This year, Emmy’s style belonged to the gents because they generally dazzled more than the ladies. A first! Just for kicks, here are my lists:

Blokes:

• Jon Hamm could not be beat. Classic, immaculate, clean cut and very movie star handsome. A sight for sore eyes.
• John Krasinski looked fabulous in his satin trimmed tux and skinny black tie. Utterly adorable.
• Steve Carell was wearing a similar satin piped tux and looked just as dashing. He’s a scream.
• Seal’s all black suit ensemble with straggly polka dot tie was dark and edgy. He pulls this look off like no one else can.
• Kevin Bacon was delicious in his mod tux, messy hairdo and geeky black framed specs. So cute.
• Alec Baldwin looked distinguished in his tux with broad lavender tie which matched the colour of his hair and eyes. Very fab.

Lasses:

• Debra Messing in a magnificent one-shouldered electric red gown was my favorite of the evening. A redhead in tomato red is pure perfection.
• Heidi Klum was flawless in a classic strapless, beaded black fish tail gown. It’s easy to make the best dressed list if you can look like that when you’re 8 months pregnant. Seal accessorized her ensemble perfectly.
• Sandra Oh in a vintage gold strapless gown was stunning from head to toe. The corded low slung belt was an elegant touch and I loved how the clutch matched her hair.
• Jamie-Lynn Sigler was beautiful in a cowl front halter-necked metallic gown. A superb take on modern retro glam.

Did you see the show? If so, let’s hear your favourites for the night.

Click the thumbnails to see the red carpet fashions at E! Online and MSN Entertainment.

So I’m going to turn a blind eye to the bizarre crocheted blanket dress Cate recently wore at a red carpet event in Melbourne. I’m not even going to try to defend the frock because it’s hideous and she’s getting a lot of flak for it already. But it is the one and only Cate Blanchett sporting the ugly dress and if anyone will come out of this situation shining like a star, it’s her. It took courage to sport the look and I support Cate’s risk taking style.

Click the thumbnails to see Cate’s dress in all its crocheted glory.

I was generally disappointed with the selection of frocks and tuxes last night. Oscar night is as glamorous and stylish as it gets and I’m usually jumping up and down with excitement, cheering and waiting for the next celebrity to look even better than the one before. Somehow, my expectations for an abundance of breathtaking and flawless looks was not met. I wasn’t a fan of the asymmetrical necklines, oversized bows, messy hairdo’s and nude lipstick. Here’s my rundown of the evening:

The best dressed lasses:

• Angelina Jolie comes is first which surprised me. She made my worst dressed list at the Golden Globes but this time her black gown was killer. It was superbly cut and draped impeccably well. Matching it with bold green jewelry gave the seemingly classic frock a different spin. It was hands down my favourite look of the night.
• Evan Rachel Ward was my best at the Golden Globes but comes in second this time round. Nude is difficult to wear, but when you have perfect white milky skin and red hair, it works. I loved the way this dress draped too.
• Taraji P. Henson looked modern yet romantic in her ingenious ruffled gown. I loved everything about this dress. Her modern bob and dramatic, antique-looking necklace sealed the deal. Fabulous.
• Natalie Portman was pretty and perfectly petite in her beautiful Grecian frock. The colour stood out and I liked that.
• Meryl Streep looked alluring yet age-appropriate in her gorgeous grey gown. Her hair looked great up and she was elegant from top to toe.

Actresses like Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet looked lovely, but didn’t blow me away. Frieda Pinto and Marisa Tomei are so pretty, but their frocks left me cold.

The best dressed blokes:

• Hugh Jackman was flawless in all his outfits.
• Eddie Murphy rocked an all black shirt and tux with bling.
• Daniel Craig looked as good as James Bond.

The best hair:

• Marion Cotillard sported a French roll like a true French gal.
• Taraji P. Henson’s modern bob was textured sleek perfection.

The worst dressed stars:

• Phillip Seymour Hoffman looked ridiculous with a beanie.
• Mickey Rourke was scary.
• Heidi Klum looked like Grace Jones gone wrong. I did not like this ultra-modern dress at all.
• Jessica Beale’s oversized front dress folds were unflattering and did nothing for her figure.
• Amanda Seyfried looked like a Christmas present. The bow was too much.

I’m excited to compare Oscar fashion notes so over to you. Who made your best and worst list?

My favourites. Click the thumbnails to see the full pictures on Yahoo’s coverage of the Academy Awards.

• Barack: His flawless black suit, white shirt and red tie made a killer impression. I loved his burgundy scarf and black gloves. I’ll give our stylish new President 10 out of 10 for his ensemble. Absolutely perfect.
• Michelle: Her gold-embossed coat and matching shift-style dress looked regal and dazzling. I personally would have enjoyed seeing Michelle in a Chanel suit, but I loved that her gold ensemble was unexpected because it symbolizes change. I couldn’t quite make out what was going on in-between the coat and the dress. At first I thought it was a cardigan, then I thought it was a dickey, and later I thought it might be a decorative panel sewn onto the dress plus a scarf. I’m still not quite sure, but all in all, the ensemble struck a super balance between looking conservative and taking a fashion risk. Daytime sparkle is a 2009 trend, which makes Michelle spot on. I also enjoyed the touch of the teal shoes and gloves.
• Malia and Sasha: The girls looked gorgeous in their retro coats. I adored Malia’s cobalt blue coat that was accessorized with black muffler, gloves, hose and shoes. Sasha’s peach and orange ensemble looked youthful, fresh and adorable. Such beautiful little ladies.

Bring on the fashion critique. Did you like what our First Family wore on Inauguration Day?

Get the details on Michele’s outfit at the Daily News.  See feedback on her ensemble from several fashion pros at The Huffington Post.

His answer:

Being underdressed. I spend half of my life in airports these days, and what some people will wear in public is absolutely revolting. I mean, I understand that we live in a casual society, but far too many people use that as an excuse to look like out-and-out slobs.

I’d put incorrect pant lengths as my one number one fashion faux pas, but I do identify with Clinton’s answer. Do you think we are being too harsh?

My favourite dresses:

• Evan Rachel Wood: This black ruffled sequined gown was perfection. The plunging front and back necklines worked on Evan’s super skinny frame, small bust line and flawless porcelain skin. The rosette details were playful yet sophisticated. I loved everything about this dress and it was hands down the most exciting frock of the evening.
• Eva Longoria Parker: This gown reminded me a little of old Hollywood. I loved Eva’s classic Grace Kelly style bun and diamond encrusted clutch. She looked classic, elegant, regal and stunning.
• Kate Winslet: I loved her black classic vintage gown with velvet belt and diamante waist brooch. It had an interesting neckline and Kate looked tall, poised and streamlined. Kate’s long fringe kept on falling into her face which spoilt her look a little, but I absolutely adore this actress. Her acceptance speeches were wonderful.
• Amy Adams: Princess type gowns such as these are dramatic and pretty, but predictable. Amy kicked it up a notch with dazzling emerald gold earrings which looked fabulous against her red hair. The fabric of this dress was especially beautiful and that’s why it made my list.

My vote for worst dressed goes to Jennifer Lopez, followed closely by Renee Zellweger and Angelina Jolie. I didn’t like the pony-tail hairstyles of Debra Messing and Beyonce Knowles. Casual ponytails and formal gowns don’t mesh in my book. Although I really liked their gowns, the messy birds nest up-dos of Drew Barrymore and Eva Mendez were also not my best. Keeping it polished for these occasions is flop proof and seems the best way to go.

If I were invited to an evening of uber glitz and glamour, I’d keep my look classic, vintage and elegant. I’d stay clear of anything that looked overly modern and revealing. My dream would be to wear a vintage Chanel gown with avant-garde pearl accessories. Whose dresses sparked your fancy and what would you wear to an event like the Golden Globes?

In the TV series Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) was famous for her over-the-top haute couture and theatrical “Sex and the City” style. It was coveted by fashionistas everywhere. Unfortunately Carrie’s movie style leaves me cold. Unflattering voluminous floral frocks and trapeze coats, gaudy accessories, maxi dresses, an awful Vivienne Westwood wedding gown and loads of real fur ruled her look.

There were some looks I enjoyed:

• A purple, high-neck, short sheath dress with black stud belt and stacked gladiator sandals. It had a plunging back and Carrie’s black bra peaked through. I didn’t like that part, but I loved the dress. She wore this outfit when she said goodbye to the penthouse apartment that wasn’t to be.
• A turquoise, tailored, knee-length frock with uber long kimono sleeves. Carrie wore it to Charlotte’s baby shower.
• A Christian Lacroix wedding gown with black sash and pearls. Carrie modeled it on the Vogue wedding dress shoot. My heart sank when she chose the Vivienne Westwood frock instead.

The best part of Carrie’s movie style was a long strand of chunky pearls that accompanied half her outfits. Even to bed! I also appreciated her cutting edge footwear style because they were walking works of art and she sported them effortlessly.

Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) gets my vote for best dressed and most stylish in the movie. She was absolutely radiant and her ensembles were for the most part tastefully eclectic. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) comes in second and Samantha (Kim Cattrall) stone last.

Did you like Carrie’s fashion and style? Which character would you rate as best dressed?

A statuesque and superbly polished 5′ 11″ Michelle Obama wore a black and white, cotton sateen, tank-leaf print Donna Ricco dress when she appeared as guest host on talk show “the View” last week. She ordered the dress after seeing it advertised in a New York magazine. She added a black rose to the left shoulder strap and was impeccable. I loved it, and so did the rest of America. The magazine was flooded with orders for the same Donna Ricco dress shortly after the show. Two thousand orders that day alone.

So it’s not all about fancy designer wear for Michelle Obama. Mainstream is just as fab. Style is in the wearer and I can’t think of a better person to convey that message than a politician’s wife. Have a squizz at Donna Ricco dresses when you’re next in store. Chances are high you’ll come home with one. I’ve had mine for two years and it’s still going strong.

I’ve had a client in this exact Donna Ricco dress. It looked great, but we opted for a more colourful style instead.

According to a representative from one of the popular retouching agencies:

“It is now deemed just as negative to be too thin as too fat. Everyone is scared of being highlighted as the magazine or label that promotes very thin girls, so they are being a lot more careful about the images they present.”

But Susan Ringwood, who is chief executive of eating disorder charity “Beat”, responded negatively to this practice, saying that it acknowledges the issues associated with projecting the images of very thin models, but misses the point: “They should be using naturally healthy models in the first instance, instead of having to make them look that way.”

I’d love to see a magazine filled with pictures of models and actors that have not been retouched at all. How do you feel about digital photo enhancement in magazines?

Ps. The celebrity gossip site Jossip has some hilarious reporting on the use of Photoshop to alter our favorite celebrities in print.

My favourite dresses:

• Marion Cotillard was magnificent in an eccentric mermaid creation by Jean Paul Gaultier. It was a bold red carpet risk and it worked beautifully. Her eclectic long necklaces complemented her dress and her asymmetrical hairstyle was pure perfection. An ideal mixture of modern and retro Hollywood glamour and I loved it.
• Katherine Heigl was gorgeous in a fiery red, single-shoulder strapped dress. Her short curly hairdo was refreshing among the multitudes of cascading locks.

Other great looks:

• Amy Adams was pretty in a classic and safe strapless deep green gown. Her red ringlets and gold accessories made the outfit and I loved the contrast that was created against her dark green dress.
• Nicole Kidman was flawless at five months pregnant. She gets my vote for best necklace of the night.
• Cate Blanchett is usually my red carpet favourite, but I can’t say that this year’s Oscar dress was her best. That said, she did look radiant and ultra stylish at 7 months pregnant in a deep purple, bejeweled, halter-neck gown.
• Miley Cyrus represented young Hollywood in the best way. Her look was classy and age appropriate. Her earrings were fabulous and the bow at the back of her dress was suitably playful.
• Jennifer Garner, Penelope Cruz and Hillary Swank looked lovely in their strapless and off-the-shoulder black frocks. Nothing too exciting, but Oscar worthy all the same.

George Clooney wore his tux best and gets my vote for best hair of the night.

What were your favourite frocks?

Follow these thumbnails to see some of my favourites at InStyle and E! Online.