Since we can barely wait to see all the fashions on Sunday night, it’s a great time to take a look back at some of the looks we love from the past.  Today: Reese Witherspoon in enticing Valentino from the year Halle Berry made history with her Best Actress win.

from seattletimes.com

Visual interest is the whole goal of style, and there’s a lot of ways to achieve it.  Sometimes it’s an unusual color or pattern or an attention-getting accessory.  But you can also create interest with texture.  Reese’s dress has so much happening in that department- beading, lace, illusion - but it’s united with the quintessential sophisticate’s color of choice.  Wearing black shows she’s seriously chic, but the fresh details and pretty, cap-sleeve silhouette keep the whole look youthful.  Bravo!

The Moral of the Story: Black doesn’t have to be boring.  There’s a reason it’s the perennial formal fave!  Just keep it interesting with great fabrics and details.

Who Should Channel Reese This Year: Anna Kendrick.  The Up in the Air nominee has been hit or miss on the red carpet, thanks to her tendency to pick busy frocks that overwhelm her petite frame.  Reese’s gown projects the gravitas of a serious actress with a fresh, age-appropriate appeal.

Since we can barely wait to see all the fashions on Sunday night, it’s a great time to take a look back at some of the looks we love from the past.  Today: Julianne Moore’s Old Hollywood glamour from the year The Lord of the Rings won almost everything.

from about.com

Shimmery metallics were big that year.  (Remember Charlize Theron’s golden look when she picked up the Best Actress Oscar?)  And many ladies have walked the red carpet in bias-cut, 30s inspired silhouettes.  But Julianne gets credit for getting the look absolutely right.  Fit is always a challenge when dealing with the bias, and this gown skims her body perfectly.  The color is lovely on her gorgeous complexion, and the embellishments give this deceptively simple dress some couture oomph.  The whole look oozes sultry sophistication.

The Moral Of The Story: You can’t improve on a classic.  When in doubt, stick with timeless shades and quality fabrics.  Keep your accessories simple and look like a cool, confident star.

Who Should Channel Julianne This Year: Vera Farmiga would rock this look.  It hits the perfect balance between “sexy starlet” and “wise woman of the world.”

Since we can barely wait to see all the fashions on Sunday night, it’s a great time to take a look back at some of the looks we love from the past.  Today: Jennifer Lopez’s elegant and daring ball gown from the year Gladiator sneaked past Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for the big win.

from Showbiz.com

Now, this was a divisive dress.  Seriously, just googling “J Lo Oscar dress 2001″ is like opening Pandora’s box.  Personally, it’s my favorite Jennifer look ever.  Even though I normally find fault with anything remotely see-through (as do the Oscar broadcasters, seeing as they kept the camera pointedly fixed above her collar bones), I think adding a sheer element is fabulous when it’s done right.  And she definitely did it right!

I love the classic shape and the hard-to-pull-off color, which happens to be great with her complexion.  The neckline is so couture, and the top is just sheer enough to keep everyone guessing.  It winks at the overt sex appeal that’s so much a part of her image, so it’s a fabulous, fun, self-aware touch.

The Moral of the Story: Always be true to yourself!  Queen Elizabeth’s favorite ball gown is very different from J Lo’s, and that’s as it should be.

Who Should Channel Jennifer This Year: Carey Mulligan has been lighting up the red carpet with her savvy mix of freshness and sophistication.  I’d love to see her add in a dash of Jennifer’s sex appeal!

Since we can barely wait to see all the fashions on Sunday night, it’s a great time to take a look back at some of the looks we love from the past.  Today: Renee Zellweger’s delight in white from the year she won for Cold Mountain.

from InStyle.com

Renee was both a vision and a visionary years before the white evening gown craze hit the red carpet.  She chose the perfect, pearly shade to complement her complexion, and the shape is to-die-for.  I love the way this dress skims and maximizes her Bridget Jones-era curves.  She has never looked better.

The Moral of the Story: Never hide!  When it’s your big night, pick a fabulous, stand-out-from-the-crowd shade and flaunt it.

Who Should Channel Renee This Year: Mo’Nique.  In her Golden Globes and SAG Awards gowns, she showed a flair for glamorous, Old Hollywood silhouettes.  I bet we’ll see her in something va-va-voom-marvelous for her golden moment Sunday night.

Since we can barely wait to see all the fashions on Sunday night, it’s a great time to take a look back at some of the looks we love from the past.  Up today: Sharon Stone’s unexpected ensemble from the year Titanic won big.

from EW.com

Just as it took a masterful painter like Picasso to break all the rules and boldly usher in the heyday of modern art, only an advanced, creative fashionista like Sharon could wear an unconventional look with such aplomb.  This fresh approach to formal wear is so chic that I can easily forgive her for later crimes against style.

The button-down (purportedly belonging to her then-husband) is a delightfully original touch- reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, and the sumptuous violet skirt by Vera Wang firmly grounds her outfit in the world of black tie.  A stunning bracelet and gorgeous red lips complete the look with perfect simplicity.

The Moral of the Story: Provided you can pull it off with panache, it’s gloriously stylish to look so free and easy.  And really, is there anything lovelier than a great white shirt?

Who Should Channel Sharon This Year: Meryl Streep.  She’d have to adjust the look to suit her body, but I’d love to see Meryl combine her bohemian sensibility with the confident finesse of Sharon’s ensemble.

Obviously, I love Oscar fashion.  There’s no denying it’s the grandest, most tradition rich night for stylewatchers.  But I’ll be tuning in this Sunday to see my favorite red carpet at the Golden Globes.  It seems that the looser (read boozier) environment of the Globes combined with its less intimidating cache allows stars to be more creative with their choices.  Sometimes that’s a good thing, and sometime’s it’s not, but I enjoy it either way.

EW.com has a good photo gallery of their picks for Best & Worst Globe Style of the ’00s (which I guess we’re calling the Aughts even though I still find that very awkward).  Among others, EW raved Scarlett Johansson and Nicole Kidman, who both wore beautiful color and formfitting silhouettes.

Nicole in '05 (from EW.com)

Scarlett in '06 (from EW.com)

And they noted that beautiful Lara Flynn Boyle really missed the mark with her tutu terror.

Lara in '03 (from EW.com)

I hate to say “What was she thinking?” but really, WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?  Just an awful idea from start to finish.

It’s not easy to evaluate an era that has just passed, but if I had to pick a look that will always be associated with the past decade, I’d definitely say “Goddess”.  Dozens of women walked the red carpet a la Helen of Troy, and my three favorites are below.

Felicity Huffman in '06 (from people.com), Keira Knightly in '06 (from people.com), Ali Larter in '07 (from InStyle.com)

We saw so many goddesses during the Aughts (ick!) that I doubt we’ll see much of this trend in the coming decade.  One thing I know for sure: this Sunday, I’ll have my sauvignon blanc and my critical eye ready.  Will you be watching?

The other morning, I actually yelled at the TV. I was getting dressed and listening to a Today show feature about smart money management. It was all going along sensibly until the end of the segment when the commentator bemoaned, “Some people are returning to bad spending habits.” As evidence, she cited a $46,000 purse, recently advertised in a Saks catalog. I couldn’t help asking, “Hi, have you ever been to Saks?” True– when I hear $46,000, I think “college fund” not “purse,” but there’s no harm in looking, right?

I cringe when people start critiquing others’ spending.  I’m just not going to judge someone who wants a really expensive (okay, exorbitant) purse– even if my priorities are different. Yes, everyone’s more careful with money these days (generally a good thing), but that’s no excuse for fashion fascism.

That was then... (Carrie Bradshaw of HBO's SATC)

Still, there’s no denying that restraint is our new ideal, shoving out the excessive tendencies that dominated the last 10 years or so. Our First Lady is the best example of this  new disciplined fashionista (dischinista?). She’s known for her sassy ensembles of Talbots and J. Crew ancestry, and when she steps out in designer apparel, it’s someone you’ve barely heard of, attainable rather than aspirational.

Naturally, this hasn’t escaped the notice of fashion royalty. Who can forget Oscar de la Renta’s snide comment to WWD: “You don’t go to Buckingham Palace in a sweater.”

Well, I’ll remember that the next time I meet the Queen.

and this is now. (Michelle Obama's official White House portrait)

For once, though, it appears that Oscar is on the wrong side of trends, since even the highest-end retailers are revamping their private labels, hoping that consumers will bite. There might be something more than practicality at work, though.  According to the Wall Street Journal,  there’s a seething consumer anger towards “the cult of glitz and boom-style spending,” and notes that, “While that went beyond fashion, (luxury) department stores… have been hit hard by the backlash against the sort of overspending and focus on fancy brands that they promoted.”

I get it; personally, I feel a little buzz whenever I score a great deal.  But do you think we lose anything in the process?  When everybody’s focused on the bottom line, is there any room for romance?  Or has leisurely browsing the newest designer apparel become as old-fashioned as the typewriter?  And are you missing the Carrie Bradshaw-like devotion to excessive fashion, or are you welcoming our new, more restrained attitude towards style?

It’s really tough to pinpoint The Look of right now. Like so many of us, fashion seems to be overwhelmed, and its very natural response is to look backward and try to figure out what used to work.

There’s the utilitarian, color-block looks of the 90s. (Remember the 90s? Pre internet bubble, Starbucks seemed like an exotic miracle, Snapple and foosball were really cool…  You remember, right?)

WhoWhatWear recently created a very clever photo spread based on the ultimate 90s fashionistas, the ladies of the o-g 90210.

While I absolutely love the photos, this still screams 1993 to me. It’s virtually impossible to make so much denim (particularly patterned denim!) appear modern. And there’s an aggressive cheerfulness in this look that feels about as relevant as Bill Clinton playing the saxophone on Arsenio. I mean, do any of us have the stomach for such shenanigans right now?  No, I doubt a 90s retread will be revitalizing fashion any time soon.

But then, the 80s are getting some play as well.  Okay, before you roll your eyes, think less Dynasty more Moonlighting.  Yes, Moonlighting.  Cybill Shepherd had great style on that show.  Check this out:

Not bad, right?  Lose the shoulder pads and the double-breasting, and there’s something very current about that ensemble.  I can envision Michelle O sporting something similar.

There’s also some push to take things back to the 30s… the 1530s.  Opulent velvet and brocade, over-the-top silhouettes– a lot of today’s runways would appeal to Henry VIII and Co.  You wouldn’t necessarily think it would work, but…

And I like this one, sort of Tudor menswear (complete with jaunty accessories), mashed up into a ladies’ jumpsuit.

This trend actually began in 2008, but there was other stuff going on, so a lot of us missed it.  According to the NY Times, though, it’s sticking around.  And while the stately luxury of Tudor style seems out-of-step with today, the Times found otherwise.  Apparently, the 16th Century was totally crazy, marked by “an incredible sense of insecurity… that enters into the spirit of our time.”  Well, it’s hard to argue with that…

But what do you think?  Can you see yourself incorporating any of these trends?  And if so, how?

Or is there some other fashion era you’d like to revive?

Oscar prognosticators are calling this year predictable, a certain landslide for frontrunner Slumdog Millionaire. Even so, this year’s nominated ladies have a history of lighting up the red carpet. So forget those little, bald guys they hand out; the real competition on Sunday is for Best Dressed.

And while they’re making their final selections, they might want to look at some winning gowns from the past.

from limelife.com

KATE

There’s Best Actress favorite, Kate Winslet. This season, she’s perfected the tailored style that works for her, even livening it up with a little bold color for the SAG Awards.

Since she’s got a good chance of making it to the podium, she’ll want to keep it clean and classic. Tailored looks can be tricky, though; it’s got to be Best Actress, not Maid of Honor. Kate can’t go wrong by channeling Grace Kelly’s 1955 look:

from abcnews.com

Or if she sticks with her signature black, Kate can look to 2003 winner Nicole Kidman for inspiration.

from people.com

from latimes.com

MERYL

Meryl Streep is Oscar’s most-nominated thespian (and most say Kate’s biggest competition on Sunday), but when it comes to the fashion race, she’s an underdog. Maybe when you’re that legendary, you don’t get as worked up about the red carpet.

But I’m hoping that just this once she goes all Helen Mirren, who was pure perfection when she picked up the trophy in 2007. With flawless hair and make-up and gorgeous décolletage, Helen managed to be both sexy and age-appropo.  Meryl, please take note!

from mirror.co.uk

ANGELINA

The competition for Best Dressed is stiff indeed, since I’m just getting around to mentioning one of the most famous woman in the world. Angelina’s been all about blouson this season. Once with success:

from Access Hollywood

And once with backwards blah:

from latimes.com

She loves to throw curve balls, so I’m secretly hoping the dress above was just an elaborate fake-out before she wows us at the Oscars.  Odds are long that she’ll win Best Actress, but she has a great shot at taking home Best Dressed if she channels Old Hollywood like fellow beauties Charlize Theron in 2000 or Rachel Weisz in 2007.

from abcnews.com

from about.com

from latimes.com

ANNE

Of course, no Oscars is complete without a fresh new face.  This year that’s Anne Hathaway, who’s completing her transition from charming ingenue to serious leading lady.  She’s been a fashion superstar all  year, and her dress is perhaps the most-anticipated of the weekend.

Like Angelina, she’s probably not going to win, which means she gets to make a fun choice.  I’d love to see her in something unabashedly fabulous and romantic, like Penelope Cruz’s 2007 gown:

from mirror.co.uk

from daylife.com

VIOLA

The surprise of the season is Viola Davis, who wowed everyone with her single scene in Doubt.  She also earned accolades for her eye-catching SAG Awards gown.  (Who knew there was such a great figure hiding under the movie’s mid-century frump!)

I hope she sticks with form-fitting shapes and pretty, cheery color for the Oscars.  Elizabeth Taylor hit this note perfectly in 1970:

from abcnews.com

And Gwyneth Paltrow found it in 2007:

from about.com

What incredible choices, and I haven’t even mentioned Penelope Cruz, Melissa Leo, Amy Adams, Taraji P. Henson, or Marisa Tomei– all of whom have the potential to leave us drooling on Sunday!  So don’t listen to anyone who says this year might be boring…

Who are you most excited about seeing at the Oscars?  Angelina, Anne, Kate?  And what’s your favorite gown from Oscars’ past?

Right now, I’m distracted by one, big question: What is Michelle Obama going to wear on Inauguration Day?

Outside of the new President’s address, nothing has the potential to impact our impression of the incoming administration as much as what Michelle wears. Think I’m exaggerating? Check out Jackie’s cream dream from 1961:

from metmuseum.org

from huffingtonpost.com

Could she have possibly chosen anything more chic and fresh?  More of a break from Mamie Eisenhower’s comforting matronliness?  A New Frontier, indeed.

Hillary could have learned a thing or two from Jackie when her own youthful husband hoped to usher in an era of Kennedy-like optimism.  Looking back at her Inauguration Day, ensemble, though, I’m starting to understand how her healthcare plan went down in flames.  People just have a hard time trusting your judgment when you wear a get-up like this:

from huffingtonpost.com

To her credit, she got it right the second time around:

from huffingtonpost.com

But no classic, feminine ensemble in soft peach could totally erase the aggressive, too-cute-by-half impression she’d created in that red-white-and-blue disaster from four years before. This very fact might have been floating through Laura Bush’s head as she selected this outfit for her husband’s first Inauguration:

from huffingtonpost.com

She played it safe in peacock blue, and if it’s a little ho-hum, a bit country-come-to-town-for-Sunday-dinner, she more than made up for it the next time.

from huffingtonpost.com

Nothing says, “Watch out, Washington,” like winter white.

Marchesa's suggestion for Michelle (from style.com)

Of course, Michelle Obama has to do more than pick out a fashion-forward, accessible, bold, classic, and exciting suit for the swearing in.  She’s also got to choose a gown for the balls that night.  Today’s sobering economic climate makes navigating those waters even trickier than usual.

Mizrahi weighing in on wwd.com

Considering the criticism lobbed at Paramount Pictures for hosting a black-tie,Benjamin Button premiere in the midst of layoffs, how will Michelle strike the right balance? Can she look appropriately regal without appearing out-of-touch? Sure, Nancy Reagan’s color-me-couture fabulousness doesn’t feel right for our times, but personally, I won’t be satisfied if Michelle is as sensible as Rosalynn Carter, who wore an old gown. The very somberness of our times demands that La Obama dazzle!  And since this lovely, forty-something mother of two has unexpectedly become fashion designers’ muse du jour, there are plenty of suggestions for how she can wow us.  

Forbes.com suggests Carolina Herrera

I really hope she succeeds.  Think about how much we looooooooooved the way Jackie looked.  So pulled together!  The First Lady is one of our best ambassadors, and when the world got a look at Jackie, even those stuck-up Europeans thought, “Wow, that lady is really with it.”  And that made us feel proud, which is perhaps the best contribution a First Lady can make.

So go on, Michelle, make us proud.