Oscar fashion’s back story

Forget about the movies: At Oscar time, in homes across America, armchair fashion critics give thumbs up or thumbs down to the clothes worn on the red carpet or on stage as presenters and awardees glam it up.

Face it: No matter how many worst and best lists there are, we're never going to agree about who looked fab or drab. But we can agree to remain spellbound by the clothes, and the reasons why, since the inception of the Academy Awards in 1929, stars have looked ravishing — or not. How did they make their choices? It's a process far more involved than just spinning around, pointing a finger at a gown, and crying "Voilà!" Each choice has a reason — and, often — a fascinating story.

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The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will air on March 7th, 2010.