Best (Reese Witherspoon) & Worst (Cate Blanchett) Oscar gowns

The Oscar telecast was a snooze, despite hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco's best efforts. But most people watch the telecast to see who's wearing what. Here are our favorites, along with a few that didn't make the grade.

First, a couple of ground rules. We left out Hathaway, because she changed gowns so many times we had trouble keeping track. And we didn't include Halle Berry, because while she looked beautiful (when hasn't she?), we felt like she didn't try anything new. Same fab gown; same short haircut.

Now for our winners: Reese Witherspoon's simple black Armani Privé gown with a white band at the bustline was Oscar elegant. (It looks a bit like the vintage Valentino gown that Julia Roberts wore when she won the Oscar in 2001.) Witherspoon' retro updo had a hip '60s attitude; think Julie Christie in Darling.) So what if it smacks of Oscar Barbie? It was our favorite look of the evening.

Best Actress nominee Jennifer Lawrence looked smokin' hot in a body-hugging red Calvin Klein Collection gown. She wore virtually no jewelry, just a sole silver bangle, and carried a Judith Leiber bag. Some might think it's a little too casual for Oscar night, but we agree with E!'s Kelly Osbourne that it's the sexiest red carpet look we've seen.

Best Actress nominee Michelle Williams has had a disastrous awards season — fashion-wise (her Golden Globes gown dotted with daisies was one of the all-time worst gowns of any awards season)  — but she redeemed herself in a classic Chanel gown and blonde pixie haircut.

14-year-old Halle Steinfeld, on the other hand, has looked fantastic on the runway throughout the awards season. The best supporting actress nominee looked charming in a pale pink, crystal hand embroidered tea-length dress by Marchesa that she said she helped designed. If this acting gig doesn't work out, perhaps she get can work in the fashion biz.

Last year's Best Actress winner, Sandra Bullock is a red Vera Wang gown and soft updo, made the best dressed list again. But she didn't look very happy throughout the evening and left immediately after the ceremony ended.

Another former Best Actress winner, Hilary Swank struck just the right note in a Gucci sequined gray gown with a feather skirt.

Sure, not everyone is crazy about Marisa Tomei's vintage couture gown by Charles James. But for a gown that was created in 1950, it still looks fresh and different. Plus, we love her nod to fashion history, and to James, whose patron Dominique de Menil owned a treasure trove of his designs. Let's hope the Menil organizes a retrospective soon.

Best Accessory (besides an Oscar): Natalie Portman's Tiffany rubellite tassel earrings with rose-cut diamonds that matched her aubergine, off-the-shoulder Rodarte gown by sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy. (They also created the costumes for Black Swan, but were overlooked for an Oscar nomination.) The gown was lovely but not memorable and nothing close to the cutting-edge look that Rodarte is known for.
 

Gwyneth Paltrow, right, in a silver Calvin Klein Collection gown and ironed-straight blonde hair, was one of the night's fashion winners. (For her big number in the telecast, she changed into a one-shoulder beaded Michael Kors gown that was featured on the runway during recent fashion week.)

Wish we could have something nice to say about Nicole Kidman's Dior haute couture gown. But the washed-out color and an odd design that flares out the hips made Kidman look - oh the horrors - simply OK. She can do better.

We love the tangerine color of Jennifer Hudson's Versace gown, but the odd plunging bustline seems more suited for the Grammys than the Oscars. On TV, the black tape she used to keep the bustline closed, showed - a real no, no.

The evening's biggest fashion loser: Cate Blanchett in Givenchy. We give her points for being fashion forward and trying something different. But she looked suited for battle in a design that included armour-like shoulders and bubble-wrap beading. It's a memorable Oscar look — for all the wrong reasons.