Kate Winslet, Berenice Bejo are the Fashion Stars of the French Cesar Awards

The French film awards weren't the biggest fashion event of awards season -- as Paris fashion week is next week. But two stars turned out in lovely upgraded gowns all the same.

11:31 PM PST 2/24/2012 by Merle Ginsberg

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The Artist, as expected -- c'est formidable -- swept the Cesar Awards in Paris on Friday night. The film's star Berenice Bejo, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars and the Indie Spirit Awards, finally cinched an award: Best Actress for The Artist -- which is funny, because much-lauded co-star Jean Dujardin did not win Best Actor as expected. Bejo's husband, helmer Michel Hazanavicius, did pick up Best Director and the film nabbed the ultimate win, Best Pic.

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Berenice also picked up another honor, according to us carpet baggers here at Fash Track - Best Dress Yet! No, it's not the best dress of awards season -- that still belongs to Charlize Theron's Dior at the Globes -- but this is Berenice's best dress yet. It's an Azzedine Alaia haute couture gown -- a label that doesn't go to everybody, it's hard to procure -- and while it is similar in silhouette to the Alaia that Charlize wore to the Critic's Choice Awards in January, it's still spectacular, so we don't mind. Just a simple black sheath of a gown, quite stark, but with an amazing scalloped ruffled multi-tiered fishtail hem. We have a sneaky suspicion that Berenice got a stylist upgrade recently, as she should. All eyes are on her for the next few days, and it's time she take advantage of it. She still managed to stay with her rather stark low-key aesthetic, and with a great French couturier, as well. We hope she can top this at the Oscars, but it will be tough.

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Meanwhile, Kate Winslet received an honorary Cesar award and instead of wearing her quite typical simple black gown with a lot of cleavage, she donned a gold encrusted Jenny Packham gown with a deep V-neck. It was a nice upgrade as well, at least in terms of color and fabric. Kate added even more sparkle with gold drop Cartier earrings, and having her hair waved in a 1920's style -- was she feeling The Artist vibe as well? -- added even more lustre. It was one of her best fashion moments in ages. Not every gown she wears is as flattering to her figure and her coloring.