Prada Dresses Michelle Williams and Berenice Bejo for the Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala

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Prada is great at creating cocktail dresses, not so great at gowns. Structured evening gowns are simply not the house's speciality. So while we're more likely to see the Italian label on men at upcoming awards shows, two of the chicer women at Palm Springs were wearing Miuccia Prada's creations. 

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The Artist's Berenice Bejo wore a two tone dress in orange (the bodice) and black (the skirt). "Prada asked if they could send me some looks, and of course I said yes, and I picked this one," Bejo told The Hollywood Reporter. "Orange is my favorite color, so I was very happy."

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Meanwhile, Michelle Williams' silver satin and bead embellished Prada cocktail dress was a true stunner - certainly the standout dress from the crowd. It was a short cocktail number with a tiny waist, but the bodice portion was covered in silver and crystal large embellishments, looking like slivers of shiney gems and rocks. The effect was dazzling, and worked well with the fact that the skirt of the dress was embellishment-free, and very simple.

Williams looked both very dressed up, and very comfortable and girlish. Bejo, likewise, looked comfortable and relaxed. In fact, the entire affair wound up being all cocktail and no black tie looks for women. Looks like 2012's awards season is going to do the gradual build up. Most of the major women at the Palm Springs Gala: Charlize Theron, Jessica Chastain and Bejo and Williams - were in cocktail dresses. Only Glenn Close and Angelina Jolie wore full length gowns.