Celebrity fashion highlights Oscars

As film fans were glued to their TV sets during Monday night's Academy Awards, many star-gazers may have been commenting on celebrity fashion as much as the actual awards.

Some celebrities looked smashing and others looked as though they've never seen a mirror.

But aside from making your own Joan Rivers-esque commentary, there are practical reasons for paying attention to Oscars fashion -- it can be a window into the upcoming trends and tragedies in formal wear, and give you ideas for your own formal ensemble.

Several nominees and presenters represented the high and low points of Oscar fashion.

Her mesh-like shawl was the perfect accent to a simple dress and not-too-overpowering jewelry.

Sheer fabrics are an instant way to update a plain formal dress and add a hint of fairy-tale magic -- definitely a look worth copying.

Minnie Driver is another celebrity worth looking to for fashion advice.

A nominee for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Good Will Hunting, Driver wore an elegant dress with an ever-so-small train trailing behind, a look that has been becoming more and more popular lately.

Small details such as the train make a simple dress unique.

She carried a furry stole, another trend marking the end of simplicity on its own. Whether real or artificial, fur-like accessories can make a dress look elegant, and fur trim on a gown can scream "notice me."

As with every other year, there were several celebrities who could be classified as "fashion don'ts" at the awards.

Madonna, who presented the award for Best Original Song, showed up with hair that was flat on top, with curls reminiscent of Nellie Oleson from "Little House on the Prairie." Madonna also bared more cleavage than is necessary on any occasion.

Her dress was a good example of why everyone should get a second opinion before opting to wear an outfit that looks like the sleeves were cut off.

Cher, an attendee of the awards, wore her typical unique garb, including a wacky-looking hat.

Cher always seems to go over the top with her fashion statements, but sometimes too much is too much, even for Cher. There probably won't be many people emulating that look.

Although Madonna's and Cher's outfits are not necessarily in style this season, there's one thing to be learned from them: If you don't care about what's "in," doing your own thing is always in style, and if it looks right to you, it's probably the perfect choice.