DRESSED FOR THE PRESS.

Byline: Sandra Barrera Staff Writer

Charlize Theron, a Best Actress nominee for her role in ``Monster,'' stopped by Sunday for a second to take questions from reporters on the red carpet outside the Shrine Auditorium, where the Screen Actors Guild Awards were to be handed out.

They all wanted to know about the lavender strapless gown designed for her by Tom Ford for Gucci.

``They sent me a sketch and I just loved it,'' Theron said. ``I thought it was very spring.''

A few seconds later, rain started pelting the plastic tent that covered the red carpet. It was almost showtime, and Theron's handler insisted she had to get inside. As she stepped away, a Chilean camera crew started waving around a man's Speedo for her to take.

And she took it.

Satin seemed to be the choice of the day among many of Hollywood's most glamorous women. ``Sex and the City's'' Kim Cattrall looked regal in purple, while Naomi Watts, on the arm of Heath Ledger, chose a navy blue strapless sheath. Jennifer Garner of ``Alias'' showed her style in a red Ralph Lauren gown. Garner kept it simple by wearing her hair pulled back in a ponytail so that all attention would go to her ruby red and diamond-studded earrings and matching bracelet.

Andie MacDowell accessorized her printed Escada gown, layered in pinks, gold and off-whites, with gold and crystal dangling earrings. There were lots of nice little touches, such as the embroidered bodice of ``Joan of Arcadia's'' Amber Tamblyn's Valentino gown in pale blue, the flowers in ``Without a Trace's'' Poppy Montgomery's hair and the hem of ``Frasier's'' Peri Gilpin's short black dress.

Diane Keaton, on the other hand, opted for a conservative lace gown in black, which was the color Renee Zellweger chose for a simple long gown. Catherine Zeta-Jones was seen rushing by in gold, followed by a pregnant Debra Messing in a flowing pale green gown. She was followed by a just-as-pregnant Marcia Gay Harden, who wore Bill Blass in blue with a diamond-studded pin at the shoulder.

Marg Helgenberger of ``C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation'' and Maria Bello, nominated for her performance in ``The Cooler,'' both had elegant slit dresses that allowed them to show off some leg.

For the men, tuxedos were the fashion. Many of them color-coordinated their ties with the dresses worn by their dates. Billy Boyd of the ``Lord of the Rings'' trilogy sported a kilt and black-on-black shirt and jacket. Ben Foster of ``Six Feet Under'' also wore black on black - Armani. Tony Shalhoub of ``Monk'' got a little wilder than his fellow male actors. Literally. His Cerruti tux had the effect of animal skin.

``I think it's a fish,'' he said.

But Kiefer Sutherland of ``24'' was the smartest accessorizer - he brought an umbrella.

Sandra Barrera, (818) 713-372

sandra.barrera(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

10 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Jennifer Garner

(2 -- color) Maria Bello

(3 -- color) Marg Helgenberger

(4 -- color) Charlize Theron

(5 -- color) Naomi Watts

(6 -- color) Andie MacDowell

(7 -- color) Catherine Zeta-Jones

(8 -- color) Kiefer Sutherland

(9 -- color) Debra Messing

(10 -- color) Renee Zellweger

Photos by Hans Gutknecht and Evan Yee

Staff Photographers

Box:

THE WINNERS