Hollywood's Red Carpet and Kodak Theater were filled with stars on Sunday, February 27th 2005. Nominees, guests and award presenters arrived at the 77th Academy Awards wearing their best hand-made couture, borrowed gowns, rented and owned tuxes. Only a few went home with the coveted golden Oscar, but all who were nominated had the look of Academy Award winners.

Rich, luxurious fabrics were used to create sumptuous, sophisticated attire that captured the attention of 41.5 million people in the United States who watched from their televisions.

3,300 members of the academy and celebrated stars were shining brightly inside the Kodak Theater on Sunday night.

Rugged Elegant Living has selected the best-dressed men, women and couples who looked ravishing, and who embody the healthy, adventuresome, soulful spirit we look to celebrate.

The winners "in our book" include:

Best Dressed, Most Rugged Elegant Men at The 2005 Oscars

Host Chris Rock & His PWC Entourage

Chris Rock, the host of the show looked as sharp as his jokes sounded.

Even better than his tux was his opening line. Rock said, "Welcome to the 77th and last Oscars."

Before Chris began to rock the house with his quips, he received a standing ovation from his audience.

Almost two hours into the three-hour show, Rock said he had some "Oscar business" to do.

The comedian introduced two seven-feet-tall Price-Waterhouse Coopers "Jewish accountants" dressed in black tuxes, white shirts, red bow ties, black hats and black shades. Both well-dressed thugs carried a briefcase. Their mock introduction was one of the most fun-filled moments of the night.

Oscar Winner Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx, the tenth person to be nominated in both categories (Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor) in the same year, not only looked stunning in his midnight blue suit by Ozwald Boateng and blue shades, he gave one of the best acceptance speeches of the night.

On the Red Carpet, Foxx spoke of all the love that was hidden underneath the bottom of the earth for Ray Charles. He said, "We cracked it open with this movie, and now it is spilling out everywhere."

At the tail end of his acceptance speech, he got choked up speaking about his grandmother who used to whip him. She obviously "whipped him good."

Double Oscar Winner, Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood, who wore an Emerald green bow tie with his black tux, looked like a kid compared to his 96 year-old mother who sat behind him in the audience. His classic black tuxedo was made by Giorgio Armani. His bow tie was an ode to his film's Irish roots.

Clint's mother watched as her son received the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Motion Picture of the Year. Million Dollar Baby also received awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.

Oscar Winner, Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman wore his Oscar well and the yellow sash that went with it. His tux was created by Richard Tyler.

Freeman was the recipient of the Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Million Dollar Baby, a brilliant movie about pursuing your dreams at all costs.

Jamie Foxx & Morgan Freeman

Jamie Foxx and Morgan Freeman, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor award-winners at the Oscars looked stunning paired with their golden trophy.

Red Hot Robin Williams

Robin Williams' red shirt was as hot as his jokes during his presentation of the best animated feature film during the 77th Academy Awards.

The popular actor and comedian's moment on stage took a turn for the more tame when the producers of the show asked him to tone down his political and sexual remarks.

If you were wondering why he wore tape over his mouth when he first walked onto center stage, it was a message to ABC related to their squelching his freedom of speech.

The show went on ...

Celebrating the living dead of Botox Land, he said "Animation characters are becoming ever more expressive and alive - unlike Joan Rivers ..."

"They tell me now that SpongeBob is gay," said Williams. "SquarePants is not gay. Tight pants maybe. SpongeBob Hot Pants? You go, girl!"

The Incredibles won the animation award beating out A Shark's Tale and Shrek 2.

The Incredibles will be released on DVD and VHS on March 15th in a two-disc Collector's Edition set.

Martin Scorcese

Martin Scorcese did not take home the Best Picture or Best Director Award having led the creation of the Aviator. But he had a winning smile all night long.

Best Actor nominee, Leonardo DiCaprio spoke highly of Scorcese on the Red Carpet. DiCaprio said:

He understands so much about the history of cinema.

Certainly, nobody has tackled character drama like he has in film.

Nobody has been able to put complex characters like that up on screen, and actually have you be sympathetic towards them and care about them the way Martin Scorcese has.

Samuel Jackson, who presented the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay to Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth for Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind was also a knockout.

Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom, who co-starred with two-time Oscar nominated Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean and with Brad Pitt in Troy was a presenter on Sunday night. He wore a one-button peak lapel tuxedo with a formal vest.

On the Red Carpet, Orlando was asked which actor most inspired his work. Bloom's answer: Paul Newman.

In response to the question, "Why does everyone admire Johnny Depp so much?" Bloom said:

He just has so much integrity as an actor.

He's never gone for the money or sold-out in any way. He's always maintained his integrity as an actor.

Oscar-nominated Actor, Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle and Jamie Foxx had two things in common at the 77th Annual Academy Awards. They were both nominated for the Best Actor Oscar and they both wore Ozwald Boateng.

Best Dressed, Most Rugged Elegant Women at The 2005 Oscars

Hilary Swank

Most of the women wore sleeveless gowns to the Academy Awards. Not Oscar winner Hilary Swank. She went backless.

Hilary Swank, the first female to earn an Oscar for playing the role of a boxer, wore a long sleeved midnight blue gown by Guy Laroche.

Swank said, "I knew that it would be a little chilly out today."

Her arms stayed warm but her back was beautifully bare.

Swank's Academy Award was a repeat performance from the award she received in 2000 for Boys Don't Cry. However, her presence on Sunday was as unique as the role she played in F.X. Toole's story called Million Dollar Baby.

At the beginning of her acceptance speech, she said, " I don't know what I did in this life to deserve all of this. I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream."

You've come a long way, Million Dollar Baby!

Annette Bening looked stunning standing alone and with her handsome husband, Warren Beatty. Bening was nominated for best actress for her role in Being Julia. She wore a Prive couture black jersey long-sleeved gown with a portrait neckline by Giorgio Armani.

Sophie Okonedo

Sophie Okonedo wore white and a beautiful smile to the Oscars even though she did not win the award for which she was nominated.

Her Best Supporting Actress nod for her role in Hotel Rwanda was every bit award deserving. So was her gown, which was made by Rochas.

Laura Linney

Laura Linney wore J. Mendel to the Oscars. She carried a gorgeous purse and high hopes of winning an Academy Award as this year's Best Supporting Actress for her role in Kinsey.

Sophie Okonedo & Laura Linney

After the Oscars, Best Supporting Actress nominees Sophie Okonedo and Laura Linney posed together at the Vanity Fair post-Oscars party at Morton's in West Hollywood, California.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow looked stunning in a nude silk and cotton voile corset strapless gown made by her friend Stella McCartney.

On Sunday, Paltrow presented the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar to Espana.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry, who won a Best Actress Oscar in 2002, was also a presenter at the 2005 Academy Awards. She wore vintage Atelier Versace.

Halle Berry, is always on the best-dressed list, and once again did not disappoint with her silvery taupe silk and textured gown.

On the Red Carpet she was asked what advice she would give to others about what to wear. Her response: "Know your own body. Wear what looks good on you."

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron wore a soft blue textured Christian Dior gown this year. Her gown was designed by John Galliano.

Charlize presented the 77th Annual Best Actor Academy Award to Jamie Foxx.

Gisele Bundchen

Gisele Bundchen, in a white Christian Dior gown, came to the awards ceremony to support her boyfriend of five years and to hold his hand. Bundchen's boyfriend, Leonardo DiCaprio, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a leading role. DiCaprio owned his role as Howard Hughes in The Aviator.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett said it was easy to choose her couture gown. Valentino made the one-shoulder pale yellow silk taffeta gown for her. "I just loved it," she said. Her gown went beautifully with the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award she took home. The award was for her role as Katharine Hepburn in the Aviator.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts, in a black gown that showed off her new role as the mother of twins, presented the Oscar for Best Director to Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby

Ziyi Zhang

Ziyi Zhang wore an exquisite black Chantilly lace gown with hand-tufted lace and tulle skirt by Monique Lhuillier. Her dress and neck were accented with jewels by Bulgari.

Halle Berry & Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey glittered in gold on Sunday.

She wore a hand-embroidered, off-the-shoulder gown with a tiered skirt by Vera Wang. Stunning!

Oprah Winfrey with Hilary Swank

If I could have worn one gown to this year's Oscars it would have been Oprah's. Perhaps she'll auction it off for charity as she has done with previous gowns.

Oprah and Hilary

Reuters' photographer Lucy Nicholson captured Oprah's svelte figure next to the Million Dollar Baby, Oscar award-winning actress, Hilary Swank.

Both women looked swank. In Webster's that is defined as "elegance by virtue of being fashionable."

Beyonce

Beyonce Knowles was the only one to wear four gowns on Sunday. She performed three times during the show.

Down the Red Carpet she wore diamond earrings and a black silk velvet body-hugging strapless "Siren" gown by Versace. Her earrings were designed by Lorraine Schwartz.

Catalina Sandino Moreno

Catalina Sandino Moreno, the Colombian actress arrived at the 77th annual Academy Awards with hopes of receiving a Best Actress award for her role in Maria Full of Grace.

Catalina wore Italian fashion designer, Roberto Cavalli.

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek came dressed to the Academy Awards in a beautiful, textured midnight blue gown by Prada.

Emmy Rossum

Emmy Rossum dressed in a burgundy Ralph Lauren gown. Her diamond necklace and matching earrings came courtesy of Harry Winston.

Natalie Portman

While Natalie Portman's Lanvin gown was not our favorite of the night, this photograph taken by Chris Pizzello captured Portman's beautiful brown eyes.

Cate Blanchett & Kate Winslet

Congratulations to Badgley Mischka for dressing Kate Winslet so beautifully. Congratulations Kate for wearing Badgley Mischka so well.

At the time of this post, 38,728 BBC readers ranked the Best Dressed Women at the 2005 Oscars as follows:

Hilary Swank - 21.14%

Hilary Swank

Kate Winslet - 18.58%
Halle Berry - 16.37%
Cate Blanchett - 11.99%
Beyonce Knowles - 8.86%
Catalina S Moreno - 6.23%
Sophie Okonedo - 5.12%
Natalie Portman - 5.03%
Scarlett Johanssen - 4.96%
Oprah Winfrey - 1.76%

Stuart Weitzman Shoes

The "Best Shoes" of the night were worn by actress Regina King, from the motion picture Ray.

King's shoes were created by celebrity shoe designer Stuart Weitzman. Weitzman used diamond earrings once owned by the late actress Marilyn Monroe.

Best Dressed, Most Rugged Elegant Couples

Annette Bening & Warren Beatty

Stuart Townsend & Charlize Theron

Stuart wore a Gucci tuxedo. Charlize wore a Christian Dior gown by John Galliano.

Johnny Depp & Vanessa Paradis

Johnny wore a custom shawl collar blue tuxedo, which he said was made "locally" for him. His partner Vanessa wore a Chanel gown.

Keely Shaye Smith & Pierce Brosnan

Corinne Foxx & Her Oscar Winning Dad, Jamie Foxx

Taylor Hackford & Helen Mirren

Ray Producer and Director, Taylor Hackford wore a tuxedo designed by Ozwald Boateng. His wife, Helen Mirren wore a gorgeous Badgley Mischka gown.

Kim Porter & Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs

Combs' tuxedo is from his own line of clothing. His girlfriend Kim wore a gown made by designer Zac Posen.

Jake Gyllenhaal in Valentino and sister Maggie in Prada

Leonardo DiCaprio & Gisele Bundchen

Oscar nominated actor, Leonardo DiCaprio came to the Academy Awards with his girlfriend, Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen. He wore a Prada tux. Leonardo did not receive the Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Aviator, but he went home with one of the most beautiful women on the planet.

Oscar

Draped in gold, Oscar also got our nod on Sunday for one of the most "rugged elegant" of the night. Especially after he landed in the arms of actors like Hilary Swank and Jamie Foxx.

77th Academy Awards Nominees

Oscar also stood out at the photo shoot amidst this year's Academy Award nominees.

Congratulations to all of the 2005 nominees and winners!

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful "best-dressed, red carpet" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegant Living publisher

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