Stars shine on Oscars red carpet as sun comes out

Cate Blanchett arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. AP

HOLLYWOOD – Hollywood’s A-list stars exuded subtle elegance and old-school glamor on the Oscars red carpet Sunday, as the sun came out just in time for Tinseltown’s biggest night of the year.

Lupita Nyong’o, a favorite to win the Oscar for best supporting actress for her searing turn in “12 Years a Slave,” rocked a sleeveless pale blue pleated Prada gown with a deep-V neckline – and a headband.

“It’s a blue that reminds me of Nairobi. I wanted to have a bit of home,” the Kenyan actress – who has become a darling of fashion critics during Tinseltown’s awards season – told E! television’s Ryan Seacrest.

Australian actress Cate Blanchett, the frontrunner for the best actress prize for her work in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine,” sported a gauzy bejeweled nude Armani gown.

“It’s heavy but I love it,” she said.

Fellow best actress nominee Amy Adams, who donned sparkling glam 1970s gowns with deep cleavage in “American Hustle,” was understated and flawless in a strapless deep blue Gucci gown with pocket flaps.

Adams admitted she wore her long red tresses in a bun because of the threat of rain, and told ABC the up-do was inspired by Kim Novak’s look in the Alfred Hitchcock classic “Vertigo.”

Her “American Hustle” co-star Jennifer Lawrence, who is competing against Nyong’o in the best supporting actress category, was striking in a strapless red Christian Dior peplum gown and slicked-back short hair.

In a scene mirroring her famed fall last year as she went up on stage to claim her best actress trophy for “Silver Linings Playbook,” Lawrence slipped on the red carpet Sunday.

For fashion and jewelry designers, having an A-list star show up on the Oscars red carpet in one of their creations is worth more than any print advertising — thanks to the global coverage of the awards ceremony.

Idina Menzel, who will perform the nominated song “Let It Go” from the Disney animated hit “Frozen” during the broadcast, wore a strapless hunter green Vera Wang gown with a sweetheart neckline and a long train.

Hollywood’s men, not to be outdone, had a few fashion statements of their own to make.

White dinner jackets were all the rage – Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto, both frontrunners to take home acting prizes for their roles in “Dallas Buyers Club,” adopted the trend.

McConaughey’s bow tie was black, while Leto’s was burgundy.

Leonardo DiCaprio, a best actor nominee for “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and Kevin Spacey, a producer of best picture nominee “Captain Phillips,” both sported blue tuxedos.

Pharrell Williams, a nominee in the best original song category for “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2,” sported a classic tuxedo jacket… and long shorts, designed by Lanvin.

Williams made waves at the Grammys in January in a huge Canadian Mountie-style hat designed by Vivienne Westwood.