Helen Hunt, a nominee for Best Supporting Actress at the 85th Academy Awards, managed to be a big winner of the night while still on the red carpet. Instead of wearing the couture fashion standard at awards shows, Hunt arrived on the big night wearing a beautiful dress from retail store H&M.

Audiences watching E!'s coverage of the red carpet arrivals may have gotten a bit of a shock when host Ryan Seacrest asked Hunt the standard "Who are you wearing?" question. Without missing a beat, Hunt proudly and happily responded that H&M had made her dress.

That by itself would have been cool -- you've got to love a woman confident enough to wear what she wants instead of what is normal. But even more impressive is the fact that Hunt's dress is because of H&M's "green" clothing efforts. One of the largest worldwide retailers, H&M began a garment recycling program on Thursday (Feb. 21). Customers bringing in used clothing get a discount on new purchases as a result. The used clothing will be recycled by Global Green USA, an environmental organization that Hunt supports.

A supporting-actress nominee for "The Sessions," this is hardly Helen Hunt's first experience with an Academy Awards red carpet. She won a Best Actress Oscar back in 1998 for "As Good As It Gets." Despite that title, Hunt's dress may have made this Oscar appearance even better.