Hollywood’s biggest night is set to begin as the Academy of Motion Pictures hands out its coveted Oscars to the finest in film.

But first come the gowns and the glam as the stars walk the red carpet.

CTVNews.ca is live-blogging the arrivals (in Eastern Time). Then, when the awards shows begin -- at 8:30 ET on CTV -- check back here for regular updates as the show unfolds.

 

7:50 – Many on Twitter are already making their picks for the Oscars red carpet’s worst dressed. On the lists so far: blue-streaked Liza Minelli; heavily-gilded Kristen Chenoweth; Julia Roberts and her matronly black lace; and Pharrell Williams in his shorts.

7:40 – Cate Blanchett arrives looking perfectly elegant in an embellished, nude Armani gown. Blanchett appears to have a lock on tonight’s Best Actress Oscar, having won eight major awards this year for her role in “Blue Jasmine.”

7:30 -  Jennifer Lawrence has done it again! Tripped, that is.

As the young starlet up for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “American Hustle” made her way on the red carpet, she appeared to wave to a fan and then tripped over an orange traffic cone.

She took the stumble in stride, bursting out laughing. Lawrence, you might remember, tripped over her dress last year as she mounted the stairs to accept her Best Actress award for “Silver Linings Playbook.”

Clumsy though she may be, she looks polished in a strapless gown in head-turning red. Among the night’s sea of pastels and classic black, her dress is a standout.

7:05 – Let’s not forget the men making fashion statements on the Oscars red carpet.

Pharrell Williams, up for an Oscar for his song "Happy" from "Despicable Me 2," arrives wearing a short-pants tuxedo and a pair of black oxfords, sans socks. Brave or silly? Reaction to his outfit on Twitter appears mixed.

Jared Leto, the odds-on favourite to win Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Dallas Buyers’ Club” arrives in a white tuxedo jacket and blood-red bowtie. And the question of the night – how will he wear his hair? – has been answered: he’s nixed the high bun he sported to the Golden Globes in favour of keeping his long hair down.

6:55 – Five-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams, up for Best Actress for her role in “American Hustle,” arrives wearing a slim-cut, midnight blue Gucci gown, accessorized simply with understated Tiffany drop earrings.

“Yeah, I just love it. I feel very comfortable,” Adams tells CTV etalk’s Ben Mulroney on the red carpet.

6:40 – This year’s red carpet darling, Lupita Nyong’o -- who has been turning heads all award season with her stunning fashion choices -- arrives wearing a baby blue, daringly low-cut Prada gown with train.

Not only is this Nyong’o’s first Academy Awards, the “12 Years a Slave” star’s nomination is for her very first role in a feature film.

6:20 – Actress Portia de Rossi arrives wearing an elegant off-white lace outfit. De Rossi walked the red carpet alone, as her wife, Ellen DeGeneres, is hosting the gala broadcast again this year.

De Generes is promising a fun show, but will be under pressure to keep the proceedings under three-and-a-half hours. That may not be easy, considering the long list of musical performers set to take the stage.

De Generes has said she hopes that, even if the show goes long, it won’t feel like it to viewers.

“I hope when I say, 'Goodnight,' I hope people go: 'One more hour! One more hour!' And they start chanting and make me stay,” she told The Associated Press. “That's what I hope."

6:00 – With still more than two hours to go before the big show begins, so far, no big nominees from this year’s awards have graced the carpet. But two very important people have arrived: the PriceWaterhouse accountants carrying the briefcases filled will the envelopes announcing the winners.

Interesting fact: All the Academy Award ballots are counted by hand – several times -- without the help of counting machines. And only a small handful of people know the final results in each category.