Vogue's larger-than-life editor-at-large styled the fast-rising starlet beautifully for the Golden Globes last month, but his Midas touch turned to Medusa's curse as Ms. Hudson hit the red carpet in an unflattering brown Oscar de la Renta gown under some sort of metallic motorcycle bolero. Happily, when the camera later panned the audience in the Kodak Theatre, it appeared Ms.
Hudson had checked the botched bolero in the coat room. That aside, the evening was all about women in memorable gowns. Just when it appeared that black was going to be the dominant color of the night -- and it was, of course, for the men -- actresses began arriving in a rainbow of reds, greens, yellows, blues, purples and metallics.
While some hair was pulled back in meticulously coiffed up-dos, more locks were loose and soft. Blinged-out bracelets replaced statement necklaces, continuing a trend. And jewelry-like embellishment built into gowns was a popular look, from Rachel Weisz's sultry platinum Vera Wang design to Beyonce's mint green Armani number with an elaborate stone motif extending from the waist, bisecting the bust and trailing over a shoulder.
And now, a lot of kisses and a few disses: 
Maggie Gyllenhall, whose black one-shoulder fitted gown had an attractive feathered bottom. She showed you can glam it up but still exercise restraint.
Cameron Diaz, breathtaking in a strapless, fitted-bodice, bias-cut dress that, in counter-intuitive white, was a lovely complement to her short auburn tresses and blue-ish eyes and earrings. 
Cate Blanchett, whose snug, glimmering, off-one-shoulder Armani Prive gown was Tinseltown glitz done right.
Reese Witherspoon, at the top of her game in a take-that-Ryan, curve-hugging, purple spiral strapless dress. Jennifer Lopez.
It's time to get away from those vintage-y, empire-waisted garments and wife-y hair. She seems to get more matronly by the minute.
Penelope Cruz. Another case of pretty hair but the wrong gown.
It was hard to appreciate the intricate design details when the blush color was washing her out. Jennifer Hudson.
No, we're not done with her yet. Nice hair styling, but the pockets were the best thing about that sad-sack brown dress. Oh, and Judy Jetson called and wants her itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny metallic motorcycle jacket back.
Wrong, wrong, wrong! Jodie Foster had the right hair, but the shade of her gown fought her skin color. Enough with the matronly style: Jennifer Lopez looked like "Grandmommy Dearest.
" "Dreamgirl" Anika Noni Rose, left, made a dramatic exit in her metallic gown, and it was hard to forget Cate Blanchett, above, whose gown sported a jewel-embellished off-shoulder strap. Metallic fabrics are a major trend through next winter. Celine Dion's gown had a great silhouette, color and fit.
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