Sandra Bullock dressed the part at Sunday's Academy Awards: She wore a gleaming metallic slim-fitting gown that seemed fashioned after the Oscar statuette itself.

The dress, like best actress Bullock, was a winner, making her one of many who stepped up their style on what is considered Hollywood's most important runway. Top actresses made bold color choices, donned stiffer shapes and used sparkle strategically to get them noticed.

"This red carpet was whimsical, thank God. It was the most interesting red carpet in a long time," said Suze Yalof Schwartz, Glamour magazine's executive fashion editor at large. "You want to see a dress that makes you say 'Wow!' and I saw at least six of those."

There had been a trend in recent years to make safe choices at the Oscars, with celebrities knowing that the photos taken there would follow them for the rest of their lives. But there was a refreshing sense of fun -- and some directional fashion -- this year.

"We're moving into architectural shapes and away from all the drapery. There were not a lot of `goddesses' this year," observed Sharon Graubard, senior vice president of trend analysis at forecasting firm Stylesight. "This was about glamour, very tasteful, grown-up glamour."

A few looks seemed sure to generate chatter because they weren't standard-issue, red-carpet styles. Jennifer Lopez's sculpted, strapless pale-pink Armani Prive had a dramatic slit on one side and an exaggerated modern train that jutted out from her hip. Armani said the dress was inspired by the romance and mystery of the moon.

Charlize Theron also had a futuristic vibe in her amethyst gown by John Galliano for Dior with two folded rosettes not on the bustline but on the bust itself.

"Charlize's dress was really dramatic," said Stephenson. "Love it or hate it, you want to talk about it."

Carey Mulligan's full-skirted black Prada was adorned in unusual embroidery: tiny forks, knives and scissors. She said she didn't choose it to make a statement.

"I just thought it was really cool," she told the AP. "It's not a dress where I have to wear Spanx or anything, so I'm good."

Her earrings were 19th Century cascading diamond pendants by Fred Leighton.

Another fashion-forward look was Zoe Saldana's Givenchy gown with a sparkly light pink bodice and a lilac skirt that descended into tight ruffles in all shades of purple. Queen Latifah's one-shoulder Badgley Mischka was a lovely shade of pink and the mermaid shape "is the right way to dress a curvy woman," said Yalof Schwartz.

Vera Farmiga said her magenta fan-pleat strapless gown by Marchesa "reminds me of a flower in bloom." Her "Up in the Air" costar Anna Kendrick's blush-colored Elie Saab wasn't her first choice, but it was the right one, she said. "It's so young and pretty and it fits me so well."

Meryl Streep did an unexpected turn in bright white gown with a deep V neckline. Yalof Schwartz loved it. "With Meryl Streep, you used to not look at what she wore, but she's embracing fashion now."

Tina Fey, who scored a few fashion "don'ts" earlier this year, was much improved in her black, one-shouldered, leopard-lace Michael Kors.

Maggie Gyllenhaal wore something rarely seen on the awards circuit -- a print. The blue-black-and-white gown by Dries van Noten had a tropical vibe.

"I love his clothes. They're sexy and unusual. He designed my wedding dress," she said. Her husband, Peter Sarsgaard, wore the tuxedo he bought for their wedding -- designed by Tom Ford.

Rachel McAdams went the print route, too. Hers was a draped strapless in dusty shades of blue and gray. Nicole Richie's multicolored sequin gown by Reem Acra kept to the vintage vibe she favors, but was quite covered up compared to the rest of young Hollywood.

Not surprisingly, Kristen Stewart wore a midnight blue gown by Monique Lhuillier with a sculpted bodice and draped trumpet skirt. Mariah Carey seemed a little tame in her navy dress, but she promised that the slit on her Valentino would blow wide open if the wind kicked up.

But in fashion, it was Bullock going for the gold, said designer Patricia Field, who called it "simple, classy -- it looked good on her."