History is repeating annually as the Academy Awards ceremony is always the best opportunity for Hollywood stars to do their job and shine all night long!

Call them exceptions if you wish, but there were a few stars who chose not to sparkle all the way; however this doesn’t mean they were less glamorous. Nominees Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep and presenters Jessica Biel, Evan Rachel Wood and Tilda Swinton opted for monochromes and subtle jewelry, rendering the red carpet a procession of cream, nude and black gowns. How cool is that!

In the meantime, at the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre Sunday night, we surely had the other category to stare at as well; but they were definitely easier to spot as their outfits definitely stood out from the crowd: Marion Cotillard and Sarah Jessica Parker pulled out corseted, belted Dior Haute Couture numbers, while Amy Adams went scarlet, turning to Carolina Herrera again for her second Oscar-nominated outing.

Hathaway's strapless dress on the red carpet was a departure from the gown she wore during the fabulous intro with Hugh Jackman, so we’ll let it go. Natalie Portman's purple and pink Rodarte dress with her criss-cross straps on the dress bodice although belonging to the sparkly category for this year's Oscars, made a rather bad decision as far as her outfit was concerned. The dress was definitely colorful, but just didn't fit her style or body.

As for the guys, they all look great in classic black suits. But there was a little creativity. How about Mickey Rourke's all white ensemble which he said was Armani. And I'm still trying to figure out Phillip Seymour Hoffman's black home boy cap, which didn't quite measure up to Hugh Jackman's top hat.