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Kate Winslet wasn't the only star en noir at last night's Baftas. Angelina Jolie wore striking black Armani, Penelope Cruz donned inky velvet Alaia and Goldie Hawn shimmered in an oil-slick satin slip, while a dozen more pitch-dark dresses ensured the evening was virtually a black-out.
You could say these were sober clothes for serious times, the New Austerity in action. But looking at the cut of Kate's dress with its quirky Batman detailing and sexy halter bow you'd hardly call it funereal. Really, though, women have always had a dark fascination for black.
For Kate, the sculptural Zac Posen gown was the culmination of several months' obsession with the colour. At almost every recent ceremony and premiere she's worn coal black from head to peep-toe shoe.
You'd think Kate could get away with wearing anything. Her limbs are lithe, her skin and hair glossy. Her pilates-honed figure is trimmer than ever and she exudes poise and happiness. So why does she insist on falling back on black?
As someone who shares her broad build of shoulders, breasts and hips, I think I know the reason why. With a body like that, you can never be a fashion X-ray and even though it's said she's slimmed to a size 8, Kate still photographs as a substantial woman. She will always be self conscious about her figure. And though we all know black is slimming, it's not as simple as that.
Black does something magical. It negates the bulk of a body while drawing attention to its outline. Kate's favoured designers understand the power of the silhouette. Just look at the Narcisco Rodriguez dress with clever white darting she wore last month, or the jewelled Balmain sheath she chose for the Revolutionary Road premiere to know its power.
Black reflects character traits too. As well as being the less flashy, more classy choice, black is the colour of the conscientious dresser. Kate takes her work seriously and it shows in her sense of style: she enjoys dressing up, but she's not messing about with frippery.
Of course there is drama there, too, combined with a very British restraint. And her black dresses reveal a sexy person who's also practical, their cut showing she's modern, while the colour says timeless. Throw in a dash of honesty and mystery and you begin to see what a complex shade it really is.
So forget the myth that black's boring. It's a girl's best friend. Give her a big night out and chances are, she'll go back to black.
More pictures: the best-dressed stars at the Baftas
More pictures: The winners at the Baftas
More pictures: The after-show party
Reader views (2)
I think she looks fantastic but not too sure about your writer's description ... 'quirky Batman styling'? I think she's trying too hard and needs to go watch 'Dark Knight' again 
- John, London
Actresses today are totally lacking in glamour and charm and have awful voices and accents.
- Sarah, London UK
