Award Show Blitz: The 79th Annual Academy Awards

The Oscars were once a place where the industry could get together and celebrate achievement in the film making industry. Don't get me wrong, they still do plenty of that, yet there is also a more glamorous competition: fashion. In general I was very impressed this year, there were no swan dresses to say the least. Many actresses chose emerging designers to grace their fabulous selves as they floated amongst the flashbulbs at the biggest award show of the year. Yet there was also the sad, sad, sad, and a few surprises along the way...

The Good

J-Lo looked like a Grecian goddess in Marchesa. This was a great choice for her, a surprise because of her usual tendency towards hoochiness. Kirsten Dunst glimmered in Chanel Haute Couture. Although I am not the fondest of the feathers, I do love the sheer collar detail and the intricate yet delicate pattern. What I most love about this dress is that it reflects Kirsten's quirky-cute style in a very chic way.

Reese Witherspoon was ravishing in Nina Ricci. This lengthens her petite figure, giving her a beautiful hourglass shape. The layers were a pleasant surprise and make this look entirely unique. Ryan Phillipe is crying his puppy-dog eyes out right now.

Cameron Diaz in Valentino Couture blazed in white. I love the off-the-shoulder sleeves of this dress, and the short hemline highlights those gorgeous metallic shoes!

Kate Winslet in Valentino Couture went with an asymmetrical one-shoulder draped dress. A safe choice but pretty nonetheless.

Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive. A bold choice that Cate carries off with wonderful ease. This dress is a chic example of the new generation of the metallic trend: gunmetal.

Emily Blunt in Calvin Klein. This midnight blue dress shimmers as if it were pure liquid! One of my favorites and one of the best examples of smashing color.

Naomi Watts in buttery Escada. The pregnant star glowed in this gorgeous dress with chic draped sleeves.

Señorita Penelope Cruz was muy caliente in this feathery Versace gown. Warning: requires at least ten feet circumference around it.

Gweneth Paltrow in Zac Posen. This dress flatters her statuesque figure, oozing Old-Hollywood glam.

The Family Smith. Jada, in Carolina Herrera, Will, and Jaden win the Oscar for Most Fashionable Family.

Beyonce in Armani Prive. A beautiful dress with just enough va-va-voom for Miss B. This dress is reminds me of a refreshing scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

The Bad

Even though she showed Simon a thing or two about talent, earning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, she just didn't quite hit it in this outfit by Oscar de la Renta. I applaud her effort to step outside the box, yet all I wanted to do was just snatch that piece of tin foil off of her shoulders.

Meryl Streep should have picked up a few tips from her alter-ego Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada, because she didn't look very Runway in this frumpy frock.

Someone has jungle fever, and it isn't John Travolta. Kelly Preston went a little too wild in this Dolce & Gabbana gown. This dress is just too much leopard, which only ends up looking good on the actual cat. Prescription: Take leopard print in SMALL doses.

Costume designer Patricia Field is a perfect example of when you shouldn't match your dress to your EXACT shade of hair dye.

Catherine Deneuve in Gaultier Paris Couture. Catherine is a classic beauty, this dress not so much. This outfit, complete with bleeding heart, would have been more appropriate at an emo concert than at a glamorous event like the Oscars.

Jessica Biel in Oscar De La Renta. Even though she never looks bad, the pink shade is a bit flat, and the shape is boring. You'll get it right the next time, Jess.

The Vampire Queen of the Red Carpet. Excuse me, Eva Green in Givenchy.

I am crying as type this. Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga. This dress is not only sadly reminiscent of the "pillow" dress worn by Charlize Theron at last year's Oscars, but also comes complete with shoulder cup-holder! Let this be a lesson, even the chicest of us get it wrong sometimes.

all pictures courtesy of http://www.style.com/peopleparties/parties/thumb/022607OSCA/new?page=1