Black is a CLASSIC choice for a formal red carpet, but a lot of women opted for color this go ’round. Last year, of course, the entire red carpet was black for #TimesUp. There’s been a lot of acreage between now and then, so I can’t think that putting a pin in that demarcation was top of mind for most of them, but I do think it’s possible that a lot of people just wanted to go for something brighter. Let’s take a look-see at those women who DID opt for black — including the two actresses who, I think, are running head-to-head for Best Actress at the Oscars.

[Photos: WENN.com, David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock, Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock, Matt Baron/BEI/REX/Shutterstock, Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock, MIKE NELSON/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock]