The China Mail - Oscars red carpet: smooth elegance, lots of trains, candy glam

As the guests filed into the Dolby Theatre, a few trends emerged: lots of understated white, silver and cream gowns; loose flowing hair; dresses with trains; and a few excellent pops of color.

Here are some key looks from the Oscars red carpet:

- Muted elegance -

For the first time in decades, Oscars organizers changed the red carpet to a champagne hue. And the stars responded by bringing an ethereal lightness to their frocks, many of them in white, cream or silver.

Michelle Yeoh, the star of frontrunner "Everything Everywhere All at Once," wowed in a floating white sleeveless Dior gown, her long hair flowing in loose curls -- a look seen all over the carpet -- and topped with a bejeweled headband.

"This was the perfect opportunity to show that moms are superheroes," Yeoh told ABC of her film.

Jamie Lee Curtis, nominated for best supporting actress for her work alongside Yeoh, rocked a sleek glittering long-sleeved off-white column gown from Dolce & Gabbana, perfectly setting off her cropped white hair.

Presenter Florence Pugh, who has been shutting down red carpets for months with quirk and swagger, pushed the sartorial envelope in a Valentino gown that was all voluminous creamy taffeta on top -- and then slit extra high to reveal a black miniskirt.

And Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, the executive producer of Oscar-nominated documentary short "Stranger at the Gate," wore a sequined silver hooded Ralph Lauren gown that was ruched at the waist.

- Candy-colored glam -

Pink, purple, yellow -- Curtis' fellow nominees in the best supporting actress category brought a rainbow of hues to the Academy Awards.

Angela Bassett, whose turn as Queen Ramonda in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" could make her the first actor in a Marvel film to win an Oscar, slayed in an amethyst Moschino gown with a bow neckline, a train... and lots of diamonds.

She paid tribute on the red carpet to nominated costume designer Ruth Carter, saying she felt "that sense of royalty spring up," telling ABC: "And it really helped to get me there in terms of the performance."

Hong Chau, who earned a nod for her work opposite Brendan Fraser in "The Whale," oozed sophistication in a cotton candy pink sleeveless Prada gown, with a Mandarin collar and an unusual fringed black train.

"Everything Everywhere All at Once" star Stephanie Hsu floated down the carpet at the Dolby Theatre in a strapless bubble gum pink Valentino number with a full ball skirt, her hair cascading down in soft waves.

And Irish actress Kerry Condon, who shared the big screen with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in "The Banshees of Inisherin," donned a lemon yellow one-shoulder Versace gown -- and another train, a definite Oscars trend.

- Let's hear it for the boys -

For years, the men of Hollywood were a bit of an afterthought on red carpets -- tuxedo, rinse, repeat. But no longer.

"Everything Everywhere" star Harry Shum Jr embraced his Asian heritage with a white dinner jacket with midnight piping and coordinated belted sash. And for his "Glee" fans, he danced a bit on the red carpet.

And "Elvis" star Austin Butler wore a Saint Laurent tuxedo fit for a king -- though definitely a bit more traditional than his other awards season looks.

U.Chen--ThChM