The Red Carpet was on fire Sunday night with both killer and dreadful fashion. I have come up with my top five drop-dead-gorgeous looks, and five “what were they thinking?!” looks.

Let’s start with the worst of the night.

5. Reese Witherspoon. Wow, Oscar Barbie made a special appearance! The black and white Giorgio Armani gown looked like a cocktail waiter’s dress only longer, and her 1960s high pony made her look like the help not a star. Plus, with her blonde hair, Barbie was not too far away from the look alike.

4. Scarlett Johansson. The red see-through lace, conservative Dolce & Gabbana dress with the just off the beach hair made her look like an old lady not the Hollywood bombshell she used to be.

3. Sharon Stone. Okay, c’mon Sharon. The black one shoulder with feather accents Christian Dior dress was youthful, but not for your body shape. It hugged her curves in a very bad way. Plus, the heavy make-up was terrible; you can’t do smoky eyes with a red lip EVER!

2. Jennifer Hudson. I commend her for losing all that weight from Weight Watchers, but that metallic orange halter Atelier Versace gown looked awful. It made her breasts look awkward, and added weight to her smaller body.

1. Nicole Kidman. Her origami, beaded Christian Dior dress was a train wreck. The off-white color and weird shape just made it look like a bad curtain, and those coral shoes were not an attractive pop of color. In an interview before the award show, Kidman said her nearly two-year-old daughter picks out her Red Carpet looks. I would suggest waiting for Sunday’s fashion sense to kick in before consulting her again.

Now for the night’s best Oscar worthy looks.

5. Hailee Steinfeld and Melissa Leo. I had to do a tie here because I love them both. Steinfeld looked young, fresh, and vibrant in her nude sparkly Marchesa dress. Her pulled back hair with the nude headband looked fabulous to complement her conservative gown. Melissa Leo looked fabulous for her age in the metallic lace with stand-up collar Marc Bouwer gown. Many critics didn’t like this dress, but I liked how it caught the flashes of light from the cameras and how form fitting it was to her beautiful figure.

4. Halle Berry. She looked like a gem in the nude, beaded, organza Marchesa dress. The strapless design with the layers of organza flowing asymmetrically down the lower half looked elegant and regal on her amazing body.

3. Mila Kunis. The lavender lace Elie Saab couture gown looked romantic on the Red Carpet. Kunis was expected to wear something dramatic to the Oscars, but this light, season trendy look was both refreshing and beautiful.

2. Gwyneth Paltrow. She looked like a dripping waterfall in the metallic gold drop-waist Calvin Klein with Louis Vuitton jewels. The deep V neckline and the jeweled broche complemented the liquid gold effect on the dress. Her styling with the pin-straight hair and simple make-up was right on. She looked fabulous!

1. Natalie Portman. Whoa mama, she looked so fierce and elegant in her burgundy Rodarte number. Her baby bump made her look glowing along with her soft curled, pulled to the side hair and tassel earrings in matching color. She was the big winner of the night in both the Oscars and in fashion.

There are my favorite and not-so-favorite looks from the 83rd Academy Awards. Hope you all liked the picks! Until next time, stay fashionable my friends!

The top 7 awards of the night (bold winner)

Best Picture

Black Swan

The Fighter

Inception

The Kids Are All Right

The King’s Speech

127 Hours

The Social Network

Toy Story 3

True Grit

Winter’s Bone

Best Actor

Javier Bardem “Biutiful”

Jeff Bridges “True Grit”

Jesse Eisenberg “The Social Network”

Colin Firth “The King’s Speech”

James Franco “127 Hours”

Best Actress

Annette Bening “The Kids Are All Right”

Nicole Kidman “Rabbit Hole”

Jennifer Lawrence “Winter’s Bone”

Natalie Portman “Black Swan”

Michelle Williams ” Blue Valentine”

Best Supporting Actor

Christian Bale “The Fighter”

John Hawkes “Winter’s Bone”

Jeremy Renner “The Town”

Mark Ruffalo “The Kids Are All Right”

Geoffrey Rush “The King’s Speech”

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams “The Fighter”

Helena Bonham Carter “The King’s Speech”

Melissa Leo “The Fighter”

Hailee Steinfeld “True Grit”

Jacki Weaver “Animal Kingdom”

Best Director

Darren Aronofsky “Black Swan”

David O. Russell “The Fighter”

Tom Hooper “The King’s Speech”

David Fincher “The Social Network”

Joel Coen & Ethan Coen “True Grit”

Best Animated Feature Film

How to Train Your Dragon

The Illusionist

Toy Story 3

#1.2042944:2170353423.png:oscar.png::
#1.2042934:101294757.png:natalie-portman.png:The worst and the best of fashions of Oscar nights came courtesy of Oscar-winners Nicole Kidman and Natalie Portman. hotos from hollywoodreporter.com
#1.2042935:1102524180.png:nicole-kidman.png:The worst and the best of fashions of Oscar nights came courtesy of Oscar-winners Nicole Kidman and Natalie Portman. hotos from hollywoodreporter.com

With the below freezing temperatures outside in full force, all you fashionistas might be putting yourself at risk for frostbite or hypothermia.

The professional medics at American Medical Response (AMR) would like to remind everyone- especially the elderly, small children, chronically ill, substance abusers and individuals who stay out in the cold for long periods- to bundle up.

Here are some fashionable ways to keep warm without losing your life (or a limb).

Dress in layers.

Dressing yourself in layers will keep you warmer than one big layer will, not to mention layers are always “in” for cold weather months. Put a thinner undershirt on first then layer that with a chunky knit or wool top for added warmth. You will look fabulous and be comfortably warm!

Wear a great coat.

When outside, always wear a coat. The coat should be rain/snow resistant and have zippers to help you vent off some heat if you get too hot. Columbia’s are great winter coats that come in various colors and patterns, so you can look cute and stay dry if you happen to be involved in a random snowball fight.

Wear a hat and mittens.

Forty percent of body heat escapes through the head, so wear a cute ski hat with pom pom’s and earflaps. AMR has confirmed that mittens are warmer than gloves, so wear those cute mittens with peek-a-boo fingers for warmth and flexibility for texting.

Hypothermia comes in stages starting with shivering and followed by numbness, confusion, drowsiness, and eventually unconsciousness. If emergency help is not provided after the victim goes unconscious, death will soon follow.

Initial treatment of hypothermia includes: getting out of the cold, shed any wet clothes, wrap up in warm blankets, and drink a warm, non-alcoholic drink like hot cocoa or warm apple cider.

Once the victim is warm, first aid can be taken on the frostbitten areas. The steps included: remove the person from the cold, handle the frostbitten area gently, and wrap it in a dry sterile bandage. Do not rub the frostbitten area, and do not let the injured person use the frostbitten area (e.g. like walking on frostbitten toes).

Frostbite most commonly affects the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Signs are a hard, waxy feeling in the appendages and possible discoloration.

Re-warm the frostbitten area only if medical care is delayed or unavailable. Keep the area warm afterwards to keep from re-freezing.

If you or one of your friends experiences symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite, call for help immediately. You can call the University Police Department at SDSU (605) 688-5117 or Brookings Police Department via 911.

Remember to stay warm out there, and always take precautions when having a good time playing around in beautiful snow! Stay fashionable and warm my friends!

Cool new styles are hot this winter, along with the revival of some of fashion’s most faithful patterns.

Ahh, 2011, a year full of new classes, books, snow, and fashion, and I’m here to help keep you off the worst dressed list for another year. Wouldn’t want to start the New Year by breaking your fashion resolution, would you?

The hottest trend for winter 2011 is velvet. Velvet jackets, leggings, and dresses are just some of great items you can get.

The smooth, shiny texture of the velvet adds a sense of richness to the dull winter months, and it comes in great jewel tone colors like deep purple, sapphire, and emerald.

Jeggings were the hot new thing for fall, but put those away for the winter. Break out those skinny jeans instead.

With dark wash skinny jeans, you can get the same silhouette of the jegging without looking like someone painted your pants on you.

Other jeans making a comeback are the sleek boot cut. Boot cut jeans flatter every figure, and come with chic embellishments to add a little sparkle to your wardrobe.

With the jegging out, the legging is making a comeback as well. Leggings come in different colors, patterns, and textures that make for a more diverse clothing closet.

Unlike the jegging, leggings are not meant to be worn as pants, so cover your bottom with a cute tunic.

Patterns are coming back for 2011, but not everyone will be making an appearance.

Plaid is “so last season,” but exotic floral and animal prints aren’t going anywhere.

Exotic floral patterns have bright colors and “non traditional” flowers, which makes them colorful and visually appealing from afar.

Animal prints have been around for a couple of seasons, and are coming back in the form of shoes and cardigans for the current season.

With the weather being chilly, layering with a cardigan is popular. The “boyfriend” cardigan and poncho-cardigan combo are hot this year.

Oversized, flowy cardigans go great with sheer or lace tops that are a big item. Sheer or lace tops bring the inside out by looking like exposed lingerie without being overly sexy.

For shoes, boots are still in, but make sure those toes are closed. It doesn’t matter whether the boots are heels or flats, or over-the-knee, calf length, or ankle.

That’s all for the 2011 fashion preview my friends, so stay fashionable for the new year, and don’t forget to continue to support the Jacks by wearing blue and yellow!

Brrrrr! As the seasons begin to change and the temperature drops, it’s time to break out the coats, hats, scarves, mittens and boots to cross campus in the frigid South Dakota windy winter air.

But who really wants to look like a big, fluffy marshmallow wandering around campus? Not me, and neither should you.

You can look fashionable without looking twice your size and still stay warm enough to keep all your toes and fingers intact.

When looking for a winter coat, remember fabric choice and style are the keys to how warm the coat will keep you.

Suede and wool coats tend to be the warmest and most fashion forward. They come in different styles, colors, and lengths.

“I love coats. My favorite would have to be my tan suede long coat with white faux fur,” said coat-lover Nicole Kotewa, a senior Spanish, history and education major.

Other warm, yet fashionable winter coats are ski jackets and the very popular Columbia coat. These winter staples are a bit bigger in the bulk category, but are a must-have for the outdoorsy, ski and snowmobile fanatics.

“I have a light purple ski jacket,” said Natalie Krier, a senior biology and microbiology major. “I bought it because I know ski jackets are very warm, but unlike the name says, I don’t ski in it. I bought it for comfort and looks.”

Remember when buying a winter coat that it’s a long-term investment. Many people buy one or two winter coats and keep them for upwards of five years, so don’t be shy to spend the big bucks now to see a return in your investment years down the road.

Now, how about winter accessories that won’t make you look like you have two fluffy balls coming out from your head and a neck thick enough to belong to a pro-football player? You can still keep warm and have flair without looking like a fool.

Headgear is vital in South Dakota, because when the wind blows, it blows hard and cold.

I would suggest getting a hat that covers your head and ears. You can find stylish earflap hats in Target or Walmart that are dirt-cheap and have fun colors.

If you are looking for a more homey winter hat, knit one yourself, or have someone you know knit one for you.

“My mom loves to knit, so she made me a hat and gloves to keep me warm and remind me of her,” Krier said.

If you don’t want to take the time to knit one yourself or do not know anyone who can, there are some very cute and warm knitted hats out there for purchasing.

Now, the controversy: which keeps your hands warmer, mittens or gloves? I say: both, duh! But for the sake of being unbiased, I will explain them both.

Mittens cover all four of your fingers in one hole with your thumb being out on its own. Gloves have individual holes for all your fingers.

Kotewa thinks her leather mittens keep her hands warmer, but Krier thinks her knitted fingerless mittens with gloves underneath are the best option.

They are both right. Leather gloves with a clothed interior are very warm, but doubling up on knitted gloves works, too.

You can invest in gloves by buying Thinsulate or Under Armour pairs at sporting goods stores, like Cabela’s. These gloves are proven to be warm, but are on the spendy side, so don’t get them if you lose gloves like the dryer loses socks.

For scarves or neck warmers, the best is a knitted or neck gaiter style, but pashmina scarves can keep you warm, too.

As for color-matching accessories, it is a major NO. It is better to pick hats, scarves and gloves in a contrasting color from your coat or a classic color for versatility.

“I like to spice things up with the scarf and keep it classic with my hat and gloves,” Kotewa said.

A helpful tip for that really cold, blizzard-like day is to wear leggings under your jeans. Or, if you want to spend the money, wear running tights.

You should also look into heavier socks and a pair of winter boots for walking through the unplowed snowy sidewalks.

“I wear knee-high socks and good, study pair of boots to keep my legs and feet warm,” Krier said.

Now you know how to look fashion-forward and warm without looking like the abominable snowman, so keep warm my friends and continue to support the Jacks with your blue and yellow winter apparel!

#1.1782103:1755167460.png:DSC_0466.png::Collegian Photos by Senia Hiltunen

Ralph Lauren, Prada, Dior, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Chanel, Burberry and Marc Jacobs: a dream team of fashion designers with killer fall collections most of us wish we had.

Thankfully for us, designer knock-offs of the hottest fall fashion trends are popping up in storefronts across the U.S. The best looks at affordable prices can be found right here in Brookings and its surrounding areas.

Nancy Lyons, a professor in apparel merchandising, said military looks are the hottest trend for fall.

Military can range from a uniform-like jacket with embellishments to a trendy use of fashion camouflage. High boots or booties, dog tag necklaces and army green skinny jeans accessorize the look.

Megan Krahn, a senior apparel merchandising major, said animal prints are making a statement for the second year in a row.

Animal prints, or the safari look, consist of an animal print shoe, nude or khaki pants and a faux fur vest with a neutral shirt. Animal prints this season are more muted and used as accessories like purses, scarves or shoes.

In the September issue of Elle magazine, it said pairing feminine lace and ruffles with tough leather or rugged pieces went from runway to retail. Lyons said mixing the two styles together creates a unique look of girly-meets-edgy.

“I am not a trendsetter, but I enjoy trends more comfortably like wearing statement accessories with my favorite classic pieces,” Krahn said.

Statement accessories are fun, colorful and expressive of one’s personality. You can try by wearing your favorite plain outfit and jazz it up with an expressive scarf, jewelry piece, handbag or shoes.

Outerwear for Krahn is a way to “change up” your style. Krahn said pea coats and trench coats in fun colors, prints, plaids or embellishments can add to your outfit by making you appear fashion-forward even while walking to class.

Straight from the September issue of InStyle emerges two radically different fall silhouettes: minimalism and volume. Both come fresh off the runway of high fashion shows.

Minimalism style is simple, scaled down clothes with muted tones like black or camel. Volume has voluminous shapes that channel the retro vibe of the 1950s. You can channel the silhouettes by wearing tight fitting dark clothes for minimalism or a full skirt and a puffed-sleeve cardigan for volume.

The hottest trend on the jean scene for fall is the jegging and trouser jeans.

The jegging is a cross between a skinny jean and a legging, hence the term jegging. According to Gliks associate Jenny Jasper, jeggings are hard to keep in stock because they have been “flying off the racks” since school started.

Jasper said most shoppers pair jeggings with belted or loose tops and longer sweaters or shirts.

The trouser jean has a fuller leg style and is more of a classic look instead of trendy, Lyons said. The trouser jeans look best with tighter fitting tops and tucked in button downs.

For men, senior graphic design major Derek Kramer said fashion is not a major priority.

Kramer said v-neck tees, slim-fit jeans, male “scarfing,” capped beanies, watches and Converse Chucks are staples for men’s fall fashion.

“You need to have a classy watch like Fossil to be in the who’s who of fashion and Chucks go with everything and have been around for years,” Kramer said.

Krahn said she finds her fall fashions at American Eagle Outfitters, The Gap and Kohl’s. Lyons said Express and The Limited have fashion-forward fall clothing as well.

“At Kohl’s, people who have a budget can still be fashionable because of knock-off designer brands like daisy fuentes by Daisy Fuentes and LC by Lauren Conrad,” Krahn said.

“Don’t overlook Target either. They have guest designers and are in the price range for college students,” Lyons says.

Kramer said if you don’t have time to get out and shop for fall fashions, amazon.com is a customer-friendly site.

Amazon.com has a new feature that shows customers what others bought with the selected item, and sells complete outfits with a pick-and-choose option as well for a quick and easy home shopping experience.

Those, my friends, are the hottest fall fashions, and don’t forget to support the SDSU Jackrabbits by wearing your blue and yellow apparel on Fridays!