Oscar's night of fashion blunders

These women have the most famous fashion and jewellery designers from Milan, Paris, New York and Hollywood at their disposal. At their feet. Grovelling, begging, pleading to offer their services. We'll help you look sensational. Anything you want Julia, Gwyneth, Nicole, Kate, Cameron - take it. And if you don't like anything in our catwalk collection we'll run you up something else. We'll see that people simply gasp at you, the glittering star, as you walk down that red carpet - or you shimmer on stage to present or collect an award.

"The dress" they'll say: "Look how incredible she looks in that dress." Your image will be flashed around the globe. Remember Liz Hurley in "that dress" and what it did for her career - and that was only London. This is LA. The Oscars may be about Hollywood politics, schmaltz and money - but sometimes the right person wins. For female stars, however, it is also about being jaw-droppingly glamorous in front of the entire film industry at the ceremony - and a further two billion people supposedly glued to their TV sets.

So how come so many women stars got it so wrong? I mean - all that time, money, effort and help - and they didn't look as good as women in the audience at an Oprah show.

Gwyneth Paltrow is probably sobbing with embarrassment. She wore a long black dress with a ruched see-through bodice that showed flat breasts - and the entire top half of her body ruched down to her non-existent waist. And the Heidi plaits on the top of her head? How did she leave home like that? Doesn't she have a best friend?

Cameron Diaz (drag hair through hedge and then apply gel) went for a Betsy Johnson type cream dress with huge floral blobs and a slash to the waist. No one else could wear it. On her, the woman with the sexiest smile and face in the industry, it looked like fashion. And this could be the New Hair.

Nicole Kidman looked frozenly pretty in long pale pink. The hair was long and softly waved, but it was frankly too dated. You looked, you shrugged - even though she's beautiful.

Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly, a skinny woman, wore a long strapless dress in shrieking beige, the ruched top of which seemed to be riding down her even skinnier chest as she made her way on stage. Why she wore a long matching pale dung coloured scarf was a mystery.

Yes, Kate Winslet did look good in a flame-coloured tight fitting strapless dress with a shoulder strap of scarlet roses. Julia Roberts looked too thin and boring in long black with long sleeves and gaps at the back and under the arms.

Now she may not be young, but I have seen Barbra Streisand look pretty good. However, these days she's buying retail. She's buying curtains retail. For Streisand appeared in a burgundy velvet draped wrap that swathed her whole body - although a leg stuck out so there was a slit in the wrap/tent/curtain somewhere. Maybe it was a prop from Funny Girl. And the hair was lifeless and flat, and you think maybe she's so busy being happily married she doesn't care. Maybe she's fallen out with Donna Karan. Because if that was DK, sell your share.

Elfin Sharon Stone looked slim, divinely pretty with slightly longer hair (much better) and a stunning black long-sleeved dress cut low at the back.

Halle Berry looked dreamy. Dark, elfin, sizzlingly beautiful. The best-dressed body in the business, she wore a burgundy and dark green dress with the chiffon top discreetly covered in petals or jewels. She hadn't copied or borrowed her look from anyone else. She's Halle Berry with her alert spiky black hair and little need of artifice. Oscar for best look even if I don't agree with Oscar for best actress.

Whoopi Goldberg. She has a bigger personality than any woman - and most men in Hollywood. I love her - she made the whole evening possible. But her clothes did inject a kind of circus element to the proceedings.

The opening spoof Moulin Rouge sequence was a glittering hoot - but then the patchwork velvet coats, the array of fancy dress clothes didn't do it for me. Someone get hold of Whoopie and make her look glamorous.

What else can I tell you? Helen Mirren, Renée Zellweger, Maggie Smith displayed restrained good taste in black or white. Oh, Sissy Spacek looked so dignified and attractive in a white cover-up jacket. What a smile.

But do you want to know who looked really gorgeous? The men.

Despite their advanced ages, nobody in the theatre looked better than Sidney Poitier and Robert Redford in their DJs. Even Woody Allen looked good. I tell you, things have come to pass when Woody Allen shows up anywhere looking better than Gwyneth Paltrow.

Marcelle d'Argy Smith - (Former Cosmopolitan and Woman's Journal Editor)

- Courtesy BBC News

Make the first move

By Nedra Wickremesinghe

Question: Sometimes when I am with friends, they forget to introduce me to the people they meet at a party. When this happens, I feel left out and tend to usually quietly walk away as I am rather shy and nervous and lack the courage to introduce myself. This really irritates me. How should I overcome this situation?

Answer: It is downright inconsiderate of your friends not to introduce you. Experience has shown me that the only way to deal with people like this is:

1) Tell them honestly that you are embarrassed at not being introduced as you feel left out; or

2) Get over your shyness by putting out your hand and introducing yourself. You can begin by saying, "Hello! I don't think we have met before, I'm Neela." It is quite alright to make the first move. Once you get started, your confidence will grow naturally.

Question : I have to often accompany my husband to various social functions. I dread these functions as I am very retiring. Most of his colleagues know that I am very quiet and shy. What do I do?

Answer: Remember, there are many who are as nervous as you are. Regular outings will help you to overcome your shyness. Naturally, you may feel uneasy in a room full of strangers, but it is entirely up to you to make the evening a success. Try to spot a lone guest or two not engaged in conversation. Make the first move by walking up to her and introducing yourself. This way you will establish contacts, make friends and enjoy yourself. Communication is a must and you should try to open up to people around you. As you gain confidence the rest will come naturally.

Question: I am a lady executive. Do I have to stand up to greet male clients who visit me?

Answer: In the business world, ladies and men are equal. You should stand up to greet male clients just as you should to greet female clients.

Question: Can we use 'Ms' for a woman who is married?

Answer: 'Ms' is used both socially and in business to address single and married women. Officially, a 'Ms' would save the time to find out if a woman is married, and socially it connotes equality just as a 'Mr' is used for all men.