Delayed Response: Academy Awards Hits and Misses

You tired of Academy Awards beauty and fashion coverage yet? I didn't rush my post into "print" because I wanted to reflect on what I had seen. Sometimes, after a day or two, my first impressions change as I examine the "piece-parts" of a look. So, here's my opinionated recap of the Red Carpet fashion and beauty, along with a few random observations - impressions that stuck with me.

I want to start with the instant hits that remain on my favorites list after three days, women (and their stylists, makeup artists, and personal sense of beauty) who knocked it out of the park. There was so much old fashioned glamour that night!

Cameron Diaz has to get my "most perfect" award. She glowed in a gold strapless, embellished Oscar de la Renta gown. You can see a close-up of her and find out how to create her breezy, side-swept hair style at Fabulous Over Forty. Diaz is a gorgeous woman, and she looked like a goddess on the Red Carpet.

Anna Kendrick, who said she had a last-minute change of dress, chose an Elie Saab Couture off-the-shoulder blush pink gown. It was enormously flattering. With her casually swept-back hair and pink lipstick, she was radiant. I didn't like the shoes, but that's my hang-up. I think those all-the-rage clunkers are ugly.

I have never seen Demi Moore look more beautiful! She opted for a dusty peach gown from Versace and joined Kendrick with casually swept back hair. Her smokey eyes and pink lips, along with gorgeous pearl and diamond earrings, were perfect. Word has it that she was wearing a few of my favorite makeup products: Armani foundation and YSL's Touche Éclat.

Kate Winslet nailed silver. Silver is a tough look for a blond to master. Her Atelier Yves Saint Laurent gown, stupendous Tiffany jewelry, casual hair, and makeup by Jillian Dempsey (including Jullian's Avon products) added up to sheer perfection.

Sandra Bullock is on my list, not because she is a natural beauty, but because she looked great and has an inner beauty many don't know about. Her Marchesa gown showed off her fit body. She was radiant.

What a daring choice for the incredible Meryl Streep to wear a plunging Chris March white dress - she looked gorgeous. Did you see her jump out of her chair to give a standing ovation to "competitor" Sandra Bullock? Such class! Such talent! Such beauty!

I actually liked Zoe Saldana's Givenchy violet "poodle gown." It was daring and flattering. She's a beautiful young gal, and she can take some chances at her age. I liked the whole look. I think the professional critics were off the mark when they complained about cutting off the lower half of the dress. She rocked the look.

There were many architectural gowns, some of which have been panned by the critics. While they wore their women, I liked them. I liked Vera Farmiga's brightly ruffled flamenco-style Marchesa gown (her blue eyes popped) and Jennifer Lopez's Armani Prive stunner. They were daring and jazzy.

Next up? Beautiful women, poor dress selections.

Charleze Theron - the girls didn't need bullseyes. What was she thinking? What were the folks at Christian Dior thinking?

Tina Fey - maybe comic genius doesn't come with an eye for fashion. Her dress was way better than the hideous Zac Posen dress she wore to the Golden Globes, but it wasn't memorable. Her leopard print Michael Kors gown was cut well, fit well, and looked...well? She should have worn the Gucci look she featured in this month's Vogue! Anyhow, I'll take comic genius any day if it's a choice is between genius and fashion.

Here's my most controversial opinion. I didn't like Sarah Jessica Parker's look. I am not smitten with her - never have been - so I am definitely not blinded by love for everything SJP. I thought her look was "off." The dress would have been better if it had been a bit more form-fitting, Karl. Oh and if it had been a different color. That chartreuse-silver combo didn't work for me. I didn't like the big hair bun either - it made her entirely-too-long face even longer.

Miley Cyrus - I was stunned when critics raved about her dress. I was sure she had picked it up at a southern thrift shop. It looked like an old prom dress. Her makeup was too old, and her earrings were too big. And she needed to hike that dress up a few inches. Why can't women wearing strapless gowns get them placed at the right armpit to breast height? I hate the ones that look like they are falling off (or out). Hike up those dresses, ladies!

What's with the anorexic look? The young gals may be into skinny (by choice or genetics), but shouldn't James Cameron's wife, Suzy Amis Cameron, be old enough to know? She needs to eat more. I hope she's not sick - I'll feel terrible if she is. She's a beautiful woman, but with her bones sticking out, she looked starved in her "planet-friendly" gown.

Didn't Mariah Carey look a bit chunky? Was it her dress, or was it simply living life to its fullest? Is she pregnant? And Nick...what was the haircut about? It looked like a bowl cut, with corners. Weird.

To the commentators who criticized some of the gals for having no cleavage, so what? This implant rage is out of control. I'm glad they feel true to themselves, and I hope they stay that way!

The hunk of the night? My vote goes to Ryan Reynolds. I don't understand the fascination with Taylor Lautner, the actor everyone was waiting to see. Scarlett and Ryan: What a beautiful couple! Where was she?

That's enough from me! The audience at home was huge, which is good for the industry, even though the pace of the show as too slow, as usual. Isn't the pre-show the most fun? I watched online - the best way to see everything, unedited and without the babble.

Kate Winslet photo courtesy of Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Meryl Streep photo courtesy of photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Demi Moore photo courtesy of John Shearer/Getty Images
Anna Kendrick photo courtesy of Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Ryan Reynolds photo courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Wireimage.com
Cameron Diaz photo courtesy of Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Zoe Saldana photo courtesy of Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Vera Farmiga photo courtesy of Jason Merritt/Getty Images