2012 Oscars

The Academy Awards took over the Hollywood & Highland Center last night, and inside the venue major names like Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock mingled with George Clooney, Christopher Plummer and Michelle Williams. Michelle and her date, best friend Busy Philipps, snapped photos before Billy Crystal took the stage, while Brad and his partner, Angelina Jolie, chatted with friends from their front row seats. First time nominee Rooney Mara shared a hug with producer Harvey Weinstein and Sandra did her Gravity co-star George a favour by wiping lipstick from his face. There were tons of candid moments shared between the stars. Click through to see what happened in the audience during the Oscars!

The Governors Ball brought many of last night's Oscars winners together in LA. Meryl Streep, who'd just won her third Academy Award, celebrated her best actress honour for The Iron Lady alongside best supporting actress, The Help's Octavia Spencer. Bret McKenzie wasn't afraid of damaging the new statue he'd won for his songwriting featured in The Muppets. The gang from The Artist — new best actor Jean Dujardin, best director Michel Hazanavicius, and leading lady Bérénice Bejo — were in high spirits thanks to their best picture accolade. Owen Wilson's Midnight in Paris garnered a writing trophy for director Woody Allen, who skipped out on the ceremony. Nonetheless, Owen made the Governors Ball rounds before retiring to the Vanity Fair Oscars party.

Kristen Wiig and Emma Stone, who brought her brother, checked out the sushi and champagne on offer from the Governors Ball's many waiters. Many of the stars of The Descendants made the rounds, too, except George Clooney, since he hosted a bash elsewhere. Tony Bennett took the stage to serenade the assorted winners, who were able to get their trophies engraved right there at the party for the first time ever. Sandra Bullock, who won in 2010 with The Blind Side, popped in, too, giving her pal Meryl Streep a well-photographed hug.

Jennifer Lopez swapped one revealing dress for another as she moved from the Oscars to the Vanity Fair party at Sunset Tower yesterday. For the show, Jennifer wore a Zuhair Murad gown, with a similarly deep V-neckline as this sequinned number. J Lo faced possible nip slip controversy when she presented alongside Cameron Diaz at the Academy Awards, but Jennifer's stylist asserted that double-sided tape kept everything in order on stage. While Jennifer didn't bring her boyfriend Casper Smart onto the red carpet, the twosome did hook up for the exclusive VF bash.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes stopped for photos on their way inside Vanity Fair's Oscars bash in LA last night. Tom stuck with his suit while Katie chose a strapless embellished Elie Saab number and sported a fringe. Tom skipped the red carpet before the show, where he presented best picture to The Artist. He attended solo, though it looks like Katie decided to join him in celebrating Hollywood's biggest evening. Inside the event, Katie and Tom chatted it up with good friends Victoria and David Beckham, Natalie Portman, and more of their fellow celebrity attendees.

Makeup at the Oscars was a little more traditional in 2012, but that didn't stop Hollywood's finest from keeping up with the trends. Winged eyeliner is practically everywhere these days and it took the red carpet by storm at the year's most-anticipated red carpet event. Every other starlet seemed to be sporting her own version of the look and the shapes ranged from Jennifer Lopez's chic double-winged style to Zoe Saldana's stretched-out cat-eye and Petra Nemcova's blackout lids. Take a gander at the coolest looks that took wing now and try the try yourself.

Natalie Portman planted a sweet kiss on her man Benjamin Millepied at the Vanity Fair Oscars party at Sunset Tower yesterday. As last year's best actress winner, Natalie presented the best actor Academy Award to Jean Dujardin for his work in The Artist. On the red carpet, Natalie stuck right by Benjamin's side and the two held hands as they stepped into the show. When Natalie accepted her honours, she was pregnant with their first son, Aleph, who stuck at home while mum and dad had a hot night out. This time around, Natalie looked adorable in a polka-dot vintage Dior gown, which she stayed in for the VF event. It has also been reported that Natalie and Benjamin may have secretly married, since they were both spotted wearing new bands on their wedding ring fingers.

Graydon Carter's Vanity Fair Oscars after party is one of the hottest tickets in town after the show wraps. Joining Oscar winner Octavia Spencer at Sunset Tower to celebrate were her co-stars, Emma Stone and Jessica Chastain, Diane Kruger, Kate Bosworth, Victoria Beckham, Lily Collins, January Jones and many more. Flying the Aussie flag were Teresa Palmer, Abbie Cornish and Mia Wasikowska, whilst Miley Cyrus made the trip from Elton John's viewing party for the stylish soirée. Check out the star-filled guest list and beauty looks up close.

If it wasn't all-over sequins or bold colour that caught our eye on last night's after party attendees, it was the sultry sheer detailing that drew us in. With subtle sex appeal, sheer fabrications left just a little to the imagination on necklines and hemlines alike. While the feel from Kate Bosworth's Prabal Gurung confection, Zoe Saldana's Marios Schwab, and Ginnifer Goodwin's Peter Som gowns are on the moodier side of the sartorial spectrum, the feel is a touch softer and ethereal in white, and all-out sexy in red finishes. In each case, sheer details play up the drama of the dress with see-through illusion that's eye-catching without being OTT. Just click through to see how our favourite style setters worked this sexy red-carpet trend.

David and Victoria Beckham joined some of Hollywood's hottest names at Vanity Fair's annual Oscars party in LA last night. The couple posed on the red carpet, with David in a sexy tuxedo and Victoria in a skintight strapless gown from her own Victoria Beckham Collection. Inside the event, David and Victoria met up with good friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. They also mingled with Jay Leno, Joan Collins, and Vanity Fair editor and host Graydon Carter. Victoria was looking forward to the big show and tweeted, "Happy Oscar day! Excited to see what Rooney Mara and Michelle Williams will wear."