Purple Rain

Anatomy Lesson: Perhaps it's the thickness of the plush purple velvet. Or the way it's suctioned onto Ellen Pompeo's chest, creating copious cleavage where there was no cleavage before. Or maybe, just maybe, some of those 3,000 calories a day she claims to consume are finally ... moresticking to her fragile frame. Whatever the reason, the "Grey's Anatomy" star seems slightly meatier than usual on the red carpet, an impressive feat for which her Dior dress deserves props. Still, not even the ability to evoke a slightly curvy shape can give Pompeo's slinky, sequin-splotched strapless number a total pass. A couple of problems plague her clingy couture, including the fishtail hemline, which might have succeeded if she were more statuesque, and the ruination of Prince's favorite royal-hued velvet suit from "Purple Rain," a noble sacrifice without which this gown would not have been possible. Also not working for Ellen: Her slicked-back long locks lifted straight from the Legolas chapter of "The Big Book of 'Lord of the Rings' Haircuts."

(Photo by Sara De Boer/Retna)