The Oscar gowns went hyper-femme this year: big ball gowns, strapless necklines, and floaty fabrics were the trends of the evening. This made for a few very pretty gowns, but no real standouts: I doubt I’ll be able to recall what anybody was wearing in a year’s time. And where were the colors? Dull silver was the hue every other woman seemed to be sporting, without even much bling to give it a little life. Quite a few actresses did wear red — and some luscious shades of it, at that — but there was very little in the way of variety. Overall, 2010 was a weak year for Oscar gowns.

That said, there were some notable contenders:

Gown of the Night: Anna Kendrick

Kendrick’s neo-Victorian number is loveliness itself. The off-the-shoulder neckline combined with delicate draping suggests a disheveled nymph, while the lace-trimmed slit adds a hint of flirtation, saving the gown from being too pretty-princess. It’s not often you see such an overtly feminine dress on the red carpet. I find it strangely refreshing in this era of deconstruction and bold statements. And I don’t even like pink.

A Close Runner-Up: Penelope Cruz

Count on Penelope to bring the glam! Her claret-colored gown brought a welcome shot of color to a drab Oscars. It relied on draping alone, without any extraneous detail for its impact, and yet appeared big and bold on that stage.

The Other Best-Dressed Women:

Cameron Diaz

Dia’s gown was the night’s best take on the Cinderella trend. Check out the cut of that skirt! You know she had fun twirling around in it. The encrusting of bling also helps lift the dress out of Neutral Blandsville, and her hair is gorgeous, too. Well played, Miss Diaz.

Rachel McAdams

McAdams’s swoop of a dress was very Monet-garden-party. The little criss-crossing effect of the bodice is lovely, though the print did look murky when the lighting wasn’t right for it.

Carey Mulligan

Mulligan made a statement through her adorable shoes, her hemline ideally cut for showing them off. Love those shoes. Love ‘em. I have a feeling she bought the shoes first, and then picked a gown that would go with them. But the dress is nice, too, with just enough sparkle to keep it from being drab. Her dangly chandelier earrings complete what’s the best overall ensemble of the night.

Kathryn Bigelow

Bigelow’s simple but chic column dress was flattering and effortless — and suggested her status as a serious director at the same time.

Kristen Stewart

I like this dress against my better judgment. Yes, the Twilight teens have no business being at the Oscars, and, yes, Stewart was so affectless as a presenter she might well have been one of the undead, but her dress still pretty much rocked. The midnight-blue raven’s wing sheen suggested the Goth nature of her movie, while the train draped beautifully.

Honorable Mentions:

Vera Farmiga

This fun, Barbie doll dress doesn’t quite work, but its rich raspberry shade is a treat for the eyes, and I can’t totally dislike any gown that was inspired by nudibranch eggs.

Sandra Bullock

The embroidery on the bodice of Bullock’s gown was exquisite, and I must add that her hair was lovely, but otherwise her outfit is pretty but meh.