After the scaled-back fashion of a recession-conscious Oscars in 2009, this year's red carpet was a return to glamour. With rich blues, vibrant mauves and unusual necklines, the stars put the sparkle back into the spectacle.

Here's our take on the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

The key trends:

  • Magic Mauve: Shades of mauve, lavender and pale rose were everywhere on the red carpet, making a strong statement on everyone from Anna Kendrick to Zoe Saldana.
  • Grey goddess: Sandra Bullock and Kate Winslet were two of the Oscar's best-dressed beauties in stunning, understated downs done in shades of silver and grey.
  • Fabulous frills: From Vera Farmiga to Anna Kendrick, frills flounced down the red carpet in shapes bold and stark and elegantly demure.
  • Blue girls: Bold shades of cobalt ignited the star quality of Mo'Nique and Gabourey Sidibe on the red carpet.

The Good: Glam returns to the Oscar red carpet!

Vibrant colours, bold shapes and lavish couture detailing gave 2010's winning Oscar's fashions a golden award.

  • The star: Sandra Bullock
  • The dress: Vintage-looking metallic gown with a cut-out, leaf-patterned bodice.
  • The verdict: Bullock pulled off the best look of the night! Gorgeous, sleek and sophisticated, Bullock's jaw-dropping gown shone all the brighter thanks to understated hair and classic red lips.

  • The star: Vera Farmiga
  • The dress: Farmiga stopped traffic in this cranberry-coloured strapless gown decorated with ruffles.
  • The verdict: Farmiga gets top marks for this one -- and for breaking her long track record of wearing Grecian-inspired gowns. As Farmiga said on the red carpet, "This dress reminded me of a pink peony in bloom. I'm so sick of winter!"

  • The star: Mo'Nique
  • The dress: Mo'Nique had confidence to burn in this cobalt blue dress with an asymmetric neckline. The gardenia flowers to the hair added a glam touch à la "Lady Sings the Blues."
  • The verdict: A dramatic show-stopper fit for this Best Supporting Actress frontrunner.

  • The star: Carey Mulligan
  • The dress: Mulligan upped the fashion ante at 2010's Oscars with this Prada strapless black gown topped with beaded details.
  • The verdict: Vavoom glam -- at last! Finally, after weeks on the award show circuit, Carey Mulligan gave the world a powerful, sophisticated look worthy of a Best Actress nominee.

  • The star: Jennifer Lopez
  • The dress: Lopez looked the part of a Hollywood winner in sleek, silvery gown Armani Privé.
  • The verdict: Lopez is back on the red carpet in fine form.

The Bad and the Ugly: Over-exposed necklines!

Whether they were plummeting or sci-fi inspired, the necklines ruined a lot of beautiful gowns. And while Zoe Saldana's neckline was lovely, her purple ruffled mess of a bottom takes the cake for the worst dress of the night.

  • The Star: Mariah Carey
  • The Dress: Long, dark-blue gown with an extreme neckline.
  • The Verdict: It was hard to notice anything but Mariah's chest here, as it looks like her breasts have been hoisted up by hydraulics. After seeing such a breakthrough role in "Precious" it would have been great to see her take a more atypical route (a.k.a. something that keeps the girls at bay) with her Oscars gown.

  • The Star: Amanda Seyfried
  • The Dress: Strapless sparkly dress with full skirt and space-age top.
  • The Verdict: Amanda's futuristic dress looks like something straight out of The Jetsons. While she scores points for the sparkly off-white colour and elegant updo, we're wondering if the dress was a way for her to throw her support behind the sci-fi nominees?

  • The Star: Zoe Saldana
  • The Dress: Rhinestone strapless dress with purple ruffled bottom.
  • The Verdict: From all blue to all purple. While the strapless gown starts out in beautiful rhinestones, the "Avatar" star's dress transforms into something that resembles a crocheted toilet paper-roll cover you'd see in your grandma's bathroom. We definitely "see you" Zoe, but we're not sure we like what we see.

  • The Star: Miley Cyrus
  • The Dress: Long flowing gold dress by Jenny Packham.
  • The Verdict: Looks like Hannah Montana is all grown up (or at least trying to look that way). While the flowing sparkly skirt is passable, it is offset by a plunging bustier that isn't the most flattering on the young actress, who can barely fill out the form-fitting top.

  • The Star: Sarah Jessica Parker
  • The Dress: Long silk dress in buttercup yellow .
  • The Verdict: Carrie Bradshaw would've never stepped out of the house looking like this! Set off by a black sparkly inset at the top of the gown, neither the colour nor the cut is flattering on SJP. Let's hope we see some better fashions in "Sex and the City 2."