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Rooney Mara, Maria Menounos, Milla Jovovich (Getty Images)

From Gwyneth Paltrow’s caped perfection to Cameron Diaz’s fitted gold dress, the 2012 Oscars were a sartorial sea of decadent dresses. Check out the top 20 dresses of the evening, as voted by StyleBistro readers!

20. Sandra Bullock in Marchesa

Sandra Bullock’s gilded gown at the 2010 Academy Awards may have been hard to top, but the funny gal made a valiant effort in this black-and-white gown. With the luxe gold detailing and a sexy draped back, it’s no surprise that this elegant gown made the cut.

19. Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji

Octavia Spencer has had quite the fashionable award season. The star nabbed the Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Help and making the night all the much sweeter, she was also voted as one of the best looks of the evening in this figure-flattering beaded gown.

18. Penelope Ann Miller in Badgley Mischka

It’s no surprise that Penelope Ann Miller channeled retro style, considering she was a part of the ensemble cast for the award-winning period film, The Artist. She showed off her hourglass figure in a halter gown complete with gold sequined detailing.

17. Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen

Known for her red carpet highs and lows, we were anxious to see what Jessica Chastain would wear on the red carpet. To our delight, the super sweet actress looked like a gold goddess in this imperial Alexander McQueen creation. The intricate gold embroidery paired with the ease of her tousled curls was style perfection.

16. Rooney Mara in Givenchy

We were glad to see Rooney Mara ditch the moody black frocks for the big night and you agreed! The breakout star of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was the center of attention in a mermaid gown by Givenchy. Blunt bangs and a red pout added rocker edge to the otherwise feminine look.

15. Berenice Bejo in Elie Saab

It was no surprise that Berenice Bejo would opt for an Elie Saab gown, considering the starlet was seated front and center at his recent couture runway show. We’re glad to see that she chose a look from his ultra-feminine collection, looking minty fresh in the opulent beaded gown.

14. Kristen Wiig in J. Mendel

There’s no doubt that Kristin Wiig loves neutral-hued frocks. While some of her past style choices have been fashion misses, the funny gal’s J. Mendel gown hit just the right note. The fitted bustier and tiered ruffles had our fashion hearts fluttering faster than you can say “Scorcese.”

13. Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton

Michelle Williams’s coral dress was a resounding favorite among the StyleBistro editors. We particularly loved the peplum detailing and whimsical bow brooch. Plus, her blond pixie cut practically has all of us racing to the nearest salon.

12. Stacy Keibler in Marchesa

From the moment we saw this Marchesa gown come down the runway, we knew it was destined to have a red carpet moment. George Clooney’s sexy boo, Stacy Keibler has just the right body for it. The sculpted detailing perfectly played up her statuesque figure, while the gold sheen worked wonders against her glowing complexion.

11. Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli

After Emma Stone’s uh-mazing Lanvin gown at the Golden Globes, we were on the edge of our seats to see what the fashion darling would turn up in. Fans loved Emma’s bright red gown, even if she did look a bit like a perfectly wrapped sartorial Christmas present.

10. Natalie Portman in Vintage Christian Dior

Critics may be divided on Natalie Portman’s vintage gown, but our readers were clear fans of the whimsical look. We particularly admired Natalie’s styling feat, pairing the girly polka dot dress with opulent jewels and a deep side-part.

9. Bingbing Li in Georges Chakra Couture

Bingbing Li looked like a feminine goddess in her fitted white gown. Fashion critics were gaga over the floral detailing and subtly sexy sheer panels. We particularly fell in love what that luxe feminine cuff bracelet.

8. Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

No stranger to fashion controversy (read: That infamous Versace gown at the 2000 Grammys), Jennifer Lopez showed off her famous curves in a fitted gown complete with striped detailing. The sexy plunging neckline even sparked an wildfire of a rumor on the interwebs, claiming that J. Lo had a nip slip while presenting on stage. Caliente indeed.

7. Giuliana Rancic in Tony Ward

Proving that Tinseltown is having quite the retro moment, Giuliana Rancic turned on the glamor in this sensational gown. Dripping with rhinestones, the dress simply oozed Old Hollywood style. Paired with that sleek ‘do, it’s no surprise this look made the top ten.

6. Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace

We get it, Angelina Jolie—your dress has a thigh-high slit. While we were hoping that Angie would opt for color, the queen of darkness donned a dramatic black gown that showed off her famous figure. Angie’s pose was such a hot topic, it even sparked its own twitter page.

5. Maria Menounos in Maria Lucia Hohan

As one of StyleBistro’s celebrity guest editors, Maria Menounos has a special place in our hearts. The television darling showed off her oh-so-fit figure in a draped chiffon gown that revealed just the right amount of skin with its peekaboo bodice.

4. Penelope Cruz in Armani Privé

Penelope Cruz always tops the Best Dressed lists. The Spanish starlet does it again in this periwinkle frock by Armani Privé. The off-the-shoulder detailing combined with the retro waves was red carpet perfection à la Grace Kelly.

3. Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford

Gwyneth Paltrow had style critics squealing with delight in this Tom Ford gown. The queen of GOOP looked like a fashion superhero in the draped white gown complete with a matching cape. There’s certainly no denying that she’s not afraid to take a red carpet risk.

2. Cameron Diaz in Gucci

StyleBistro readers were completely in love with Cameron Diaz’s pale gold frock and we can see why. The funny gal looked fresh and youthful in this fitted Gucci gown, with cascading ruffles adding just the right touch of glamor.

1. Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab

Milla Jovovich was the fashion dark horse of the night, beating out the night’s biggest stars in this white beaded gown by Elie Saab. The model-turned-actress looked positively heavenly in this one-shoulder gown perfectly paired with a short curly ‘do and bright red pout.

Also on StyleBistro:
Best and Worst Dressed at the 2012 Oscars

Hollywood’s elite brought out their most spectacular dresses for the biggest red carpet night of the year. See who sizzled and who fizzled at the 2012 Oscars.

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