Celeb Fashion Hits & Misses

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This Tux Sucks: Celine Dion gave new meaning to the term "ass-backwards" at the 1999 Oscars, modeling a reverse John Galliano for Dior white tuxedo with matching fedora that made her look like a disoriented gangster. The "My Heart Will Go On" belter paired her pimptastic togs with preposterous diamond-encrusted Ray-Bans, which she at least wore for a good cause: in exchange, the sunglass company donated $50,000 to a Canadian charity. Sadly, Dior managed to persuade Celine to wear its contrary couture free of charge.

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CHRISTINA MILIAN: MISS

Singer-actress Christina Milian tries to dress up a belly-baring tank top, but aims too high with her thick belt and girlish miniskirt at a fashion event in Hollywood.

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SELMA BLAIR: HIT

Selma Blair looks fashion-forward in a vividly patterned vintage dress by Hawaiian designer Kamehameha at the L.A. premiere of her film Pretty Persuasion.

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KELLY PRESTON: MISS

Talk about shapeless: Sky High star Kelly Preston is swimming in a frumpy velvet frock at an appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly.

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Oscar the Slouch: Gwyneth Paltrow slouched into fashion infamy at the 2002 Oscars in this embarrassingly sheer, post-modern punk Alexander McQueen getup. Her ensemble, with its wrinkly mesh top and heavy taffeta skirt, was quite a change from the ill-fitting but widely praised pink Ralph Lauren gown Gwyn wore to collect her Best Actress prize for "Shakespeare in Love" in 1999. Judgment on the actress' red-carpet choice was swift, with barbs flying over her lack of cross-your-heart support, her braided Swiss Miss hair, and her aggressively kohl-rimmed raccoon eyes. And for those who are wondering -- and you know who you are -- yes, it was a bit chilly out, and no, Gwyneth wasn't happy to see us.

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KATE HUDSON: HIT

Kate Hudson shows off her trim figure in a slinky see-through Versace gown with a low-dipping back at the L.A. premiere of The Skeleton Key.

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No Moore Spandex: When we think Oscars, the first thing that leaps to mind is, "Hey, now there's the perfect place to show off our workout wear." No? Well, that didn't stop Demi Moore from styling stretchy -- in all the wrong places, if we may be blunt -- bicycle shorts for the 1989 awards. Her ghastly, girdle-like getup should serve as a warning for any and all celebrities who are considering designing their own duds, since the former Mrs. Bruce Willis took credit for this unbelievably unflattering cutaway creation, which also featured a loathsome backside-accentuating bustle and matching bustier. (Hey, does anyone else get a chicken vibe off of this? Must just be us). A tux-clad Bruce somehow retains a shred of dignity while standing next to Demi, who apparently never asked him one crucial question: "Does this bustle make my butt look big?"

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Peep Show: Little Bo Peep lost her sheep ... so she handed over her dress to Geena Davis and made audiences weep. In 1992, the 6-foot-tall stunner, up for Best Actress in "Thelma and Louise" (she lost), bombed on the red carpet in an asymmetrical puff-ball catastrophe designed by Bill Hargate. This tiered satin tragedy set a new standard for red-carpet ridiculousness with its high hemline in front and volcanic eruption of ruffles in back. Overachieving Geena manages to make this frightening frock even worse by pairing it with oh-so-wrong black hose and clunky ankle-tied shoes.

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Nicole Kidman: Style Queen



NEO-ROMANTIC

"This is kind of a departure from everything she's been wearing lately because it's so romantic and ethereal," says PEOPLE style director Susan Kaufman of Kidman's diaphanous Yves Saint Laurent dress at the June 13 New York City premiere of Bewitched. Completing the look: Grecian-style sandals and a bold necklace.




DIP IT LOW

Kidman dares to go bare in a velvet Azzaro by Vanessa Seward dress at the Tribeca Film Festival in April. "It's very classic and beautiful from the front, but when she turns around she has that deep plunging back," says Kaufman. "You know you're making an impact when you turn around and you leave people gasping in your wake."




SHORT AND SWEET

The actress glows in her red Lanvin frock at the Sydney premiere of The Interpreter (on April 4). "Nicole mixes it with exotic accessories ? bangles and chandelier earrings," says Kaufman. "Even though it's a very classic dress, she makes it more interesting with the accessories and the hairstyle."

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ANCHORS AWEIGH

Kidman goes for a nautical vibe with a Louis Vuitton striped shirt, paired with a Notify denim jacket and white jeans, at 2004's Venice Film Festival. As for the 5'10" actress's footwear, says Kaufman: "When you're as tall as she is, you can wear sneakers and still look sporty and chic at the same time."




GOING RETRO

The actress dons a Givenchy dress for a June 13 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. "You could see stars from the 1950s ? like Lucille Ball ? in this dress," says Kaufman. But Kidman's loose and tousled curls "keep her from looking too retro. Her hair balances the severity of the dress."




FAR EAST

For 2004's Tony Awards, Kidman chose an Asian-inspired Yves Saint Laurent gown. "The great thing about Nicole is she can wear global-inspired clothes, but it doesn't look costume-y," says Kaufman. "The cut of the dress is also very modern. She knows fashion and she knows what works on her body." And with her sleek, pulled-back hair, "it's a very strong look."

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PREP SQUAD

"It's kind of like nerd chic," says Kaufman of the star's argyle-sweater-and-denim combination (in Sydney last year). "What makes it fun is the cropped, cuffed jeans." Kidman pulls the ensemble together with a hip Hogan handbag, brightly colored sneakers and aviator sunglasses.




MOVIE MAGIC

Kidman's Roland Mouret dress at the MTV Movie Awards (on June 4) is "almost the backdrop to her accessories," says Kaufman, including leopard-print sandals with floral rosettes and a matching clutch. "And her hair is on the funky side. She's still dressed up and elegant, but the touch of fun is in the accessories."




PURPLE REIGN

"This is Nicole being royalty in purple velvet. She's the ruler of the red carpet," says Kaufman of the star's elegant dress at the U.K. premiere of The Interpreter (on April 14). "The color looks amazing on her." And, says Kaufman, velvet "is going to be huge for fall." That Kidman wears it in the spring places her firmly in trendsetter territory.

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FEELING GROOVY

Kidman resembles "a rich hippie" in her multicolored dress paired with a funky leather jacket (in Sydney in January). "Nothing is inexpensive in this look," says Kaufman, especially not her Christian Louboutin sandals, which are "sparkly takeoffs on the Birkenstock."



TRAIL BLAZER

"No one sports a blazer and jeans like Nicole and makes it look so sophisticated," says Kaufman of Kidman's out-and-about outfit in New York City (in April). The contrast between her sheer blouse and "more structured purple velvet blazer is what makes it really interesting. She's showing how beautifully someone can dress up a pair of jeans and make it into an evening look."




BIRD OF A FEATHER

Kidman was ahead of the curve with her Gucci gown at the Golden Globes earlier this year. "The peacock feather is a trend for spring and she wore this in January," says Kaufman. "They customized this dress for her to make it special."

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SHAKIRA: MISS

Stylist alert! The Colombian singer is in need of a fashion tutorial with her tacky patterned frock and motorcyle boots at a music event in Berlin.

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MISCHA BARTON: HIT

O.C. star Barton wraps her tall frame in a graceful Grecian-style Marchesa gown at the BAFTA Awards in London.

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Dressing Their AgeToo old ? or too young




LINDSAY LOHAN, 19

She's still a Disney girl, but the Herbie: Fully Loaded actress looked downright mature wearing Chanel in New York City recently (right). Earlier in L.A., she showed off her youthful good looks in a strapless Gucci frock.

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MARIAH CAREY, 36

The songbird was bursting at the seams in a teen-queen-worthy T-shirt dress in London recently (left). By comparison, the olive-colored, curve-hugging sheath she donned in New York City looks almost demure.

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NICOLLETTE SHERIDAN, 41

Desperate Housewife or summering schoolgirl? With ribbons 'round her waist and ankles, the Wisteria Lane vixen looked ready for prom recently (left, in New York City). A more womanly choice: her flowing goddess gown in Monte Carlo.

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JENNIFER LOPEZ, 36

Forget that navel-grazing Versace she wore to the 2000 Grammys: Mrs. Marc Anthony was modest (even matronly) in L.A. recently (left). A few weeks later, she showed more skin ? but no belly button ? in Atlanta.

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MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, 27

Sexy Secretary or shy librarian? In a tie-front blouse and below-the-knee skirt, the indie actress was a pioneer of dowdy chic in Venice, Italy, last year (left). But she sported a fun, colorful ensemble to a recent L.A. store opening.




MADONNA, 47

Is Kabbalah the key to eternal youth? Maybe for Madonna, who showed off her yoga-buff bod in a flimsy slip dress in L.A. recently (left). But in London, a more modest Madge covered up in a lacy frock and blazer.

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SHARON STONE, 47

Thirteen years after Basic Instinct, the actress (left, in San Diego) showed she's still got those killer gams. Later in Cannes, she looked more like the (still sexy) mom of two that she is.



HILARY DUFF, 17

At the L.A. premiere of her movie The Perfect Man (left), the actress wore a Gucci gown that made her teenybopper image seem "So Yesterday." Yet just a week earlier, she sported a more playful dress.