Amidst the mile-long trains and the gravity – defying necklines, the fashion police was circling like a hawk, ready to dole out hefty fines to the slackers. Between Naomie Harris’ wannabe Jolie act and Salma Hayek’s gilded horrors, the offenders’ list was pretty crowded, indeed:

Jennifer Aniston: The former Friends star channelled her Rachel Green look, (surprise, surprise!) and took to the red carpet in a lush, flush skirted Valentino gown which she complemented with nude makeup and a loving fiancé attached to her arm. The tomato red of the gown meant that she frequently got mistaken for the red carpet, but hey, anything that gets her out of those endless black gowns gets our vote.

Anne Hathaway: The Le Miserables actor quirkily defined her gown as, ‘business in the front, party in the back,’ but the dynamics got seriously reversed with the puckered bustline and the inappropriately positioned darts leaving little to the imagination. A parody Twitter handle was set up in ode to her prominent bosom and elsewhere, the Twitter Gods heaved a sigh of relief that yet another Academy Award show was going on the right track.

Naomie Harris: Jostling with Angelina Jolie for the numero uno spot in the leg show department, Skyfall actress Naomie Harris’ risqué waist high split made for the first fashion casualty of the night. The eco – friendly gown, which was designed by a Ghanian design student out of recycled materials, served a cause alright - The waiting paparazzi was rewarded with an eyeful each time Naomie moved.

Melissa McCarthy: Award ceremonies have the tendency of dragging on, but actress Melissa McCarthy had all eventualities covered; the actress showed up in a non-descript gown sewn out of jersey material that looked perfect for a short snooze during the lengthy speeches. And to make sure that she was comfortable, she even trailed her black blankie along!

Salma Hayek: Husband Francois Pinault may have Gucci, Stella McCartney, Yves Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen waiting at the snap of a finger, but Salma Hayek went frugal and scrimmaged at the back of her wardrobe for this velvety eyesore that screamed, ‘vamp in shining armour.’ On the bright side though, between the gilded collar and the tight updo, she had a recruitment offer for a Vegas showgirl waiting at her desk before the night was done. 

Image credit: Getty Images, Huffington Post