The Top 5 Dress Trends at the SAG Awards

By Marni Elyse Katz
January 31, 2011

The parade of awards shows to the Oscars continued at last night's 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. While emerald and rosy corals were the shades of choice at the Golden Globes, actresses opted for a more basic palette of white, red, and black. Dresses at the SAG Awards were sleeker, with fewer ruffles and more belted looks. A few daring newbies pulled off major pizzazz—namely 14-year-old actress Hallie Steinfeld ("True Grit") who wore zippy striped Prada dress, and actress Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter’s Bone"), who wore a shocking pink Oscar de la Renta sheath with strappy shoulders—but the boldness came from color more than an overabundance of trendy dress design elements.

White Hot SAG Award Dresses

Natalie Portman (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images); Amy Adams (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic); Winona Ryder (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

The undisputed queen of awards season, Natalie Portman showed no sign of schizophrenia in regards to style at the SAG Awards. Natalie Portman looked as graceful last night in an Azzaro white column gown with silver detailing at the top as she did in the flowing Viktor & Rolf gown at the Golden Globes. Last night she paired her gown with $2 million of understated Tiffany & Co. jewels and a Roger Vivier black satin clutch.

Actress Amy Adams, who was nominated for her supporting role in "The Fighter," wore a white, Hervé L. Leroux bandage halter gown with Kimberly McDonald chandelier earrings. Her slicked-back pony tail lent a very Nicole Kidman-esque air.

Actress Winona Ryder, whose comeback has been spectacular, went slightly prom-y in a princess-style white SAG Awards dress with an exposed tulle petticoat by Alberta Ferretti.

Roll over items for details

Romantic Carlos Miele Silk Gown Dress

(buy it now price, $880.32)

BCBG Silk One Shoulder Grecian Gown

(buy it now price, $139)

A.B.S. White Silk Burnout Gown

(buy it now price, $144)

The Top 5 Dress Trends at the SAG Awards

Red Hot SAG Award Dresses

Julianna Marguilles, Mila Kunis, Tina Fey

Julianna Marguilies (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images); Mila Kunis (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images); Tina Fey(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

"The Good Wife" star, Julianna Marguilies, who won the award for best actress in a television drama, wore Yves Saint Laurent again. While her gown at the Golden Globes was a vintage pink and black number, last night, she wore a rich red strapless chiffon gown with a sweetheart neckline and oversize oval-shape Bavna rose-cut diamond earrings.

Natalie Portman’s sidekick, Mila Kunis, also nominated for "Black Swan", looked just as gorgeous in a red chiffon Alexander McQueen abstract print gown with a transparent sash. Mila Kunis accessorized with $300,000 worth of Cartier jewels, including a tiger bracelet.

Tina Fey, who was nominated for best actress in a television comedy for her role on "30 Rock", looked better than ever in a red lace Oscar de La Renta gown and platinum-and-diamond Lorraine Schwartz earrings and ring.

Melinda Eng Elegant Red Silk Tiered Dress

(buy it now price, $870)

Reem Acra Enchanting Red Silk Ball Gown

(buy it now price, $2,400)

A.B.S. Asymmetric Draped Silk Red Gown

(buy it now price, $210)

In the Nude

Hilary Swank, Kate Mara, Jenna Ushkowitz

Hilary Swank (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images); Kate Mara (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images); Jenna Ushkowitz (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Actress Hilary Swank, who was nominated for best actress for her role in "Conviction", looked as stunningly sleek as we’ve come to expect. She wore a bejeweled, one-shoulder Versace gown in nude, a color she says she hasn’t done before. She carried a VBH compact clutch.

Kate Mara of 127 Hours looks cuter in color. This nude-colored Herve Leger not only washed her out, but the design made no sense, with a corset-like top and fitted bodice that ends in odd geometric ruffles. And her headband looked more rag than SAG.

Glee’s Jenna Ushkowitz was one of the ruffle brigade as well, though with a softer treatment. Her strapless Badgley Mischka gown was flattering. A gold bib necklace added interest, though the cocktail rings overpowered, especially with the tiny jeweled minaudiere.

Marc Bouwer Glamit Silk Gown

(buy it now price, $710)

Elegant Strapless Champagne Jacquard Formal Gown

(buy it now price, $44.99)

Giambattista Valli Silk Evening Gown

(buy it now price, $558.60)

Belted Dresses

Claire Danes, Lea Michele, Mindy Kaling

Claire Danes (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images); Lea Michele (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images); Mindy Kaling (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Actress Claire Danes who won her third award last night for her portrayal of Temple Grandin on HBO (she also picked up an Emmy and a Golden Globe), wore a moody flowered gown by Louis Vuitton. The full style had hand-stitched silk flower appliqués and a leather belt that grounded it. Claire Danes accessorized her dark SAG Awards dress with sparkly 11-carat diamond earrings and vintage bracelets from Fred Leighton and Roger Vivier sandals.

Gorgeous Lea Michele of "Glee," who wore rosy pink to the Golden Globes, went slightly more sophisticated for the SAGs in a beaded Oscar de la Renta gown with spaghetti straps and skinny gold belt. She carried a Daniel Swarovski clutch and wore $1 million in Tiffany & Co. jewelry.

Mindy Kaling of “The Office” looked voluptuously gorgeous in a draped Tadashi Shoji silky, white gown with an asymmetric off-the-shoulder neckline and Wonder Woman-style silvertone belt.

Michael Kors Sleek Belted Long Dress

(buy it now price, $1,090)

Max & Cleo Belted Chiffon Strapless Gown

(buy it now price, $149)

St. John Elegant Knit Lace Belted Eve Gown

(buy it now price, $890)

Not So Basic Black

Nicole Kidman, Julie Bowen, January Jones

Nicole Kidman (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images); Julie Bowen (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images); January Jones (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nicole Kidman, who was a best actress nominee for "Rabbit Hole," did her usual statuesque style in a black, lace-backed Nina Ricci gown. The gown had a high lace neckline over which she layered a diamond and pink floral enamel necklace by Fred Leighton.

“Modern Family” actress Julie Bowen bucked tradition in a sleek, black Catherine Malandrino pantsuit with plunging neckline and low back. Matching Neil Lane diamond cuffs added dazzle. Apparently, she had originally tried on the outfit for the Emmys and had been wanting to wear it ever since.

January Jones of "Mad Men," wore a short-sleeved gold embroidered, Chantecaille lace Carolina Herrera gown, and accessorized with gold pumps by Roger Vivier and a Judith Leiber clutch. Her stylized updo matched the glamorous, if slightly busy, SAG Awards dress.