Wasn't I just praising jet hued gowns of Oscars past? Call it red carpet ESP, or a mere coincidence, but many ladies dared to go bold in noir colored gowns at this year's Oscars. Some of them I love â€" Penelope's feathery Chanel and Swank's embellished Versace â€" and some fell flat for me, mainly, Garner's ruffled Oscar de la Renta. Alas, these all have something in common: they're black, but far from boring.

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