FASHION: HALTING TRAFFIC IN HIGH STYLE BEFORE THE SHOW, THE WHOLE WORLD TAKES NOTICE OF HOLLYWOOD'S DUDS.

Byline: Heather Wood Staff Writer

Young stars and starlets may be taking over Hollywood, but during Sunday's Academy Awards, old Hollywood glamour ruled on the red carpet.

And this year's list of leading ladies led the way, donning dresses in an array of colors and chic styles.

Best Actress nominees Laura Linney, Joan Allen, Juliette Binoche, Ellen Burstyn and Julia Roberts all arrived in high style, looking every bit the part of superstars worthy of Academy Award approval.

Allen was by far one of the most stunning women on the carpet Sunday. The ``Contender'' actress arrived early during the preshow parade of celebrities, giving photographers and journalists ample time to soak in her unaging beauty. Allen wore a coral beaded tangerine gown that hugged her body like a glove, revealing every lovely feature. Michael Kors designed the sleeveless turtleneck gown. Sporting a new, trendy bob, Allen looked as young and vivacious as some of the night's youngest stars.

``Third time is a charm,'' she joked about her third nomination, for her role in ``The Contender.'' ``We'll see. I'm just enjoying tonight.''

Allen's grace was shared with fellow nominee Ellen Burstyn, who wore an Oscar-gold gown and a sunburst of jewels around her neck. Laura Linney looked like Lana Turner with her blond hair intricately pinned up to show off a flowing orange chiffon Valentino gown with shoulder straps fastened together by diamond-studded buckles. She commented that she was amazed at the success of that ``sweet little independent movie'' she starred in (``You Can Count on Me.'').

She wasn't bothered by all the talk of Julia Roberts winning, either.

``It's such a celebration, the whole evening,'' she said. ``And when people start saying how you're going to lose, I say, 'Who are you kidding? I've lost nothing.' ''

Supporting Actress nominee (and later winner), Marcia Gay Harden brought back images of a young Katharine Hepburn in her deep red gown, sleek, wavy haircut and ice-cube-sized diamonds flashing bursts of light at the audience.

Juliette Binoche perhaps took the ``old Hollywood'' look a bit too far. She ventured back to the 1920s, sporting a sleek, black finger-wave hairstyle - accented with a feather - a black, fringed flapper dress by Gaultier and long, loose pearls swinging around her arms and neck. But even an odd outfit such as this looked succulent on the ``Chocolat'' star.

Binoche wasn't the only one sporting a '20s style at the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday. Best Supporting Actress nominee and Hollywood ``it'' girl, Kate Hudson, wore what seemed to be a flapperlike ensemble by Stella McCartney. With curls piled atop her head and dusty blue eye shadow on her lids, Hudson had the sultry look of the roaring '20s down pat. She said she was going for a ``fun, sexy and beautiful'' look.

Everyone in attendance - from the gawkers in the stands (some of whom traveled from as far as China) to the paparazzi on the red carpet - anxiously awaited the arrival of Roberts.

When this year's Oscar girl arrived, she first stopped traffic with her gleaming smile, and then stopped last year's Oscar winner Hilary Swank for a big hug and an exchange of congratulations. Roberts' black and white gown was simple and elegant, a vintage Valentino. She chose little to no jewels, perhaps realizing hunk-of-a-boyfriend Benjamin Bratt was the best accessory.

There were several Kodak moments such as this during the preshow. Big kid Anthony Hopkins, wearing sunglasses and a smirk, shook hands with bona fide teen-ager (and ``Billy Elliot'' star) Jamie Bell. Jennifer Lopez, in a two-tone silver Chanel gown with a see-through top, schmoozed with Charlton Heston. And Donald Trump and Michael Douglas compared their hot dates.

The gentlemen of the Oscars always seem to get left out, but that's simply because there's not much you can do to spruce up a tux. A few standouts found a way. Ed Harris accented his penguin suit with a powder-blue tuxedo shirt. Samuel L. Jackson wore a long, black jacket, continuing his ``Shaft'' image.

Russell Crowe looked nothing like a ``Gladiator'' in a three-piece black suit with a long, sleek jacket and paper rose in his pocket. Benicio Del Toro stood out, too, but not because of his fashion sense. The actor wore a simple black tux, but his signature smirk and cool-as-I-wanna-be attitude stood out among the mass of black-and-white-clad bodies.

Like always, some stars like to show off a bit too much, whether it be skin or a wacky style. Icelandic singer Bjork arrived in a white, feathery dress in the shape of a swan.

Sigourney Weaver plucked an overgrown flower to accent her bright red gown by Galiano. Singer CoCo Lee wore a black Chanel tube dress striped like a rainbow down the front.

Joaquin Phoenix showed off in a different way. Accompanied by his mother, he was in Armani but his mood was anything but formal. Playfully, he leaped in the air, giving high fives to fans hanging over the railings in front of the bleachers.

The crowd-pleasing gesture left him with shirt untucked and hair tousled as he approached the line of reporters. Phoenix, nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ``Gladiator,'' tidied himself up by running a brush through his short 'do.

``There,'' he said, getting a chuckle from his interviewers.

Sandra Barrera contributed to this story.

CAPTION(S):

15 photos

Photo: (1 -- 3 -- color) Best Actress nominee Laura Linney (``You Can Count on Me''), left, arrives at the Shrine Auditorium. Best Actress nominee Julia Roberts (``Erin Brockovich''), above, walked off with the award. Jennifer Lopez, right, appeared as a presenter.

(4 -- color) Best Actress nominee Ellen Burstyn (``Requiem for a Dream'') and Best Supporting Actress nominee Kate Hudson (``Almost Famous'') stroll the red carpet together.

(5 -- color) Joan Allen, left, who was nominated for Best Actress for ``The Contender,'' arrived in floor-length style at the awards ceremony Sunday night.

(6 -- color) Best Actor winner Russell Crowe (``Gladiator'') was almost incognito upon his arrival.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

(7 -- color) Singer-composer Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, arrive at the awards show.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

(8 -- 9 -- color) Michael Douglas and his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones (``Traffic''), above, arrive on the red carpet. Sigourney Weaver, right, star of ``Heartbreakers,'' the weekend box-office winner, appeared as a presenter during the ceremonies.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

(10 -- color) Singer CoCo Lee, left, presented the song ``A Love Before Time'' from ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.''

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

(11 -- color) Renee Zellweger, arriving at the awards, presented the scientific and technical awards.

(12) Best Supporting Actor nominee Joaquin Phoenix (``Gladiator'') escorts his mother, Heart, down the red carpet.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

(13 -- 15) Last year's Best Supporting Actress winner Angelina Jolie, above, served as a presenter at Sunday night's awards. Left, Best Supporting Actress co-nominees Frances McDormand and Kate Hudson were both nominated for ``Almost Famous.'' Willem Dafoe, below, was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for ``Shadow of the Vampire.''

John McCoy/Staff Photographer