The results of the recent Academy Awards were arguably predictable, with “The King’s Speech” bagging Best Picture and Colin Firth and Natalie Portman walking away with the Best Actor and Best Actress trophies, respectively. One of the new things spectators watched out for was the hosting stint of Anne Hathaway and James Franco, who, many claim, was not all that stellar.

As in any awards event as big as this, there are winners and there are losers. While fans eagerly waited to know how their favorite films, actors, directors, and writers fared, there were awards of a different sort being given out, albeit unofficially. After all, what is the Oscars without its famed red carpet and the gowns that sweep across it? Let’s take a look at the lovely ladies who emerged as winners on the walkway, as they succeeded in capturing the attention and admiration of both fans and fashionistas all over the world.

Captivating Cygnets

Both Black Swan ladies made an entrance worthy of an encore. Natalie Portman, with her lovely baby bump, didn’t walk — she glided along in her purple off-shoulder Rodarte gown and Jimmy Choo heels. Truly a picture of understated elegance, she emerged as a winner on all fronts. What a memorable night for her and her little one!

Mila Kunis came in a lighter hue but was just as stunning. She wore a lavender Ellie Saab Couture gown with just enough lace detail to make her look every bit the ethereal yet striking beauty that she is. The gown did not look quite the same as it did while it was being modelled on the runway. I daresay though, that it looked much better on her. It was the perfect choice.

Timeless Elegance

For many actresses, their time on the red carpet is an excellent opportunity to make a statement about their personal style, as well as secure a spot in the international imagination. An image of perfect dress on the right body and with the right face can be stamped in the minds of both the media and fans worldwide. As such, a lot of thought goes into picking out the dress, shoes, and accessories. Unfortunately, some celebrities fall prey to trends and tend to overdo things. Others seem to forget their age and go for overly revealing or outlandish outfits, which often makes for an unnatural and even ridiculous appearance.

There are, however, others who get it right. Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in True Grit, showed teenage actresses how it’s done with her lovely crystal-studded Marchesa gown. The sweet 14-year old was such a refreshing sight with her barely made-up face. She hardly wore accessories, aside from a cute jeweled headband that didn’t come across as juvenile at all. It didn’t hurt that she was wearing a pair of champagne Ferragamo pumps with her outfit, either. Perhaps other young actresses should take their cue from her. She may be new, but she certainly knows how to shine!

On the other hand, Helen Mirren could give us all a lesson or two on ageing gracefully. Completely natural, with no signs of Botox or anything similar, she looked ageless in a dark yet subdued Vivienne Westwood creation. In her case, both wisdom and beauty do come with age. Very classy.

Hollywood Staples

While many of the usual red carpet queens were a bit underwhelming this year, there were a few who did not disappoint. Reese Witherspoon, for instance, looked like a life-sized Barbie doll in her minimalist, black and white Giorgio Armani Privé dress. She appeared both clean and regal, which made her a definite red carpet head-turner.

Michelle Williams awed us a few years ago with her canary yellow Vera Wang gown. This year, she chose a much more subdued color, and she looked both lovely and fresh in a jeweled Chanel Haute Couture dress. Cap sleeves are not very easy to pull off, but on her, they were quite elegant. Understated chic, indeed.

Amy Adams, on the other hand, brought a rich burst of color onto the walkway in a deep blue-violet L’Wren Scott gown and Cartier emerald jewelry. She may not have shown a lot of skin, but she did come across as elegantly bold.

One of the most consistent of the stars when it comes to being absolutely stunning on the red carpet, Halle Berry came in a nude yet crystal-studded Marchesa gown. It flowed along her curves perfectly as her Neil Lane jewels provided a subtle accent to her look. When it comes to dressing for awards ceremonies, it seems as though this woman can do no wrong.

Stellar Songbirds

It wasn’t just the actors and actresses who made an effort to look amazing. Some of the loveliest attendees were the performers of the night. Celine Dion’s Armani Privé gown was the perfect combination of structure and style. Now Celine has always been an impeccable dresser, but this particular look was distinctly classy as her streamlined metallic gown was accented with jewelry from Bulgari.  An added bonus is that she’s been able to get back in to shape quite quickly, so it was pretty difficult to imagine that she had just given birth to twins a few months ago.

Another beautiful sight to behold was Mandy Moore, in a glittering Monique Lhuillier creation. With her hair swept up elegantly and her chic red lipstick, she was quite an apparition on the red carpet. Many media personalities and fans had to do a double (and even triple) take, scarcely believing that this former teeny-bopper songstress could transform into a perfect model of elegance. Mandy Moore certainly proved herself to be one of the top contenders for the best-dressed award, even though she was only there to perform.

While the Academy Awards for this year proved to be a bit predictable, the red carpet remained as interesting and lovely as ever. This is just the beginning, though. Here’s to more fabulous red carpet moments in 2011!

Photos via harpersbazaar.com and msn.com