Actress Nicole Kidman arrives for the 76th annual Academy Awards , Feb. 29, 2004. AP / File

The science of Oscar outfits

What some of Hollywood's most stylish stars wear on the red carpet - and why:

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Visit our special section for the latest Academy Awards news, profiles of actors and reviews of nominated movies. Go to the Oscars® section. Hilary Swank won the Oscar for her role in "Boys Don't Cry." AP / File Renee Zellweger wears Carolina Herrera as she arrives for the 76th annual Academy Awards on Feb. 29, 2004. AP / File Actress Halle Berry, wearing a gown designed by Elie Saab, waves as she arrives for the 74th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. AP / File Actress Uma Thurman arrives at the 76th annual Academy Awards in Feb. 29, 2004. AP / File Angelina Jolie arrives for the 76th annual Academy Awards on Feb. 29, 2004. AP / File

Nicole Kidman:

Bet on seeing her in Chanel this year: She created a "fashion moment" with her pink Karl Lagerfeld-designed Chanel at the 2002 Oscars, signed an endorsement deal for Chanel perfume in 2003, and wore a seafoam-green strapless Chanel to last year's Oscars.

Hilary Swank:

She wore a bronze Randolph Duke ballgown when she won her 2002 Oscar - but that was long before she became a lingerie model for Calvin Klein. Wore a sophisticated brown tank-style Calvin Klein that showed off her athletic figure to this year's Golden Globes.

Renee Zellweger:

Zellweger has been wearing Carolina Herrera on red carpets for the past few years, but the gown that first got her noticed by the fashion world was the vintage yellow Lily et Cie in 2001. There's no official relationship between Zellweger and Herrera - at least not publicly - but they seem to share a taste for clothes that are feminine but not fussy.

Halle Berry:

Had a fling with Valentino for early red-carpet appearances, but has favored Lebanese designer Elie Saab for the Oscars. The peek-a-boo floral gown Berry wore when she won best actress in 2002 put Saab on the map. Last year she wore a gold one-shoulder Saab. Berry is a cosmetics model for Revlon.

Uma Thurman:

Stars in new ads for Louis Vuitton and TAG Heuer watches, but is one of the few stars willing to take fashion risks. The lavender gown by Prada, a new designer at the time, that Thurman wore in 1995 is still considered one of the best Oscar looks. Last year's white-and-gold Christian Lacroix was more of a miss.

Angelina Jolie:

Always a wild card, Jolie wore a white goddess-style halter gown by Marc Bouwer to last year's Oscars. She's also worn a black Goth Versace dress that covered her almost head to toe, and a bright white Dolce & Gabbana fitted tuxedo. As a goodwill United Nations ambassador, she's frequently photographed wearing jeans, a T-shirt and no makeup.

--From the Friday, February 25, 2005 online edition of the Augusta Chronicle