The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat (the groping paws of an overzealous fashion guru). This age-old adage seemed particularly fitting at the 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awardsa star-studded night of dazzling highs, devastating lows, and a vast middle ground of whatever. But were not talking statuettes here; were talking style. And if the Globes are any indication of what we can expect to see at next months Oscars, most celebs will play it safe, sticking with timeless silhouettes and tried-and-true colors. Still, as the following ensembles prove, anything can and will happen on the red carpet.

Best in Show

Ladies in black stole the show, accounting for three of the evenings strongest ensembles. The perennially chic Rene Zellweger was stunning in an asymmetrical, slit-to-there silk chiffon gown by Carolina Herrera. The coup de grace? A vintage Van Cleef & Arpels brooch fastened off-center (as fashionistas should heretofore demand) on one of the gowns back straps. Charlize Theron, another red-carpet favorite, looked lovely in not-so-basic black. Her flirty Dior frocka short nude slip with black lace overlaymightve landed another wearer on Mr. Blackwells, but Theron pulled it off with panache, dressing up the skimpy shift with a glittering Cartier bracelet. Rounding out the colorless trio was Natalie Portman in vintage Chanel: The strapless, ribbon-belted dress, worn without jewelry, looked as if it were made for the ingenue, who scores extra points for sporting the pixiea hairstyle only the prettiest of stars can wear with aplomb.

Equally popular, white yielded an array of romantic styles. One of the nights biggest winners, Felicity Huffman, bested the field in a Grecian goddess Marchesa gown with shirred bust and beaded straps. Equally luminous was Kate Beckinsale in an angelic floor-length Dior dress with ruffled neckline and dramatic tiered hem (although her oversize emerald drop earrings were widely criticized, we thought it added a funky edge to an ensemble that might have otherwise looked old-fashioned). In a sea of formfitting silhouettes, Sandra Oh was especially stunning in a sophisticated off-white Collette Dinnigan gown with draped back. Although we werent enamored with Keira Knightleys tassled rope belt, she was a vision nonetheless in a crisp white Valentino with vintage Cartier jewelry (the baubles alone were reportedly worth an estimated $3 million). And while the very-pregnant Gwyneth Paltrow was condemned far and wide for her fashion choice, we thought she looked lovely in her creamy lace Balenciaga.

Just when the evening looked completely devoid of color, several stars pulled out all the stops in a rainbow of eye-catching hues, the most vibrant of which was Ziyi Zhangs ethereal lime green Armani with floor-sweeping train. Evangeline Lilly looked fresh and radiant in an emerald-green Empire-waist Elie Saab, while Rachel Weisz glowed in a bronze Donna Karen, proving that pregnancy dresses needn't be boring. Desperate Houswives Eva Longoria and Nicolette Sheridan both redeemed themselves from past red-carpet transgressions in a red wrap Bob Mackie gown and elegant navy Armani dress, respectively. Kyra Sedgwick sported a surprisingly chic chocolate-brown Bottega Veneta, while Emmy Rossum, who rarely hits a wrong note, looked charming in a diaphanous mocha Dior number (we also adored the red Celine frock she wore a week earlier at the Critics Choice Awards).

Fire the Stylist

But like all good things, the sartorial splendor came to an end, and most of the evenings worst missteps could be blamed on golden globes of a different sort. Perhaps most baffling was Pamela Andersons slingtastic Bill Blass, which emphasized, rather than minimized, the bombshells paranormal proportions. Perky in image but apparently not in dcolletage, Drew Born Free Barrymore was a hot mess in jade Gucci sans much-needed support garment (a difficulty she shared with Lisa Rinna, who unwisely sported a crystal-encrusted gown cut to the waist). Apparently afflicted with the opposite dilemma, Scarlett Johansson was more bust than beauty in a gravity-defying red Valentino. Respectively poured into their second-skin Escada and Chanel gowns, Geena Daviss and Mariah Careys bordello-licious bosoms looked as if they were on the verge of explosion. (Both might have followed the lead of Queen Latifah, a larger woman than either, who consistently chooses figure-flattering dressesthat evening, a lovely Carmen Marc Valvo in rich teal.)

Cleavage conundrums werent the only reason some stars looked more radiant than ravishing, however. Good in theory, Heidi Klums Costume National gown ended up resembling a shapeless Project Runway reject, while Terri Hatchers glittering fishtail Versace somehow looked like stale Vegas stagewear. Mandy Moores black strapless number couldve been chic had it not been accessorized with a too-casual superlong string of beads. Debra Messing and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas each donned dresses that, while otherwise stylish, looked exceedingly laid-back for the red carpet. And finally, there was Reese Witherspoon: Not only did the vintage Chanel frock fail to fit the star properly through the bodice; it marked the fashion houses second dj-snafu of the evening (apparently, Portmans dress, like Witherspoons, was previously paraded on the red carpet by Kirsten Dunst).