Bafta Awards 2010: The night we gave Oscar a doctrine in conform

It was wet. It was freezing. But my goodness, the dresses on the rather moist red carpet have given the Oscars a lot to live up to.

First, though, the inevitable nit picking. There was a lot of gloomy, funereal, ageing and drearily safe black, which was a shame when we all needed cheering up.

Kristin Scott Thomas looked severely beautiful in a black, beaded gown by Louis Vuitton, while Olivia Williams"s black jersey Catherine Walker was a tad too clingy.

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Long and dark: (L-R) Actresses Kate Winslet in a Stella McCartney gown and Tiffany diamonds, Meredith Ostrom and Joely Richardson in Catherine Walker

Trudie Styler"s tight black bodyconbandage dress only made her look pale and tired, while Erin O"Connor"sblack lace Louis Vuitton was ageing. More...The inside scoop: Read Baz"s blog from the BaftasBaftas 2010: My Prince Charming! Even Vanessa Redgrave bends her knee to WilliamBaftas 2010: Avatar loses out as James Cameron is scooped by his ex-wife Kathryn BigelowPAUL CONNOLLY: The BAFTAs show the Oscars how it should be done

We were crying out on such a greyand stormy night for an injection of colour, when at last along cameAudrey Tautou, breathtakingly pretty in sugary pink Lanvin.

Black and white: (L-R) Up In The Air star Vera Farmiga in Marchesa, Kristin Scott Thomas in Louis Vuitton and Olivia Williams in Catherine Walker

WICKED WHISPERS

St Trinian"s actress Tamsin Egerton"s zip broke moments before the red carpet, forcing her to switch outfits

There were the common big occasionmistakes: Red gowns on the red carpet (Anne Marie Duff, showing off herbump in scarlet Alberta Ferretti), too many women who resembled overdecorated Christmas trees (stand up Mrs Jonathan Ross, Jane Goldman, inleaf green satin with clashing red hair), too much make-up (KimberleyWalsh, you are not a drag queen).

There were far too many awful warmday coats over gowns and a great deal too many young stars, such asTwilight"s Kristen Stewart, in nude beaded Chanel, and Vera Farmiga, infar too weddingy Marchesa, who were lambs dressed as mutton: Hopelesslyold before their time.

Andbaby came too: Pregnant director Sam Taylor-Wood, with fianc� AaronJohnson, wore Alexander McQueen, while expectant actress Anne-MarieDuff wore Alberta Ferretti

Only one young star, Saoirse Ronan,luminous as Susie Salmon in The Lovely Bones, got it right: Deliciouslyfresh and simple in strapless Burberry Prorsum.

Too many women, too,chose difficult, clumpy shoes, which meant the procession along the redcarpet was cumbersome, with many clinging to the crash barriers.

All white: (L-R) Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright in silk Prada, Twilight leading lady Kristen Stewart in Chanel and Lovely Bones actress Saoirse Ronan, in Burberry

WICKED WHISPERS

Many stars admitted to wearing fur in the freezing conditions, including Kristin Scott Thomas in a mink shrug

But on the whole it was a fabulousnight for British fashion - even though the timing of the ceremony,in the middle of London Fashion Week, meant so many movers and shakerswere forced to miss shows by Vivienne Westwood, Aquascutum and JulienMacdonald.

Quite a few actresses, includingJaime Winstone, had chosen gowns by the late Alexander McQueen, whileBafta nominated director Sam Taylor Wood (with handsome toy boy in tow)chose one of his simple black lace gowns because: "There really was nodesigner to match him."

She added: "I managed to get into this, which was great....I just wish it wasn"t so cold."

Prettyand pale: Actresses Claire Danes in Burberry and Tiffany diamonds,Jaime Winstone in Alexander McQueen and Jodie Whittaker in vintage Giorgio Armani

Kate Winslet patriotically choseStella McCartney instead of her usual Yves Saint Laurent, JoelyRichardson was statuesque in a navy satin column by Catherine Walker,while that black bodycon worn by Trudie Styler was by none other thanVictoria Beckham.

Romola Garai wore a strapless floralhour glass cocktail by London designer Erdem (Sarah Brown"s favourite,and showing at Fashion Week on Monday).

Summer bright: Audrey Tautou in Lanvin, Anna Kendrick in Pucci and Romola Garai in Erdem

WICKED WHISPERS

The Bafta guests drank 1,500 bottles of Tattinger champagne, 1,750 of wine and 3,100 of beer

Cilla Black, yet another star tochoose black, made me laugh when she said, "What label am I wearing? Ihave no idea. I just put on something warm!"

But the last word goes to Tom Ford,newly bearded designer turned film director. How does the world of filmcompare with the world of fashion? "Um, it"s brainier."

And the biggest entourage and screamof the night? It belonged to Prince William. And we didn"t even carewhat label he was wearing.

Different looks: Trudie Styler in Victoria Beckham, Carey Mulligan in Vionnet and Jane Goldman in green satin

Mistakes: Kimberley Walsh looked too fussy in her Jenny Packham dress; Rebecca Hall in black Gianfranco Ferr� and Lynn Collins blends into the red carpet