As I write this, dearest and loveliest of readers, IâÄôm knee-deep in Oscar gown frenzy. ItâÄôs 10:30 on Sunday night and Reese Witherspoon is explaining the tasks of a director in a dress that just canâÄôt live up to its potential, and it has potential. Plus, whoever did her makeup dumped about fifteen pounds of grey eyeshadow on her lids, and in the words of my roommate Amy, âÄúshe looks like a sad cartoon.âÄù Oh Reese, just because youâÄôre not nominated this year doesnâÄôt mean you should let me down. IâÄôm still obsessed with that yellow cocktail dress you wore to the Golden Globes a few years ago. Awards season is always an exciting time for avid fashion fans, and this year, I found myself a little disappointed in what TinseltownâÄôs finest had to offer. Hollywood is always criticized by the fashion community for playing it too âÄúsafeâÄù on the red carpet and honestly, they have to – anyone in a dress that doesnâÄôt scream âÄútastefulâÄù will get crucified in the press for weeks afterward. They still canâÄôt get over BjorkâÄôs swan dress! So which dresses were my favorites? I absolutely adored Best Actress WINNER (finally!) Kate WinsletâÄôs dusty blue and black YSLâÄîmake no mistake, 75% of my Kate love comes from a childhood âÄúTitanicâÄù adoration, but the woman is flawless. Marisa TomeiâÄôs dove gray Atelier Versace with that billowing train? Beyoootiful! But my two favorites were both outfitted in Dior Haute Couture: last yearâÄôs Best Actress winner Marion Cotillard in a black tulle creation bedazzled with electric blue sequins, and Sarah Jessica Parker in a delicious âÄúbarely mintâÄù frothy princess dress that managed to avoid the sugary and be totally gorgeous on my personal heroine. (My obsession with Carrie B. still hasnâÄôt died and it probably never will.) Honestly, I donâÄôt have a âÄúbest and worst dressedâÄù list this year. Everyone looked pretty good; there werenâÄôt any button-pushers this year, even Tilda Swinton wore makeup with her experimental draped Lanvin. Angie Jolie always wears black, black, black on the red carpet, but her green earrings paired with said black Elie Saab (who also dressed post-Marilyn Manson Evan Rachel Wood) made the ensemble for me. The woman is so gorgeous she can wear a Hefty bag, and she glows with happiness! Love her! Anne HathawayâÄôs Armani Privé, so shimmery with pailettes it made her look like a fluid mermaid, was lovely against her skin tone and chic makeup. Even Queen Latifah looked gorgeous in a deep navy blue gown. The only misstep of the night was Beyoncé in a black and gold monstrosity. Yikes! IâÄôve just learned that horror came from her mother TinaâÄôs clothing line, House of Dereon, so no wonder it was awful. B, stay with Armani. He loves you! More importantly, though, New York Fashion Week has just ended, though the February week is fall-centric; designers are presenting their fall âÄô09 collections early enough so âÄúVogueâÄù can start cobbling together that gigantic brick of a September issue. However, my March fashion issues, heavy and fat like glossy doves full of advertisements, have been arriving in the mail almost daily heralding the arrival of spring and a crop of new trends. Heads-up for you! My trusty photographer pal and I have been meaning to hit the streets in search of some campus-centric fashion à la the Sartorialist (http://thesartorialist.com), and IâÄôve been pleased by what IâÄôve seen while I make my ways towards Murphy Hall every day, but the weather just isnâÄôt cooperating! I hate that Minnesota weather zips from 35 to -10 in the course of a week! Hopefully this weekâÄôll stay in the 30âÄôs and youâÄôll ditch the parka and Uggs for something a little more fun, so we can snap your picture for the FashionistaâÄôs pages! Oh, and remember how I wanted letters? Inbox = empty! For now, here are some tips: What You Should Be Wearing This Spring, Pt. 1: -Slouchy skinny jeans, and ripped, weathered and destroyed is best (theyâÄôve actually got great ones at American Eagle, surprise surprise!) -neons (as an accent, or as the center of an outfit) -patterned bangle bracelets (Seen at Louis Vuitton, you can pick up your own version at For Love 21 for about $6) -âÄúbondageâÄù dresses (skintight, short, âÄò80s-inspired: these are not for the faint of heart) -gladiator sandals are still hanging around, so pick up a pair instead of nasty plastic flip-flops -one-shoulder tops (ThereâÄôs a gorgeous one at Banana Republic right now) -fringe (Covered in Uptown has a fringe bag IâÄôm dying over) I have faith! Spring will be. . .um, springing as soon as Cadbury eggs (my weakness) start appearing at the Harvard Market!