While our counterparts at Mediaite have been dutifully liveblogging every last moment of this year's 82nd Annual Academy Awards, we at Styleite gave up before the show even started; we were in it for the red carpet, clearly. Thankfully, this year's pre-show fashion fest served up no shortage of sartorial sins, rewarding risks, and, predictably, the usual snoozefest offenders. The Hits:
Meryl Streep won tonight's best dressed award, hands down. While our first guess pegged her dress as Valentino, kudos goes to Project Runway alum Chris March for designing such a standout, knockout, all-around stunning dress. Meryl Streep outshone Oscar himself. Period.

Diane Kruger's cream and black feathered gown was undeniably, iconically, and gorgeously Chanel. Featuring a halter neck, no small amount of Chanel camelias, and a bias cut that would make most actresses run for the hills, Kruger's dress was a elegant and inspired choice for the red carpet.

Carey Mulligan looked whimsically chic for her first Academy Awards red carpet appearance in a black bedazzled Prada gown.  While many consider black to be a bit drab for the Oscars, Miuccia Prada's design looked perfect against her pale skin and platinum blonde boyish haircut.  Accented perfectly with impeccably sized chandelier earrings by Fred Leighton, Mulligan's dress most definitely earned the actress a place among Hollywood's "Best Dressed."

Vera Farmiga's fucshia Marchesa gown was reminiscent of Diane Kruger's Christian Lacroix Golden Globe's dress.  The ruffled fanning that spanned from the upper bodice down to the bottom was a unique and perfectly executed accent, which was refreshing considering the red carpet's surprising lack of originality tonight.  The color choice was daring and divine and the gown fit her body like a glove.

Zoe Saldana's Givenchy gown sets a prime example for what red carpet fashion could and should be. Exquisitely styled and arguably the evening's most creative, Zoe's dress was purple, ruched, ruffled, and huge. Also: it had a sparkly top. Good for her for pulling it off, but more importantly, for having the courage to wear it in the first place.

Up next: The Misses...

In case you haven't heard, this year's Vanity Fair Hollywood issue is extremely monochromatic. Over the years, VF has often included at least one, sometimes two, people who can check an ethnic box other than Caucasian, but not this year. The lack of color in the cover story is surprising, and -- to be honest -- pretty disappointing. Not the least because....well where is Gabourey Sidibe, whose jaw-dropping, and now Oscar-nominated, debut performance in Precious floored just about everyone. Really? Getting an Oscar nom your first time out doesn't merit a cover nod? (more...)

With this weekend's release of New Moon -- and Bella, Jacob and Edward again invading the magazine racks -- we invite you to look back on the Twilight magazine covers of months past. Now, the field is much more crowded. Feel free to recommend your new favorite Twilight covers in the comments.You won't believe this: it has only been one year since the live action stars of teen vampire sensation Twilight infiltrated popular culture. And part of the reason they seem like such fixtures of celebrity already -- apart from their impossible good looks, effortless cool and high-powered marketing machine -- is their presence in print and command of their image. Flattering pictures may not be hard to come by when you're young and playing magical characters, but from this charming Vanity Fair spread to the endless tabloid fabrications, the kids always come out looking all right. (more...)

This week in Hollywood, it’s difficult — nay, impossible — to ignore the impact of the teenage girl demographic. Yes, I am talking about that little Twilight movie. And by "little movie," of course I mean that ridiculously huge, impossible to ignore, will-make-over-$100-million-in-its-first-weekend-at-the-US-box-office movie that opens in theaters today. The Twilight Saga: New Moon opens in theaters almost exactly one year from the date when the first little Twilight movie entered our lives. You know, the one based on a ‘children’s book’ by Stephenie Meyer (in fact it was named one of Publishers Weekly’s best children’s books of 2005), about a teenage girl who moves to a new town and just happens to fall in love with a vampire (happens all the time), the one that single-handedly turned a tiny indie studio, Summit Entertainment Group — previously best known for partnering with Disney/Touchstone on the "Step Up" franchise — into a force to be reckoned with, and pretty much the envy of all of Hollywood. Aside from the once-a-decade type of phenomenon that is the recently released Paranormal Activity ($15K budget; $100 million-plus box office), has there been a more profitable, franchise-creating film in recent years than that first little Twilight movie? I think upon a glance at the box office returns it's safe to say the answer is no. Let's consider the numbers. (more...)

Do you ike Twilight? Can't wait for New Moon? Swoon over Robert Pattinson and working on that about-to-sulk Kristen Stewart look? Then you're gonna love "Firelight" — the new digital short from SNL which takes Twilight to a whole new level. Actually a very similar level, except Edward is green. Taylor Swift does her best unsmiling goth as the Bella character, with some excellent supporting work by the other undead zombies in the gang. You're almost rooting for these two crazy kids to make it. Until New Moon comes out on Nov. 20th, this will do. (more...)

Yesterday, we got extremely excited for the next entry in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and to celebrate we took a look back at the all-time greatest Twilight magazine covers so far. The "so far" was important because the second wave publicity storm is just beginning, as we all anxiously await forthcoming issues of Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly and doubtlessly many more. (more...)

slideshow Vampires are having a moment. True Blood is a much-needed hit for HBO, with its latest episodes passing the 5-million viewers mark; Twilight is already churning out the third movie of its franchise, Eclipse, with newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard upping the star power of the cast. Kevin Williamson's Vampire Diaries looks like Dawson's Creek with coffins; there's even a tongue-in-cheek how-to book, How To Catch & Keep A Vampire, coming out. Even erstwhile media mess Lindsay Lohan is joining in the fun, baring fangs (and desperation) on Twitpic. Will the fascination ever cease? (more...)