The 84th Academy Awards were, as always, a great venue for A-list gown-watching.
   Looking every inch the movie star, Angelina Jolie wowed in a black Versace gown with a thigh-high split.
   Michelle Williams donned a bright red strapless Louis Vuitton gown, while Emma Stone also went with red, in Gimabattista Valli. Natalie Portman went with a vintage Dior in red polka dots.
   In the gold camp, Meryl Streep wore a classic golden Lanvin dress, while Jessica Chastain wore a gold embroidered Alexander McQueen.
   Gwyneth Paltrow was regarded by many as the trend-setter of the night, in her white Tom Ford cap-sleeve column gown.
   Others also wore white and off-white: Rooney Mara in Givenchy; Cameron Diaz in Gucci; Jennifer López in Zuhair Murad; Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji; Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab; and Shailene Woodley in Valentino.
   Bérénice Bejo went with a mint green Elie Saab gown.
   More extreme fashion was worn by Sacha Baron Cohen, in character as Adm Gen Aladeen, promoting his new movie The Dictator.