By now, nearly every publication in the world would have discussed the red carpet’s offerings on Sunday night, and perhaps as a nod to the state of the world economy, the consensus was that this was definitely a somber night for Hollywood fashion.

Blacks, white and neutrals were the prevailing tones of the evening, with very few eye-catching colours stealing the scene. Heidi Klum‘s Roland Mouret gown in a startling red had the colour, but was a dissapointing choice as it just looked like it was chopped off rather akwardly in all the wrong places. Her hair also looked like it was having a bad day, limp and greasy. Slumdog Millionaire‘s Frieda Pinto was another one of the few who dared more colour in a blue John Galliano dazzler paired with Jimmy Choos.  I’m not a huge of of one-armed designs, but I have to say the Freida looked very stylish.

Here’s the London Times 20 Best and Worst:

The Best

1. Marisa Tomei – She looked toned, tousled and terrific in her white Versace gown with more folds than an accordion. Its one-shoulder design showed off her perfectly refined deltoids, it clung sexily and its intricate pleats were interesting not fussy.

2. Viola Davis – While she didn’t win best supporting actress, the veteran actress channeled old Hollywood style and made sophistication look easy in a dusky gold Reem Acra.

3. Heidi Klum – The supermodel displayed her credentials with an architectural asymmetrical red gown, split to the thigh (she revealed on one pre-Oscar show that she’d had to ride over balanced on one bum cheek to accommodate her dress)

4. Taraji P Henson – Her strapless Roberto Cavalli off-white gown had irregular layers that gave it texture, set off brilliantly with a statement Fred Leighton necklace and a sleek hairdo.

5. Sarah Jessica Parker – We would expect no less from the era’s most high profile fashion plate: a Dior Haute Couture gown in “barely mint”. Plus, we had no idea her breasts were so big, or high.

6. Evan Rachel Wood – Her Art Deco-style gown in pale satin and chiffon was lovely and romantic, if a bit white-on-white against her pale skin and blonde hair.

7. Meryl Streep – With her bespoke Alberta Ferretti dress, the actress proves that you don’t need a hardbody and a skintight corset to look sexy. Just do way off the shoulder, upswept hair and a smile.

8. The Slumdog Millionaire children – The boys in dinner jackets, the girls in party dresses, all strike just the right note. Not too fancy, not too uncomfortable. And – it turns out – perfect for an appearance onstage.

The Worst

11. Beyonce Knowles – She was smokin’ once she changed into her red fringed and sequined leotard for her singing performance where she put Hugh Jackman to shame. But on the red carpet, her black gown with swathes of brassy gold flowers was off key.

12. Natalie Portman – Purple-pink Rodarte, with criss-crossing straps on the bodice interspersed with what looks like hundreds and thousands. Colourful yet somehow boring.

13. Melissa Leo – The actress, nominated for her role in Frozen River, wore a Badgley Mischka gown in a glum shade of brown and in a style that announced “my dad took me to prom”.

14. Marion Cotillard – Last year she won the Oscar for her role in La Vie en Rose and won accolades for her Jean Paul Gaultier “mermaid” dress. This year she looked ill at ease in her Dior dark blue and black gown – a mashup of sequins, tiered net and regret.

15. Angelica Huston – Angelica, why oh why? You have the cheekbones to pull off almost anything. Almost. But a grape gown with shoulder pads and something growing up from the hem? You deserve so much more.

16. Queen Latifah – A voice like honey, a dress like a Quality Street chocolate – shiny, unflattering and wrapped round with some kind of dark ribbon.