THE DRESSES

Eva Friede picks her favourites.

Strapless, strapless, strapless. Ice blue, ice pink, ice white, nude. The new wave of celebrity style-makers were in tune in their pale fire fashion choices on the Oscar red carpet Sunday night. It was all pretty, if predictable. Belle of the ball Jennifer Lawrence, with a new Dior contract, wore a showpiece from Dior’s spring haute couture line, a strapless pale pink ballgown with dramatically sculpted skirt, set off with a long Chopard necklace cascading down her back.

Jessica Chastain chose shapely coppery nude Armani Privé, with a geometric beaded pattern, and Harry Winston jewels, after admitting she saw many, many dresses. “I’m just such a fan of the movies,’’ she said, adding it’s a “Happy Birthday, Mr. President,’’ kind of dress.

Amy Adams was in pale blue Oscar de la Renta – strapless, naturally – with acres of feathered tulle for a skirt.

Steering off the strapless route was Anne Hathaway in pale pink, almost backless Prada with a halter neck, slight side boob visibility and awkward bodice. Trend alert: her dazzling Tiffany diamonds – fighting with her neckline – had the pendant on the back of her neck. (The house of Valentino must have been spinning – it had announced a few hours earlier that the Les Mis star would be wearing its dress.)

Charlize Theron channelled Hathaway in Dior couture, with a pixie cut and a white strapless two-piecer much like Hathaway’s Chanel at the Golden Globes. And she happened to don floaty pale pink for her dance number in the Oscar opening sequence.

Still in the strapless corner, Reese Witherspoon, with a Veronica Lake hairdo similar to Chastain’s – so beautifully Old Hollywood – in cobalt strapless with bowed black trim by Louis Vuitton.

Helen Hunt wore a similar style in navy by – gasp! – H&M, an “accessible dress,’’ she said, accessorized by $700,000 worth of jewels. She chose it because of the mass retail chain’s green initiatives. It looked only slightly crumply. Not since Sharon Stone donned a Gap T in 1996 have we seen that kind of democratic statement.

Also: Amanda Seyfried wore metallic embroidered Alexander McQueen with a halter T-neck that buckled slightly.

Side note: There were a few little bows – on the belt of Kerry Washington’s red and crystal beaded Miu Miu (which required an awkward pull-up adjustment caught on camera) and superfluously on Zoe Saldana’s leafy- trimmed bodice by Alexis Mabille.

Playing it both ways, and quite successfully, was Naomi Watts in gunmetal Armani sequins, with an asymmetric bodice, one side strapless, the other sleeved.

Not getting the go-pale, go-strapless memo:

Jennifer Hudson all covered up in shimmering blue devoré Cavalli. Nice.

Sally Field all covered up in red Valentino. Also nice.

Jennifer Anniston in strapless red Valentino with a full skirt and flowing hair. She’s better in black, actually.

Shining bright – too much so – was Catherine Zeta-Jones in glittering gold embroidered Zuhair Murad.

Salma Hayek in midnight velvet Alexander McQueen – a house owned by her husband – with a signature ornately embroidered high neck. A winner.

Jane Fonda in last year’s shocking yellow trend, by Versace.

Meanwhile, honourable mention goes to 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis, the youngest best-actress nominee ever, in big-sleeved, navy blue custom Armani, toting a puppy handbag named Sammy. “I liked it because it was sparkly and puffy,’’ she said of her dress.

Now that’s telling it like it is on red carpet fashion.

JASON MERRITT/ GETTY IMAGES Jennifer Lawrence is dazzling in this pale pink Dior dress as she soars to the pinnacle of the Hollywood’s best dressed.

FRAZER HARRISON/ GETTY IMAGES Charlize Theron is the Hollywood goddess from central casting. The Oscar-winning star, wearing a ravishing gown by Dior Haute Couture, completes her glamour grand slam with Roger Vivier shoes and Harry Winston jewels.

JASON MERRITT/ GETTY IMAGES Les Mis star Anne Hathaway is still rocking the pixie cut — and this blushcoloured satin halter gown by Prada.

JASON MERRITT/ GETTY IMAGES Oscar’s youngest best actress nominee in history, Beasts of the Southern Wild star Quvenzhané Wallis, charms the red carpet in a navy Armani gown. She is carrying her signature puppy purse!

JASON MERRITT/ GETTY IMAGES Naomi Watts shimmers like the stars in an Armani Privé dress, Jimmy Choo shoes, Roger Vivier bag and Neil Lane jewels.

FRAZER HARRISON/ GETTY IMAGES Amy Adams steps out of the box in this strapless, pale blue Oscar de la Renta. The gown features fine beading at the bodice with train that keeps on rolling.

JASON MERRITT/ GETTY IMAGES Try Zero Dark Stunning! Jessica Chas tain oozes sophistication in a sleek custom Armani Privé dress, garnished with Christian Louboutin heels and Harry Winston jewels.