Oscar Fashion Recap

Okay, it's a tradition I can't ignore. Here's my Oscar fashion scorecard...and the envelope please...

I loved Tilda Swinton because she is in a class all her own when it comes to
fashion. So modern and chic, even if 99% of America won't understand it. Either you get her or you don't. (When I asked Donna Karan who she'd like to dress who's in the public eye, she immediately answered Tilda Swinton.)

Meryl Streep and her youngest daughter looked amazing. I'm a big fan of that griege-ish color, I loved that they were coordinated in both styles and hues, and they just looked as it they were having such a great time together.

Angelina Jolie is a pill. I'm so over her. She's smug, condescending and always looks bored. I'm tired of her wearing somber-colored dresses because she's a "serious" actress but damn, those earrings were gorgeous. At least this was less voluminous but still...yawn.

On the fence about Kate Winslet. Love her. Thought the hair was a bit severe but after looking at the new Vogue on the train to and from NJ yesterday, I can see what they were going for - both a retro and modern look. The dress was YSL but I think I liked it better from the back than from the front. That one-shoulder look is lovely on her but this one seemed oddly fit around the bust.

Sophia Loren is going to be 75 this year and she has a banging body to rival
Angelina's. The hair could use some rethinking though. And her facelift is starting to look a bit like a melted candle. Can't wait to see her in NINE though.

Tina Fey - Fab! She shows up so often in black dresses I was delighted to
see her in something figure flattering and that silver Zac Posen just lit her up. Zac can sometimes go too structured or retro for my taste, but this was just lovely. Tina and Steve Martin were a definite highlight of a stellar Oscar show. She's a Rosalind Russell for our generation - smart, funny and beautiful. A lethal combination.

"Don't fall in love with me."

Angelica Huston- oh no! I worship Angelica Huston. Stalked her a bit when I
saw her at Jeffreys last year. And she was perfect in black boots, jeans, fab belt and a crispy white shirt. But that dress last night just looked old and not in a good way. More in a Studio 54 kind of way. We get such rare Angelica appearances and I was disappointed.

Penelope Cruz is a Latina Audrey Hepburn. Stunning but not cookie cutter beauty. Loved her in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Another reason to anticpate NINE. Her dress was vintage Balmain, over 60 years old - she'd seen it 8 years ago, remembered it and went back and it was still there. Gorgeous couture. And the fact that she's with Javier Bardem...well, who needs emeralds? (Where was he, by the way? He should have been presenting Best
Supporting Actor. Daniel Day Lewis was a no-show as well. Boys!)

Anne Hathaway. I love this girl. Such a beauty and that Armani Prive gown covered in paillettes was astounding. The color was glorious. Similar but much better than the Gautier that Marion Cotillard wore last year that was just too costumey. She's always one to watch. And I like that she embraces fashion and takes some risks.

Marion Cotillard looked great from the waist up - hated the weird skirt on her dress.

Really hated Reese Witherspoon's whole look. The Rodarte dress looked like a Cirque de Soleil costume. Her hair was wrong and her makeup was terrible. Her eye makeup was too heavy-handed, yet she looked pale and washed-out overall. She's with that adorable puppy Jake Gyllenhaal but she looked better when
she was unhappy with Ryan Philippe!

Marisa Tomei in Versace. The pearly gray color was pretty but that dress was
wearing her. She is a very slight person and she looked like she was wearing a parade float.

In some earlier shots, I loved Beyonce on the red carpet. Really clean hair and makeup and an over-the-top dramatic dress. It worked like a charm. But in later viewing, the dress is a hot mess. House of Dereon needs to be foreclosed.

While I'm not sure about the one long sleeve, I think Freida Pinto is my new girl crush. She is so breath-taking and I love how she embraces really saturated color. The dress was Galliano and it had a bit of an Indian influence. She's gorgeous--hope she doesn't disappear post-Slumdog.

Amy Adams' dress by Carolina Herrara wasn't memorable but that necklace with it - great choice.

Jessica Biel's oversized bow-fronted dress looked like a bad Project Runway dress. She was "Oot." And Heidi Klum had too much ornate jewelry on for such a sculptural dress.

Now to Sarah Jessica Parker. I agree she looked like Glinda the Good Witch but I think that had more to do with her hair. A sleek chignon and she could have channeled Grace Kelly. I also think the dress was too similar to the gray dress she wore to the S&TC premiere in New York. Time for a new silhouette, ballerina girl. Something a bit more age-appropriate and less princessy perhaps?

Nicole Kidman - we've seen it before. Thanks! Haley Berry, get your damn hair outta your eyes. (Though I must admit her dress looked better in stills than it did onstage.)

All in all, an excellent show. Hugh Jackman was charming and funny. Loved the tributes to the nominated actors. (Especially when Anne Hathaway got all choked up listening to Shirley Maclaine praise her.)

Best dressed - it's a toss-up between Anne Hathaway and Penelope Cruz and I'm going to have to give it to Penelope.

Worst dressed - Marisa Tomei or Reese Witherspoon. Sorry, Reese, you withered on the red carpet.

As for the men, most looked great in their tuxs. But who would have thought that Phillip Seymour Hoffman could rival Mickey "Hand me the Purell" Rourke for worst dressed, simply by wearing a stupid knit cap?