashion Choice: Felicity Huffman 

Why let Zac Posen dress only the starlets?

Felicity Huffman, one of the few actresses in black, took sexy to a new level in her mesh-sided, cut-to-there dress. Her low, pulled-back 'do with sparkling clip looked modern and showed off her incredibly toned body (how does she find the time to do it all?)

 

Most Graceful Fashion Recovery: Jennifer Garner 

If you've ever tripped or stumbled in heels or a dragging hem, you'll understand how incredible it was that Jennifer Garner was able to teeter on falling and then recover. She brushed off the potential fashion faux pas by saying she "Did her own stunts" and went on to present without a hitch. Now that's true style.