You can't rain on our parade! Best Actress nominees Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore, Marion Cotillard and Felicity Jones bring the glamour to soaked Academy Awards red carpet in black and white
It's the biggest night on the Hollywood calendar, and the rain wasn't about to deter the stars from pulling out all the stops as the Academy Awards kicked off on Sunday at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
Tinseltown's elite navigated the soaked red carpet as they tried to avoid ruining their designer gowns, while a makeshift tented roof threatened to collapse on top of them and drops of water began falling through it.
Ushers and publicists were dressed in plastic rainwear and clutching umbrellas as they helped the stars out of their cars and to avoid puddles forming on the carpet, some of which were caused by a gap in between two sheets of tarpaulin that was fixed after several minutes.
Scroll down for video and full list of Oscar nominees...
Turning heads: Best Actress nominees (L-R) Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore, Marion Cotillard and Felicity Jones dazzled at the Academy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles
Despite the uncharacteristic wet weather for LA, the Best Actress nominees spent plenty of time posing for the cameras in their black and white creations, relishing the spotlight.
Reese Witherspoon, nominated for Wild, picked an off-the-shoulder icy blue Tom Ford gown with black velvet straps across the bust and waist.
The 38-year-old let the dress - which hugged her petite figure in all the right places - do the talking with understated jewellery and make-up, and wore her blonde hair in soft waves.
Julianne, who is the favourite to win for Still Alice, kept things relatively simple but still stunning in a strapless white custom Chanel sequined gown.
Accentuating her petite shape: Reese wore an icy blue gown by Tom Ford, which featured black velvet straps
Great to see you: Reese gave Felicity a warm welcome and friendly handshake as they ran into each other on the red carpet
Capturing the moment: The actress, nominated for Wild, couldn't resist snapping a selfie
The 54-year-old decided to keep her jewellery minimal, and swept her auburn tresses into a low bun. She polished off her look with winged black eyeliner and deep red lipstick.
'Karl Lagerfeld made it for me,' Julianne told Ryan Seacrest as she discussed her shimmering gown on the red carpet.
Marion picked an unusual white sequined Dior Couture creation with a polka dot layering over lace. The Two Days, One Night star turned every head in the number, which she teamed with a chic updo.
'Karl Lagerfeld made it for me': Julianne discussed her sequined custom Chanel gown, which she paired with deep red lipstick
Making sure she stands out: Marion picked an unusual Dior Couture white sequined gown
Gorgeous at every angle: The Two Days, One Night star twirled for the cameras as she walked the red carpet
Look out below!: Rain began falling through a makeshift tented roof, as workers did their best to catch it
Wet weather: Ushers and publicists were dressed in plastic rainwear and clutching umbrellas as they helped the stars out of their cars and to avoid puddles forming on the carpet
Meanwhile, Felicity Jones - who is competing against Marion - looked extremely elegant in a dramatic off-grey gown with detailed bodice and full, floor-sweeping skirt.
The theatrical but demure Alexander McQueen number was paired with a slick clutch and diamond earrings.
Also opting for a heavily embellished gown was last year's Best Supporting Actress winner, Lupita Nyong'o.
Theatrics: Felicity Jones, another Best Actress nominee, went all-out in an off-grey Alexander McQueen creation
Her time to shine: The British star is enjoying her first awards season, and teamed her elaborate gown with a slick clutch
The 12 Years A Slave star, who will present an award during the ceremony, dazzled in a pearl encrusted Calvin Klein Collection frock with low-cut neckline.
Patricia Arquette, meanwhile, looked gorgeous in a black and white asymmetrical gown designed by her childhood friend Rosetta Getty.
The 46-year-old actress, who is nominated in the best supporting actress category for Boyhood, was joined by her sister Rosanna on the red carpet who opted for a silky blue ensemble.
Muted dresses were a popular choice on the red carpet, with Cate Blanchett, Sienna Miller and Margot Robbie playing it safe in black gowns.
A stunning sight: Lupita Nyong'o dazzled in a pearl encrusted Calvin Klein Collection frock with low-cut neckline
Playing it safe: (L-R) Cate Blanchett, Sienna Miller (in Oscar de la Renta) and Margot Robbie (in Saint Laurent) wore black gow
The 30-year-old star looked stunning in a green ombre gown by Jenny Packham that looked part Grecian. A diamond buckled belt cinched her waist and showed off her incredible curves. Drop earrings in a turquoise color added even more of a color splash.
Team Arquette: Oscar nominee Patricia, left, looked gorgeous in an asymmetrical black and white number and was joined by sister Rosanna
Family affair: Patricia also posed for the cameras with her daughter Harlow Olivia Calliope while, right, her sister wore a silky blue gown
Hoping to win her first Oscar: Patricia, who is up for Best Supporting Actress, wore a gown designed by her childhood friend Rosetta Getty
Anna Kendrick, who will perform during the evening, went for a very elegant look, without stealing attention away from the nominees.
The Pitch Perfect star, who was up for a Best Supporting Actress nod in 2010 for Up In The Air, picked a stunning custom Thakoon gown in peach, which featured a keyhole cut-out and dazzling halterneck.
Jane The Virgin star Gina Rodriguez, who won a Golden Globe last month, picked a cobalt blue sustainable silk creation, supporting Suzy Amis Cameron's Red Carpet, Green Dress project.
Her go-to look: Another star who wore black and white was Meryl Streep, clad in a velvet maxi skirt and blazer with a delicate camisole
Smoking hot: Rosamund Pike highlighted her post-baby body in a form-fitting red lace gown with a split up the front
Old Hollywood glamour: Emma Stone looked breathtaking in a chartreuse Elie Saab gown with split up one side
Getting a lift: Jennifer Aniston swept the Best Supporting Actress nominee into her arms as they shared a hug
Making us blush: Jennifer, Zoe Saldana and Kerry Washington highlighted their figures in pale pink gowns
Louise Roe took a risk in an azul and white floral gown that had a long train. The 33-year-old star finished her look off with silver heels and a black clutch.
She often chooses pastel tones when on the red carpet, but Giuliana Rancic went with scarlet red that made her stand out at the Hollywood event of the year.
The 40-year-old TV star shared the carpet with her colleague Kelly Osbourne who went with black lace.
Stunning turn: Anna Kendrick was pretty in pink in a floor-length sleeveless gown
Ready for her close-up: Anna wore a custom Thakoon dress, complete with a bejeweled halter neck, earrings and ring
Keeping it simple but stunning: Dakota Johnson, who is presenting, teamed a red Saint Laurent gown with a ponytail
Famous family: The Fifty Shades Of Grey star brought her mother Melanie Griffith as her date for the evening
Later came Entertainment Tonight host Nancy O'Dell who looked flawless in a one-shoulder satin floor-length gown.
Kelly wore her lilac-colored hair in a quiff updo which made her face look trimmer. Red lipstick and long lashes gave her movie star pizzazz.
The 87th Annual event held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles has made room for some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Watts, Zoe Saldana, and Nicole Kidman to name but a few.
She loves to do voice work: American Ferrera told Ryan Seacrest that she had fun doing the voice for How To Train Your Dragon
Feminine: The beauty went with a strong color as well as she showed up at the event in a green Jenny Packham gown to support her nominated film How To Train Your Dragon 2
Blue belle: Jane The Virgin star Gina Rodriguez wore a cobalt sustainable silk gown as part of Suzy Amis Cameron's Red Carpet Green Dress project
All eyes on her: It was hard to believe it was the actress's first Oscars ceremony, as she worked the red carpet like a pro
Pulling out all the stops: (L-R) Lorelai Linklater, Jamie Chung and Robin Roberts made sure to stand out with embellished gowns
Last year's red carpet winner Lupita Nyong'o showed up as a presenter while Reese Witherspoon - nominated in the Best Actress category for Wild - was also doubling with presenting duties herself.
The event will see approximately 24 awards handed out to recipients in front of a star-studded crowd.
Hosting the event, for the very first time, was Neil Patrick Harris, who cut his emcee teeth by hosting the Tony awards four years in a row.
Black magic indeed: Kelly Osbourne looked ready for fun in this black lace dress with strappy shoes that looked out of an Old Hollywood film
Bling bag: The former reality star and now E! host showed off her ritzy clutch that had pink and yellow crystals on it
Showing off her model figure: Karolina Kurkova went for angelic glamour in this floor-sweeping cream creation
Julianne Moore is almost universally expected to win best actress for playing a professor suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's Disease in Still Alice.
Patricia Arquette is the favourite for best supporting actress as the mother in Boyhood.
Best actor is between Birdman star Michael Keaton and Britain's Eddie Redmayne as astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, while J.K. Simmons is tipped for supporting actor for jazz drama Whiplash.
Dapper gentlemen: Host for the evening Neil Patrick Harris looked suave in a grey tuxedo and was joined by husband David Burtka
Making sure he's ready for his close-up: David was seen fixing Neil's tie as they walked the red carpet
Dapper duo: Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka at Oscars
Golden couples: Andy Samberg was joined by wife Joanna Newsom (L), while Faith Hill and Tim McGraw arrived together
But the Best Picture race is another story.
The Academy Awards have traditionally favoured more independent, art-house fare for Best Picture, handed out at the climax of Hollywood's annual December-to-February awards season.
Birdman - about a washed-up superhero film star battling to revive his career on the stage - is definitely more along its usual lines, as is Boyhood, which took 12 years to make as the actors aged in real time.
A powerful look: TV host Nancy O'Dell looked like she was ready to have her portrait painted in her very elegant black satin gown that had one puffy shoulder
Back to glam: The 48-year-old Entertainment Tonight host showed off her backside as her diamond drop earrings sparkle
Both have fared well in pre-Oscars shows, with Boyhood taking the Golden Globes' best film, while Birdman won a string of awards including top prizes at the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America.
But Clint Eastwood's American Sniper has unexpectedly stirred up the race, grabbing headlines both for its massive box office success and a row over its portrayal of an Iraq war veteran.
Filmmaker Michael Moore claimed it hero-worships former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, while Tea Party firebrand and former vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin said leftists were 'not fit to shine Chris Kyle's combat boots.'
In a blue mood?: Louise Roe took a risk in this azul and white floral gown that had a long train. The 33-year-old star finished her look off with silver heels and a black clutch
Not a loco look: Mario Lopez of Extra wore a tailored black suit and tie while Canadian TV personality Thea Andrews went with royal blue; American Idol host Ryan Seacrest went for a bow tie
The question is, how many of the 6,000-odd voting members of the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the industry's elite body, will be swayed at this late stage?
There was a major uproar last month when Oscar nominations were announced, over the fact that every single one of the 20 acting nominees are white.
While Martin Luther King Jr movie Selma is among the eight Best Picture nominees, eyebrows were raised that neither its British star David Oyelowo nor director Ava DuVernay were shortlisted individually.
Not a demure look: Giuliana Rancic went with scarlet red that made her stand out at the Hollywood event of the year
Fierce and fabulous: The 40-year-old TV star looked trim in her body hugging dress; earlier she modeled a white on
Lady in red: TV personality Roshumba Williams looked great in this satin spaghetti strap gown
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2958930/Giuliana-Rancic-Kelly-Osbourne-kick-red-carpet-Academy-Awards-dramatic-looks.html#ixzz3SX6NWafr
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