Elegant updos were a staple on the Oscars red carpet, as always. This year they were mostly a bit retro, and not too constructed or complicated. That’s great for those of us hoping to copy the look for our own special occasion.

One of my favorite looks – in fashion and beauty – came from Elizabeth Banks, seen above. I love the simplicity of the side-parted hair swept back into a chic bun, and the sparkly headband adds just enough glam for a night as special as the Oscars. (The jewels help, too.) For this look you probably want to give hair a good blow out so that it’s smooth and voluminous at the start. Then part hair on the side most flattering for your face, and brush into a low ponytail. Some shorter pieces may need to be pinned, but with this look the headband will also help keep those pieces in place. Then construct a simple bun and secure with pins. Stick to “hidden” bobby pins since you’ve already got a glam accessory going. Lots of hairspray is key to keep this looking posh and put-together, I always like Redken Workforce.

Amanda Seyfried chose a more severe, lacquered-down version of the same look, with a more feminine bun with curled pieces escaping in the back.

Both Rachel McAdams and Jennifer Lopez, above, chose more modern, tousled updos. Stylist Robert Vetica created J. Lo’s look by applying Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream on locks and blow drying straight. After it was dry he pulled hair back into two pony tails, one on top of the other, just below the crown. He curled each pony tail with an iron and brushed hair out to create volume. He then pinned hair up into a bun and pulled out some strands for a textured effect. He pulled out flyaways around her forehead as well and finished with high-hold hairstpray.

By far the most complicated look, with a little bit of a ’40s feel, was Diane Kruger’s. Her side-parted and rolled hair was secured with a pretty silver clip. Unfortunately, I can’t begin to reconstruct this and when attempting at home it would probably be best to take a picture to your stylist.

It would be remiss to mention Oscars updos this year and not point out the train wreck that was Sarah Jessica Parker’s hair. The dress, while beloved by some, also didn’t do it for me, so all together it was just not pretty.

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Diane Kruger is practically sewn to the hip of Karl Lagerfeld, so you just know that she’s chic and anything she does will be trend gold. Hence my obsession with her braided look at the Inglourious Basterds photo call at the Cannes Film Festival.

This look is actually fairly simple, despite a few points where it’s easy to get tripped up in a “which way am I braiding?!” panic.

First, apply a matte styling product on air-dried tresses to get a rougher texture. A good one to try is Fudge Matte Hed. Roughen your hair up further with some teasing at the roots, and then smooth it down with a comb into a side part.

Begin French braiding on the side of your part with less hair, from the top of your ear down to the nape of the neck and secure with a ponytail holder or butterfly clip.

Repeat the same steps on the other side and incorporate the loose ends of the other braid into this one at the nape and transition to a loose fishtail braid worn over the shoulder.

At the bottom of the braid, take the longest strand and use it to wrap around the base, securing with a clear hair elastic.

Finish with a medium-hold hair spray like Loreal Elnett Normal Hair Spray.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala in New York is like the fashion industry’s equivalent to the Oscars in terms of red carpet celebrity wattage. And it’s the equivalent of prom in all the “who’s going with who, what’s she wearing” buzz.  This year’s theme is Model as Muse so you can bet all our favorite mannequins will be navigating the steps in style.

Despite rumored confidentiality agreements between designers and those they’re dressing, some leaks have been lapped up by the media. Marc Jacobs, one of the hosts of the evening with Kate Moss and Anna Wintour, is picking up a lot of the recession-sales slack by having fiance Lorenzo Martone “semi-host” his own table. Jacobs will be dressing Moss (who is rumored to also be wearing a Stephen Jones turban she helped design) as well as Helena Christensen in his own line, and Madonna and Kerry Washington in Louis Vuitton. (Washington is the face of their current campaign.)

Another American designer holding their own in the table department is Calvin Klein Collection. Women’s Creative Director Francisco Costa is said to be dressing Halle Berry while her boyfriend, Calvin Klein model Gabriel Aubry will be wearing the men’s line. Chanel will be bringing the new face of Chanel No. 5 Audrey Tatou and Lagerfeld favorite Diane Kruger.

More actresses attending include Jessica Alba in Jason Wu, Rachel Bilson in Bally. But the night, as the theme suggests, is really about the models. More of those confirmed by the rumor mill? Jessica Stam in Rodarte, Coco Rocha in Isaac Mizrahi, Lauren Hutton with Michael Kors. Many more are attending but shrouded in mystery when it comes to their gown: Natalia, Agyness, Chanel, Sasha. It’s going to be a really star-studded evening.

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Diane Kruger made a bold statement in her Chanel Spring 2008 Couture suit at the Premiere of Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman’s new movie “The Other Boleyn Girl” in Berlin on Friday. (more…)