Retro glam meets diva sparkle on Oscar night

LOS ANGELES -- It was like an Oscar flashback with all the Giorgio Armani gowns, Harry Winston bling and Veronica Lake waves on the red carpet Sunday.

Then there was a Sharon Stone Gap turtleneck moment, when Helen Hunt revealed that her navy blue gown was from none other than cheap chic retailer H&M. (Apparently it was a custom job.)

Naomi Watts' gown was futuristic, with all-over gun-metal gray sequins and galactic-inspired cap sleeves, while Jessica Chastain's coppery-nude sequin mesh gown was old Hollywood glam.

One of the biggest trends of the night? Icy, pale shades of the frothy, fairy-tale variety, namely Amy Adams' pale blue, frayed organza princess gown; Octavia Spencer's blush tulle; and Jennifer Lawrence's strapless pale pink-and-white bustier ball gown.

Charlize Theron's sculptural white silk peplum gown was more ice queen.

But my favorite was Zoe Saldana's belted, silvery gray dress with petal-like details on top and asymmetrical tiers on the bottom.

In a red carpet season in which everyone has been laser-focused on wardrobe malfunctions, Anne Hathaway came close to having one. Her icy pink duchesse satin column gown made her look like a modern-day Audrey Hepburn, but Hepburn probably would have worn another layer underneath to keep things from popping up.

Then there were the stars who turned on the diva sparkle; the 76-year-old Shirley Bassey in a "Goldfinger" gold gown, among them.

Halle Berry looked fierce in a Bond-girl-meets-glam-rock way, wearing a black-and-silver striped, long-sleeve creation.

Nicole Kidman's all-over black-and-gold beaded gown was more a modern art piece.

Jane Fonda, a diva in a class of her own, wore a canary-yellow corseted gown with strong shoulders, a deliciously retro throwback to the "Dynasty" era.

But let's be honest: What made this look really rock is Fonda's perennially toned physique. Truly old Hollywood at its best.