The Oscar Dress Race

10:21 PM PST 2/2/2011 by Merle Ginsberg

As soon as the Academy’s nominees are named, another contest begins: taking home the coveted title of the evening’s Best Dressed.

They’re off and running. From the moment the best actress nominees were announced Jan. 25, the Oscar fashion sweepstakes broke into a brisk gallop. After all, winning the gold statuette is one contest, but landing Best Dressed is a close second: The rewards are magazine covers, blog space, air space and television pundits tallying the winners — and losers — of the race to the fashion finish line.