unflappability fantastical: Oscars Red Carpet: Emma Stone And Rooney Mara Dazzle

Our experts pick the best-dressed at the 2012 Academy Awards.
By Christina Garibaldi

Emma Stone arrives at the 84th Annual Academy Awards
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

Oscar night isn't only a huge event for the world of movies; it's also a big night for fashion. Over the years, it has become known as the hottest runway show of the year, with the top designers clamoring to get their dresses on the night's nominees, hoping to win a spot on the coveted best-dressed list.

On Sunday night, all eyes were on the actresses working the red carpet, and they did not disappoint. There were pops of color on the carpet, but the big trend of the night seemed to be ladies in white. Gwyneth Paltrow looked glamorous in a white one-shoulder Tom Ford gown with a matching wrap.

MTV Style picks their best-dressed at the Oscars.

"From what I saw walking down the carpet, Gwyneth Paltrow looked amazing in Tom Ford," Janell Snowden of VH1 told MTV News. "She was in the color of the night, which was white."

Rooney Mara, a Best Actress nominee for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," traded in her typical black garb for elegant white, wearing a lace Givenchy gown with a plunging back.

"I did think a lot about what I was going to wear; it's a long process," Mara told MTV News. "I like to wear white also. I wanted to mix it up. This just happened to be the most beautiful dress, that's why I wore it."

MTV Style expert Mary H.K. Choi agreed that Mara wowed in her Oscar ensemble. "White was a huge trend on the red carpet tonight, and this stark, architectural Givenchy looked absolutely surreal against the phosphorescence of her alabaster skin," Choi said. "She looked just pristine, and the fact that her impossibly shiny, jet-black hair was in a tight bun with blunt bangs really anchored the look. She dresses with a certain severity, given her young age, but I'm a huge fan."

Of course, it wasn't just the ladies in white who stole the show. "The Help" star Emma Stone turned heads in a stunning red Giambattista Valli gown.

"I just loved this dress. There were titterings on Twitter about how people either loved or hated the bow, but I thought a dramatic, festive accent at the neckline looked stunning and complemented the side sweep of her red hair," Choi said. "A risk, definitely, but I think it absolutely paid off."

Stone's co-star Jessica Chastain also made a lasting impression on her first Oscar red carpet. Chastain, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, shined on the carpet in a black and gold Alexander McQueen gown.

"This is a big moment — probably it's the biggest moment of my life — so I needed a dress that was a big-moment dress," Chastain told MTV News. "It's McQueen, and the embroidery and the way it fits — to me, this dress is how I'm feeling right now."

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The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Keep it locked at MTV.com all night and beyond for updates on the night's big winners and the best red-carpet fashion. Join the live conversation by tweeting @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars.

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