Basic Black . . . and CherStruck

It’s not always who wins or loses that causes the biggest commotion at the Oscars--sometimes it’s what Cher wears.

The flashy actress, who won an Oscar for best actress for “Moonstruck,” scooted in to the Academy Awards 15 minutes after it had begun, to the delight of her many fans in the bleachers. Cher arrived in a diaphanous creation of black sequins and beads draped down the front and back on see-through net. She hid her top, however, under a black velvet cape that only revealed an almost-bare back crisscrossed with sequined straps.

For Oscar fashions, it was glamour as usual. There were lots of pouf skirts in jewel tones and huge floral prints and, of course, lots of basic black.

Warm weather brought out strapless dresses, such as Holly Hunter’s black strapless knee-length dress with black jet beads dripping off from the bottom and top.

Even mom-to-be Glenn Close opted for a strapless maternity dress in gunmetal gray that took some attention away from her midsection.

There was the screen-siren look, a la Daryl Hannah’s gold beaded mini accented by her long 24-karat gold hair and gold-rimmed sunglasses.

Sally Kirkland and Anne Archer opted for sexy looks: Kirkland in a strapless stretch black velvet floor-length dress that made the most of her ample cleavage; Archer wore a black matte jersey Vicky Tiel that dipped to a low V in back.

Audrey Hepburn turned heads with her navy-and-white strapless chiffon dress with tiers of polka dots and stripes.

Few actors took chances with the basic black tuxedo; John Lone was a standout in his metallic black jacket and matching baggy pants. And a number of stars wore their Ray Bans, for that touch of Hollywood chic.