StyleSpy with Katrina Szish

There's really only one word that adequately describes attending the Oscars: WOW. 

The Golden Ticket was still golden....even though my seat was in the last row (no joke!)

It's not just literally brushing shoulders with mega-watt stars -- Cate Blanchett (I also shared a porta-potty moment with her at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday afternoon at the beach in Santa Monica); Marion Cotillard (those fish-scale details on her dress were quite something to behold as I walked into the theater behind her), Cameron Diaz (we both tried -- to no avail -- to grab a last-minute, pre-ceremony libation), Daniel Day Louis (incredibly tall and slim), Tilda Swinton (incredibly tall and slim), John Travolta (very gracious, even at the end of a long evening) -- but it's also the psychological rush that happens when your brain finally processes that YOU ARE AT THE OSCARS.  Simply from a historical perspective -- this was the 80th, after all -- it is truly a mind boggling experience.

The closest I'll ever get to being Olivia Newton John in Grease

Working -- not to mention walking! -- the red carpet is always a rush.
Part of my job is to identify the trends as the celebs weave through the throngs of reporters (it's often difficult to get a good look at them) and instantaneously translate that to cohesive fashion commentary on live television. 

With CNN Showbiz's AJ Hammer and Brooke Anderson overlooking the red carpet

Last night, working the arrivals with the amazing team from CNN, the top trends I spotted were:

1.   RED

The color of the night!  Ladies in red include: Anne Hathaway in Marchesa (above), also wearing $1 million worth of Harry Winston gems on her ears; Miley Cyrus; Heidi Klum; Helen Mirren; Katherine Heigl in Escada...to name a few

2.  STRAPLESS

Forget cleavage -- it's all about the clavicles.  Shoulder-baring A-listers: Mom-to-be Jessica Alba in Marchesa, Jennifer Garner in Oscar de la Renta, Laura Linney in Michael Kors, Keri Russell in Nina Ricci, Kristen Chenowith in Armani Prive, Amy Adams in Proenza Schouler, Cameron Diaz in Dior

3. ASYMMETRICAL NECKLINES

An instant way to score points for elegance and edginess.  To wit: Hilary Swank in Versace, Tilda Swinton in Lanvin, Anne Hathaway, Katherine Heigl

4. THE STATEMENT NECKLACE

While many of the stars who went strapless kept their necklines unadorned, several of my fashion-forward favorites -- Nicole Kidman, Keri Russell and Jennifer Garner -- revived the statement necklace trend.

5. BACK IN BLACK

Black was also big (Jennifer Garner, Hilary Swank, Ellen Page, Nicole Kidman), and it felt fresh.  Perhaps it was the near overdose of bright colors at the Grammys (which I admittedly loved) that made my style spy eye pop for the classic gals in black.

I chose none of those trends (yep, a fashion rebel, that's me), and opted for a stunning silk taupe J. Mendel dress straight from the Fall 2008 runway collection, paired with about $60,000 worth of Sasha Primak jewelry (Primak regularly collaborates with It-designer Erin Fetherston). 

My moment in the spotlight!...sort of...this was taken by a valet parking attendant after the awards ceremony

I LOVED my ensemble, and it was the perfect way to show of the fruits of my Red Carpet Countdown labor.  I felt fit, fabulous and fashionable...what could be better?!

Perhaps a solid chocolate, ten inch Oscar statuette covered with 24-karat gold dust (below), as conceived by Wolfgang Puck, adorning the top of the dessert platters at The Governor's Ball???!!! 

I almost brought one home....but then what?  I pictured a melted gold mound at the bottom of my LV luggage, and decided remembering the moment with a snapshot was a better idea.

Almost, but not quite.
Feeling like a star at The Academy Awards definitely takes the cake...er, the chocolate.

And that's all she wrote.

Until next week.

Style Spy is taking a much-needed spa retreat (I just checked in today, and got the inside scoop that there happens to be a major TV star chilling out here, too)...Check back next week to find out exactly where I escaped (there are hot springs involved), complete with pictures and decadent details, of course!  See you then...

*all red carpet celebrity images courtesy of and credited on InStyle.com's Oscar photo gallery*