While the Oscars are certainly about the awards, we all know that the fashion on the red carpet is almost as much of a reason to tune in. This year there were several new trends to spot (ponytails, red, very little jewelry) and new crowns to be given out to the best and worst dressed in the land…all in good fun.

Best Dressed

Reese Witherspoon

I can’t even think of the last time I saw Reese’s hair up…maybe when she herself won an Oscar back in 2006. Reese stepped out in that bombshell updo-ponytail and made jaws drop. Now that’s when you know you’ve nailed a good look. Minimal jewelry was a huge trend on the red carpet, as seen here on Reese with no necklace and only a bracelet and earrings. I’m a fan.

Only drawback (not even sure if you can call it that), the dress resembled Julia Roberts gown from 2001. And it was very Kelly Taylor/Brenda Walsh Beverly Hills 90210 circa Spring Formal 1991.

Sandra Bullock

My, oh my how her life has changed in one year. Red was a hot color for the red carpet this year - oh so fitting. Yet a general rule is to stay away from red, since it can sometimes blend right into the carpet and wash out a celeb completely. But Sandra pulled it off quite beautifully and the detail on the train makes this gown.

Scarlett Johansson

There’s a little thing that happens in Hollywood after a divorce… it’s called ‘look absolutely KILLER at the next mega awards show.’ In other words, it’s a big slap in the face, divorce never looked so good and ‘hey, I’m back on the market’ kind of look. Several women in recent years are famous for it (Reese, Eva) and now you can add Scarlett to that list. The dress literally looks like it was made for her. And again, barely there jewelry - love!

Amy Adams

Amy Adams looked gorg in her stunning blue number. And while it looked very lovely on the red carpet, it was an absolute knock out on stage during the live show. The lights on stage captured all the sequins and made her shine!

But, but, but…the necklace was a downer. If her stylist would’ve scrapped that, the look would have been divine. P.S. Loved the waves in her hair!

Worst Dressed

Cate Blanchett

And the Oscar for most hideous dress/worst use of the colors lavender and lime goes to…Cate Blanchett. As one Twitter-ite put it, “Cate is wearing my grandmother’s chair.”

I’ve never had such strong feelings against a dress in my life! First, why would you combine lavender and lime green together on a gown? Then there’s the whole bubble detail on the dress - that either looks like popcorn or boils, I can’t tell. Then we have the use of shapes for the Kindergarten crowd - a massive circle on her chest and two upside down horse shoes on her hips. And to top off the look…pleats. Oh my.

The insane thing is that she landed on  few best dressed lists. They must be smoking whatever James Franco is smoking.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Who wears duct tape on the red carpet? Gwyneth does! The metallic silver color was a dud on her and so was her boring hair. If you only look at the top of the dress it looks like a life preserve jacket, or at best a men’s suit vest. And what is it with Gwyn and plunging necklines while everyone else is turning to high necklines? Points for being unique.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole and her stylist seem to be stuck in 1995. The string of dresses she’s been wearing this award season look like they came right out of her Tom Cruise days…aka the 90s. I wish Nicole could take the style she embodied at the Grammys and carry that with her. Although ponytails seem to be the new ‘it’ hairdo on the red carpet - the bangs in her face fell flat, just like the rest of her look.