2011 Academy Awards: Who Will Be the Best Dressed?

With the 2011 Academy Awards just around the corner (can you believe it?) movie watchers and celebrity watchers alike will be glued to their flat screen, blue ray televisions to see which stars will shine the brightest - in high definition of course.

But, most importantly, the style watchers will be plugged in to see which stars will crank up the wattage with their red carpet fashion choices. Because, let's face, what people are wearing (and who) is way more fun than silly awards, anyway.

As usual, we know we can count on the perennial favorites who always seem to get it right, like pixie darling herself, Renee Zellweger, in Carolina Herrera or the elegant and sublime, Kate Winslet, in Armani and or course, gorgeous George Clooney in, well, anything. And, yes, we can also count on a few fashion faux pass as well. Because, what would the Academy Awards be without a Bjork moment, right?

But, outside of the possible "swan dress" moment, there will be a few fashion icons I'll be watching. Here are five of my favorites. Some are new to the icon status, but given their fashion choices thus far, they deserve the honor. Take a look; they might be on your list too.

Carey Mulligan

Just when you think Hollywood and the plastic culture has finally reached the saturation point; someone like Carey Mulligan comes along. She's young, she's fresh, and she's absolutely adorable and charming. And oh, have you see her act?

Carey has described herself as a "remarkably, well-adjusted, middle-class girl from London." In other words, she doesn't see herself as much of a stand-out. However, those of us who have watched her onscreen and off, and have seen her fashion choices, beg to differ. "Remarkably well-adjusted" also knows how to dress well and appropriate for her age.

Carey Mulligan recently did a cover shoot for Vogue magazine. If anyone had any doubts about her ability to pull off high fashion, let them be put to rest. The girl is a chameleon, not only on-screen, but when it comes to her fashion choices as well. She has a classic, under-stated elegance, reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn - a look she pulled off well in the film An Education. The girl is simply stunning.

At the 2010 Oscars she didn't take home an Oscar for her role in An Education, but she certainly snagged more than a few nods in the best-dressed department. Truthfully, she could wear a gunny sack, for all I care. She's exquisite. I'm certain she will turn more than a few heads with whatever she wears this year too - and I'll be watching.

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren is one of those women that make you proud to age. She's hardly flawless and yet, she does nothing to compensate for it outside of living well and dressing well. And dressing well she does. Helen Mirren has a complete and comfortable sense of herself, which, when it comes to fashion is of the essence.

Nothing is more tragic than a young girl (or even an older one, for that matter) who hasn't found herself, so to speak, and makes one poor fashion choice after another. All of which are recorded on film to be brought back to haunt her season after season. Tragic, indeed.

But, Dame Helen Mirren (and they don't call her a dame for nothing) gets it. She knows she's past the nubile, ingénue years, nor is she a Linda Hamilton or Madonna with arms that scare even Arnold Schwarzenegger.

She's over 60, with "senior parts" that no one wants to see on display in a vain or desperate attempt to remain youthful and relevant. She dresses for her age and always manages to flatter her sexy and ample bust line. Last year, she shimmered from head to toe in Badgley Mischka, knocking everybody dead in a way that only Helen Mirren can do.

In fact, I'm so convinced she will be stunning again this year, I'm willing to take top dollar bets she will lead the pack with style and class. Anyone?

Jon Hamm

I've recently come to the conclusion, that if anybody can give hunky George Clooney a run for his money in the dapper department, it's Jon Hamm.

Like Clooney, John Hamm oozes masculinity and has old school, Hollywood class that never seems contrived. And yes, I know he's primarily a television actor and not a film star, but, hey, we're talking Jon Hamm here. There's definitely room for him somewhere. Presenter, maybe?

Given Jon's history of wowing everyone on the red carpet, my prediction is that he will show up at the Oscars looking dapper as ever. He certainly didn't disappoint at the 2010 Emmys, Golden Globes and SAG Awards, so why doubt our boy now? Bring it on, dude.

Shia LaBeouf

Okay, here's another young guy who's not only on his way up as an actor, but, he's got the kind of smooth class that's usually reserved for a much older man.

Shia LaBeouf is just quirky enough to be charming in an oddball kind of way, but he also has a self-confidence that comes from a reservoir that is way down deep. He's the real deal and it shows.

He's acted opposite some of Hollywood's finest - Harrison Ford and Michael Douglas come to mind - and he's got the kind of moxy that says he has the right to be there. But, it never comes off as pompous or arrogant. That is certainly not an easy balance to walk, but, Shia LaBeouf seems to do it without effort.

When you have that kind of rock solid confidence, it can go either way with fashion choices, however. Fortunately, for Shia (and especially for us) he takes it to the dapper end of the fashion meter and well, it's nice to look at and more than a little refreshing coming from such a young guy.

To date, he hasn't registered any major fashion faux pas on the red carpet, so I'm predicting he'll show up looking manly and wearing it well.

Annette Bening

I'm just going to say it; Annette Bening spells C-L-A-S-S. Not to mention, if she can tame Warren Beatty when thousands before her couldn't? She rocks.

Annette Bening is one of those understated beauties who is simply luminous with a less is more style, that is nothing short of flawless. Even when she's tired and exhausted from chasing her four children around, she's still fab by my estimation.

In Oscar days gone past, she has stuck to her tried and true style: classic, timeless, simple. She tends to lean toward monochromatic in basic black, navy and sometimes white.But, every time she shows up it works. Of course, her husband, Warren Beatty, love him or hate him, has his own elegance (in a manly way, of course) that when paired with her is nothing short of fashion crème brulee. Just yummy.

No word yet on whether her film work in The Kids are All Right, with Julianne Moore, will garner an Oscar nomination or not, but I'm hoping she'll show just to glam the place up.

The 2011 Academy Awards are scheduled for February 27^th. See you there.

Sources:

Oscars.com
Yahoo! Shine.com
The Independent.com
Yahoo! Movies
Fabsugar.com
IMDb.com