Stars were stately, fashionable - and safe - on Oscar red carpet

The best word to describe the red-carpet fashion at the Academy Awards: red.

Katherine Heigl, Helen Mirren, Miley Cyrus, Ruby Dee, Anne Hathaway and Heidi Klum were among the stars in red gowns Sunday night at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Shades of plum were worn by Cate Blanchett and Jessica Alba.

"The actresses went regal and royal with rich reds and purples," said Oscar.com fashion analyst Tom Julian.

The other buzzword? Safe.

"I thought people looked generally really good -- and really safe," said Hal Rubenstein, fashion director at InStyle magazine. "I don't know if it had to do with the mood out there with the strike just over and parties canceled, but in fashion now so much is about sheer, print and color, but this was one solid strapless dress after another."

Rubenstein added: "There was a kind of uniform timelessness, which is very nice, but considering those who watch this show do it to get a fashion cue, I wish they were a little more timely than timeless."

He said French actress Marion Cotillard's ivory-and-silver gown by Jean Paul Gaultier with scalloped fabric that looked like fish scales was the most distinctive of the night.