Oscar red carpet: Zoe Saldana, Vera Farmiga in full swirl

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So far a huge statement on the red carpet has been layers of ruffles as detail, or in the case of Vera Farmiga’s hot pink Marchesa gown, the whole dress — which makes her look like a flower in bloom.

Zoe Saldana also has a ton of texture going on at the bottom of her lilac and blush gown. Presenter Elizabeth Banks’ silver strapless Versace gown has swirls of gathered tulle on the skirt.

It’s nice to see a detail other than sequins or sparkle making a fashion rather than pageant statement on the red carpet.
-- Melissa Magsaysay

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A new Times database puts readers on the sidewalks of Hollywood, using more than a century of archives to track the lives of the stars, including current Oscar nominees Jeff Bridges, James Cameron, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman, Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep.

Top photos: (Left) Zoe Saldana, credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images; (Right) Vera Farmiga, credit: Matt Sayles / Associated Press