When it came to choosing her vintage gold-and-white Lanvin-Castillo ballgown, Jada Pinkett Smith cut husband Will Smith out of the decision-making process and followed her gut instead. "I wanted something that was old Hollywood, old glamor," said the actress. Not that the couple didn't coordinate: Best Actor nominee Smith (Ali) sported an Oswald Boateng suit with a gold tie and shirt designed to complement his wife's ensemble. (The Smiths bolted from the ceremony before the Best Actor prize was announced when they learned that their year-old daughter Willow was running a 103° fever, according to their reps. After an emergency-room visit, where she was diagnosed with an ear infection, Willow returned home with her parents and is expected to be fine.)

With most of the stars playing it safe, those who did take sartorial risks -- including Gwyneth Paltrow in sheer black Alexander McQueen, Jennifer Connelly wearing a putty-colored gown with a shredded skirt by Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquiere and Cameron Diaz in a floral-print Ungaro Couture -- were roundly criticized as fashion flops. Not that Diaz minded. "I wanted to wear something I felt casual and myself in," she said. "I feel like I just got out of bed and threw it on."