Jennifer Garner

Evan Agostini/Getty; RD/Leon/ Retna; Seth Wenig/AP

While there was no shortage of head-turning fashions walking up the Metropolitan Museum’s red-carpeted steps last night, these three leading ladies stood out for their unsually bold looks. We’re not sure how, but Jennifer Garner gracefully managed her ascent in this vivid red vintage Valentino Haute Couture gown. Lucy Liu popped in her purple Zac Posen dress, and Liv Tyler played up her creamy pale skin in a turqouise sheath paired with bright red lips. While many other stars opted for black (Mary Kate Olsen, Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan) or metallic (Kate Bosworth, Jennifer Hudson, Jessica Simpson) we love this bright trend and hope it continues into fall. What do you think? Tell us: Would you dare to wear a bright color to a red carpet event, or play it safe in a less attention grabbing shade?

Click here to see all the looks from the 2007 Costume Institute Gala.

– JENNIFER GARNER, celebrating her 35th birthday shopping. (Wonder if she got any of our gift suggestions?) We spotted her at coming out of one of her favorite spots, the chic Elyse Walker boutique in Pacific Palisades.

– TERI HATCHER, browsing with a male friend at LUSH in Universal City Walk. The Desperate Housewives star’s companion picked up a Wild Child gift before they left the shop.

– ASHLEY OLSEN, shopping at the James Perse Melrose Boutique yesterday. And what did she pick up? The fashionista left with two striped tank dresses.

– Poseidon actress EMMY ROSSUM, doing $1500 worth of damage at the Paige store on Robertson in L.A where she met up with designer/owner Paige Adams-Geller. The actress had a successful trip, picking up two pair of Melrose straight leg jeans, one pair of Benedict Canyon boot cut jeans, among other items.

– Grey’s Anatomy stars KATE WALSH and KATHERINE HEIGL, indulging their love of shoes at Sigerson Morrison in Los Angeles on separate days. Walsh bought three pairs while and Heigl picked up one [DASH] a red patent one.

– HAYDEN PANETTIERE, stopping by Beverly Hills boutique Harmony Lane where she snagged several Vita key necklaces along with three snakeskin bangles also from the Vita collection. And she even went back for more: She now has two key necklaces, two patent leather Milano bracelets, and 10 snakeskin bangles!

– PARIS HILTON, picking out items from Lisa Kline in L.A., including Linda Farrow white sunglasses, Ella Moss top and pants, and a Twisted Heart Diamond Skull Hoodie, without even trying them on!

Photo: Most Wanted/Flynet

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As any stylish woman knows, there is more than one golden Oscar in Hollywood — we’re not talking about the coveted award, but the designer who has been turning out enviably gorgeous dresses for more than 40 years. Jennifer Garner, along with a slew of famous friends, celebrated Oscar de la Renta by hosting a benefit for the EIF Women’s Cancer Research Fund in his lavish West Hollywood boutique. Jennifer told PEOPLE that even though she “can be hard to dress because I don’t like a lot of fashion-y stuff, with these clothes, it was hard to choose. There were so many dresses I like.” But she picked her chic beaded sheath because “I just love the shape of it. I loved that it wasn’t super-tight.” A slim post-baby Amanda Peet paid homage to the man who designed her wedding dress (she tells us that she feels “very indebted to him.”), saying of her Oscar dress, “Well, this is a good dress. It hides in all the right places.” And Brooke Shields summed up the designer’s appeal when she told PEOPLE, “He knows how to dress a woman.”

Photo: John Sciulli/WireImage

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Isn’t Jennifer Garner just so lovable? She’s beautiful, a doting mother, successful actress and admits to making mistakes just like the rest of us. Remember when she dropped a diamond ring that husband Ben Affleck gifted to her down a drain? Whoops! To celebrate her 35th birthday we came up with our own fantasy gift list for her. Tell us: what dream gifts you would get Jennifer Garner for her birthday?

1. Now that Jen’s a mom, she spends a lot more of her time on the playground than the red carpet. But as summer approaches, she could be stylish and functional in Velvet’s easy jersey dress . Or what about this See by Chloe silk dress or this
“target=”_blank”> Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti baby-doll for a romantic dinner out with Ben?

2. Jennifer is an active supporter of various charities, so why not give her something that gives back? She could accessorize her new dresses with this
“target=”_blank”> St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital “Hope” necklace or a
“target=”_blank”> Presents For Purpose multi-layered heart necklace .

3. Jennifer is rarely without beautiful daughter Violet, so how about
“target=”_blank”> an “I Love Mommy” tee by Choice Shirts or Glamajama’s matching “I Love Mommy” top and bottoms for her constant companion.

4. Why not some adorable flats? These Sigerson Morrison red patent skimmers, green Poetic Licence flats or these
“target=”_blank”> Delman’s black patent leather slingbacks would be perfect for running after Violet. And
“target=”_blank”> Loeffler Randall’s metallic ballerinas would add instant glam to even the most casual look.

Read all about Jennifer’s love for daughter Violet and more on her life by clicking here.

Click here to see more photos, news and a full bio of Jennifer Garner, and click here to discuss her style in Off the Rack.

Photo:Luis Martinez/Splash News online

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