I donned a pair of new shoes, popped my popcorn, poured a glass of champagne, grabbed my Jr. Mints from the freezer, and was in front of the T.V. before the first beautifully dressed actress stepped out of her shiny limousine. I LOVE OSCAR NIGHT!

Here’s my view — the good, the bad, and the “what?”…

THE GOOD:

Billy Crystal was funny and entertaining–I loved his best movie parody and song. All I can say is bring him back next year.

Meryl Streep’s upset for best actress was the surprise of the night. She was truly shocked but very gracious (she acknowledged her husband first thing…awww), and she was not even a tiny bit “been there, done that!”

Jessica Chastain was stunning in a gold embroidered Alexander McQueen gown and a half-up/ half-down hairstyle that made her look like a medieval princess that any knight in shinning armor would love to joust for.

Michele Williams’ coral Louis Vuitton gown set-off her already perfect skin to breathtakingly beautiful. And, I loved the hot pink clutch that added a little pizazz to her look.

Emma Stone was not only the funniest presenter with her “first time” shtick, she looked great, too. Some critics thought her gown was too like a past Nicole Kidman dress, but I say she rocked it. The fuchsia color with her red hair and pale skin worked beautifully and the big bow was pitch-perfect for her personality–very well done on all fronts, Ms. Stone!

Penelope Cruz is always stunning on the red carpet and this year was no exception. The glamorous periwinkle, old Hollywood-inspired Armani Prive gown and her new shorter hair made me think of a brunette Grace Kelly.

Gwyneth Paltrow was bold and beautiful in a simple white, and very elegant, Tom Ford dress with a cape. She accented her look with a diamond cuff (cuffs are big for spring!) and a cool low-slung ponytail — less was more… and perfect.

Octavia Spencer who won the Oscar for best supporting actress knows how to pick a script and a red carpet dress — the pleating on her white Tadashi Shoji gown hit in all the right places to flatter her curves.

In the category of best dressed actor the winner is: the midnight blue tux. Elegant and unexpected but classic, midnight blue showed up and showed out on the red carpet. Bradley Cooper wore a Tom Ford classic shawl collar, midnight blue tux with black trim, Christopher Plummer wore a velvet version, and Gary Oldman shook things up with a three-piece black tux with midnight blue trim and a dotted pocket square — WOW!

THE BAD:

Viola Davis wore my favorite color: green. Sadly, that’s about the only good thing I can say about her look. Her hair was over-colored and her dress over-done. Ms. Davis is an amazing actress but it was just not her night.

Melissa McCarthy’s hair and make-up were glamorous and beautiful. Her dress however, was wrong for her figure type — big sleeves don’t work on a full figure.

I’m hoping that Bradley Cooper grew his 70′s-style mustache for a movie role. It so did not compliment his elegant midnight blue tux:(

Sasha Baron Cohen…obnoxious…please stay home next year.

The WHAT?:

When you are considered one of the most beautiful women in the world you shouldn’t have to try to look sexy, but that’s what Angelina Jolie appeared to be doing by thrusting her leg through the slit in her skirt. Seriously, I was waiting for her to put her thumb out.

Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz presented together and both looked stunning. When the camera cut back to the two actresses, after showing film clips, they were turned with their backs to the camera and looking over their shoulders. Why? Could it be their derrieres the two lovely ladies wanted to show-off? Their effort fell — pardon the pun — flat.

The lesson that should be learned from the Misses Jolie, Diaz, and Lopez: Sexy is better served subtle.

Until next year…

A dress with a FULL SKIRT that makes you look like you are floating when you walk into a room. I bought this one in a stretchy fabric from Zara for under $100 —  a price that was less than my meal at a very hip restaurant in Greenwich Village where I got three compliments on my inexpensive, but very chic dress.

Moderately priced at $350, J. Crew’s  beige, pleated wool shift not only moves beautifully, but transitions easily from day to night. Wear it with a belt, cardigan, and pumps for work. Lose the belt and put on a pair of sling backs and some gold bracelets for dinner out.

If you want to splurge, go for this Alexander McQueen lace knit jacquard wool and silk print that will come right out of your suitcase ready to put on. The black and ivory color combination makes this piece timeless, so really the $2080 price is a bargain, right?

Fall has not arrived until you pick up something with SEQUINS. It doesn’t matter if wear them on tennis shoes for day or on a dress for cocktails.

Sparkle with lots of sequins — this dress from Vince at Neiman Marcus.                                                          

Or, just on your feet — Christian Louboutin’s leopard print sequin pumps.

Take a break from lady-like or just give it an edge with LEATHER. Theory has a great shell and updates a plain wool car coat with leather sleeves. Or, if you can afford them and pull it off, there are some cool leather jeans (that stretch!) out there. I have no idea how they process the leather to make it feel like it has Lycra in it but I tried them on and they are unbelievably comfortable. I loved  the L’agence lambskin pair.

Neiman Marcus says the color for fall is BORDEAUX–I say go GRAY. This neutral was everywhere and it looks great with CAMEL — clean and classic.

Favorite collections: CHOLE is divine! Stella has a feminine groove happening with color-blocking and transparent cutouts that give you all the right curves. TORY BURCH is channeling Chanel and she’s doing it very well with her tweed jackets and skirts. BANANA REPUBLIC’s Mad Men collection — chic and affordable — makes you want to have a martini.

To accessorize these feminine looks you’ll need a clutch for night and a proper HANDBAG (the strap goes over your arm, not your shoulder) for daytime. Bold, gold jewelry is big this season — I love it paired with pearls. There are GLOVES galore being shown and PUMPS, with or without sequins, are perfect to complete the look. If you are feeling particularly glamorous FUR is a great accent for this season — on cuffs, hems, or a fur scarf.

For the GUYS: If you want to update your look put on a VEST .  You can pull one of your three-piece suits out of your cedar closet or just pickup a sweater vest to wear with a sport coat and jeans. If you need a new suit the hottest jackets have a third flap pocket — called a change pocket or a ticket pocket — above the right hip pocket, and are close-fitting.

SPRING 2012 — The spring lines were showing at Lincoln Center when I was in New York. I chatted-up several models at the Starbucks on 60th one morning and the word is SEQUINS will still be around in the spring, TRANSPARENT fabrics are everywhere from blouses to the bottom two thirds of skirts, and robin’s egg blue, sea-foam green, and yellow will be the big colors.

Happy Shopping!

For those of us traveling this summer there is always the dilemma of packing light but having everything you need to look good.  At the heart of any good fashion debate: “what bag should I take?”  For me, it needs to be lightweight for perusing the spice markets of Istanbul, chic enough for lunch with friends in Memphis, and neutral enough to go with all of the shoes I plan to take to New York.  Either of the bags pictured is a good choice.  On the left: Christian Louboutin’s linen tote has been finished with a metallic coating to give it durability and a glamorous glow. On the right: Balenciaga’s super soft lambskin bag has a distressed metallic finish that should go with everything, and its slim top will make it comfortable to carry.  Both bags have handles that fit well over the shoulder so that you can wear your bag tucked easily (and safely!) under your arm.  Both bags are big enough for a wallet, passport, and camera, while still having enough room to accommodate your souvenir shopping.

My two friends and fellow shoppers picked-up Armani’s navy blazer for their summer travels.  A navy blazer goes with everything — white jeans, linen pants, khaki shorts or skirt and even over a black sleeveless dress (blue and black is a trending color combo!).  I also like the Smythe one-button navy blazer pictured right. The gold button detailing is nice for summer — add white jeans, gold sandals, a nude colored silk blouse and voila!

Packing note: If you are like me and your summer destinations have hot and humid climates you are not thinking jacket.  But, airplanes and restaurants can be cold so wear the blazer to and fro and you won’t have to make space for it in your bag!

Now for the MEN: One look at George (Neiman Marcus in San Francisco) tells you that if you have a question about men’s fashion, you have found your go-to guy.  George informs me that the big look for men this summer is a “soft” fitting sport coat.  You can go wild with prints and colors on your shirt if you choose a tan or navy coat.  If you go with the handsome plaid coat pictured here, try a periwinkle, yellow, blue or white shirt.

George assures me that pocket squares are still au courant, so if you haven’t gotten one you should.  For tips on how to wear it check out my post “Trends For Spring.”

Complementing the softer structured sport coat this summer are a plethora of cool-looking tennis shoes. Everyone from Ferragamo to Zenga is doing one, and yes, you wear them with your new sport coat and pocket square.  But, what you may not be wearing is a belt — I’m seeing a lot of empty belt loops on the oh-so-hip and beautiful.

A relaxed casual look is king this summer so enjoy it gentlemen!

Other favorites:  Cate Blanchette was stunning in a lavender Givenchy with chartreuse accent beading — a very interesting dress on what may be Hollywood’s most interesting actress. In the I’m-confident-enough-to-dress-my-age category: Hailee Steinfeld was pretty as a princess in her tea-length Marchesa and tiara-like headband; and Helen Mirren was elegant with short hair, diamonds, and a gun-metal gray dress that was not matronly, but not trying to be twenty-five (and this is one sixty-five year-old women who could possibly get away with trying to be twenty-five–google: “Helen Mirren in a red bikini” and see for yourself!)

And for the best looking couple…Matthew McConaughey and girlfriend Camila Alves; both looked incredible in Dolce & Gabbana.

Until next year…

For the guys: Pocket squares!  There are lots of ways to wear them — with a suit and a coordinating tie (but not match-y, match-y); or with no tie you can really go crazy with your color and pattern.  For a hipper downtown look wear your pocket square with a dress shirt (open collar and un-tucked), sport coat, jeans (make them dark) and cowboy boots. Or, for an even more casual look — pair your sport coat and a loosely tucked-in square with jeans, t-shirt (nice, no logos!), and driving mocs.