Oscars: Red carpet highs and lows

So that was it: the Oscars 2010. After months of hype and countless column inches, the prizes have been handed out, the red carpet rolled away and now the skinny starlets can start eating carbs again.

The red carpet was a bit of a snooze fest, although I tend to feel that way every year.

There was certainly nothing shocking, no Bjork in a swan dress or Celine Dion in a backwards suit, and nothing particularly memorable either.

The strapless column dress count seemed especially high this year, with most actresses - and let's face it, most of us only really care about what the women are wearing, as sexist as that may seem - keeping it simple and safe. Which is very much a reflection of the state of the fashion industry right now, so not at all surprising.

What shocked me the most wasn't Charlize Theron's boob roses, but the fact that a woman has never won best director before. Really?

But just as an Oscars red carpet wouldn't be complete without strapless gowns and jewels, no Oscars coverage would be complete without a best and worst dressed list. Here's the Viva point of view - what did you think?

HIGH FIVE

Carey Mulligan in Prada

She is adorably awkward, and always looks as though she would rather be anywhere else than the red carpet. A black strapless dress could be boring, but it's given an edge of whimsical quirkiness with teeny tiny knives and forks embroidered onto it. Apparently US Vogue editor Anna Wintour advised her to "go short", so maybe the shorter hemline in the front is a reference to that. She looks lovely, although a lesson on good posture would serve her well.

Maggie Gyllenhall in Dries Van Noten

I love Maggie and I love the dress, but I can't stop looking at the creases near her crotch. It's the Oscars red carpet, where was her stylist before she stepped out of her car? Although I can imagine she is the type of woman who wouldn't really care about creases, and that is why I love her.

Zoe Saldana in Givenchy

The Avatar star is going to get slated for this purple dress, with people already likening it a toilet roll cover and a whole bunch of loofahs, but I like it - it reminds me of those dolls with massive tulle skirts that Mums used to put on top of their little girls' birthday cakes.

Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta

She usually looks like she's just come from the beach, but looked very glamorous this year in a full skirted, gold strapless number. A fairy princess dress.

Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Lopez in Armani Prive

Uh oh, someone's stylist is going to get fired! They're not exactly the same but too similar for the Oscar red carpet. Amanda looks beautiful, but no one should try and compete with Jenny from the Block, even when she's wearing a dress that looks like bubble wrap.

BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME

Anna Kendrick in Elie Saab

Beige, blah. She looks fine, pretty but boring. She went for a dress that wouldn't get her on any worst dressed lists, and succeeded. But she's young, it would be nice to see her try something fresh and interesting.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Chanel Couture

At first glance I liked this, but then felt like something was a little off - it's the hair, the harsh eye makeup and the awkward placement of the flowers on her chest. It's Chanel Couture, from a collection that I really loved, so I want to like it, but I really can't.

Charlize Theron in Christian Dior

She must be joking, surely? It's like she decided to channel an Austin Powers fembot, albeit in a much classier way.