Oscar Red Carpet: Strapless dresses stand out

Strapless necklines are as common at award shows as flashbulbs, and this year proved no different. Strapless was everywhere and on everyone, and while I generally think strapless is a snooze, this time the voluminous nature of the dresses begged for a simple neckline and it all worked.

Some standouts were Maggie Gyllenhaal's hand-painted Dries Van Noten dress, Carey Mulligan's jet black, beaded Prada frock, Elizabeth Banks' icy silver Versace and Jennifer Lopez's shimmery strapless Armani Prive gown.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Top photos, from left: Jennifer Lopez. Credit: Paul Buck / EPA; Demi Moore. Credit: Gabriel Bouys / AFP / Getty Images; Elizabeth Banks. Credit: Paul Buck / EPA; Charlize Theron. Credit: Andrew Gombert / EPA

Bottom photos, from left: Carey Mulligan. Credit: Paul Buck / EPA; Kate Winslet. Credit: Paul Buck / EPA; Maggie Gyllenhaal. Credit: Paul Buck / EPA; Kristin Stewart. Credit: Paul Buck / EPA