I think it's pretty safe to say that I am an Awards Junkie. The Golden Globes, the Critics Choice Awards, the Screen Actors' Guild Awards, the Emmy's, I watch them all, read up on them all, and get a lot of enjoyment out of watching them. Something about watching famous people with gobs of money congratulate each other on their general awesomeness with gold-plated statues is very rewarding to me. However, I must say that my favorite of all is the Academy Awards- the most prestigious (if a bit predictable and hackneyed) award in all of the film industry, and every year, I tune in with breathless excitement waiting to see who will win, who will make a bad joke, who will be gypped, and who will be crying on the stage clutching their prize.

And of course, eventually everyone forgets who won what and who made a joke about whom. What everyone talks about for days afterward is the DRESSES. What a woman wears to the academy awards can often define her for the rest of her life, and in some cases, it can rocket her to the top of the style elite. (Of course, there are other options too- in the case of Bjork and her infamous swan dress, you can go down in history as one of the most bizarre, tacky individuals on the planet.)

Here are a handful of my favorite Academy Award Style Stars of all time!

In my probably my favorite Academy look of all time, Angelina Jolie and her infamous right leg at the 2012 awards. Hot damn, girl. The leg that launched 1000 memes is still making headlines today, and with any luck, the 2013 awards will offer us another glimpse of Angie and her hot, hot self.

This certainly wasn't the first time that Angie blew minds on the red carpet. In 2011, Angie wore this gorgeous, emerald green jewel of a gown, and managed to look amazingly sexy, but elegant, luxurious, and beautiful at the same time. It's safe to say that I am extremely excited to see what she'll wear on the carpet this year!

In 2005, pint-sized Reese Witherspoon not only took home the Best Actress prize for her beautiful portrayal of June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line," but she took home several Best Dressed awards as well for her gorgeously restored vintage dress. I still remember watching her give her speech, which was as lovely as her gown, and being amazed by how striking she looked in it.

 

Anne Hathaway (nominated and a near-lock this year for her performance in Les Miserables,) had never looked better in this shimmering, form-fitting number back in 2009. Her fair skin looked radiant, and she'll be hard-pressed to top this look when she takes the stage this year.

 

Another winner who looked spectacular during her big year was Natalie Portman, who debuted who flattered her pregnant belly in this beautiful purple gown in 2009. The Best Actress award (for her performance in 'Black Swan') wasn't her only success that year- she gave birth to her son Aleph just a few months later.

 

It's kind of hard to imagine Halle Berry looking anything but flawless on the red carpet, since she hits the nail on the head almost every time. Here are a few of her memorable moments. Her most famous dress is the left one with the burgundy skirt, which she wore to accept her award for 'Monster's Ball in 2002.' In the middle (my personal fave) is a silver masterpiece from the 2005 awards, and finally her form-fitting black dress from the 2009 awards. Halle, you can do no wrong.

 

 

Another perpetual winner (and one of my personal favorite style icons) is Kate Winslet, who seems to look hotter and hotter with age. Her bright blue 2005 dress is still one of my favorites, though the pale green Grecian dress from 2007 is equally memorable. However, Kate's favorite is probably the grey-and-black number she wore in 2009 to accept her Best Actress award for 'The Reader.'

Penelope Cruz in 2010. Does anything further need to be said?

 

Amy Adams could look hot in a garbage sack (or as she proved this year in 'The Master,' in frumpy cult-lady clothes), but this smoking red dress with the fabulous colored necklace from 2009's awards just looks brilliant. Who says redheads can't wear red?

 

 

Forget Ariel. Beyonce showed the whoel world how to rock the mermaid look at the 2008 awards.

 

Not everybody can rock an evening gown in this shade of yellow, but Cate Blanchett totally worked it at the 2005 awards, where she won Best Supporting Actress for 'The Aviator.'

 

Believe it or not, I still remember seeing this gorgeous red dress on Catherine Zeta Jones (at the 2004 awards) in People magazine and being floored. The design is out of date by now, but you just can't hate on a girl who can rock this style of dress at any time. She's positively glowing.

 

Speaking of 2004, that's when Charlize Theron wore this incredible sheer, sparkly, slinky work of art and accepted her award for Best Actress for 'Monster.' The most dated, unsexy thing about this look? Her cheesy, 2004 tan.

 

In what has become arguably the most beloved red carpet dress of all time, Michelle Williams ruled the whole carpet in 2006. The sunny yellow was groundbreaking at the time, and it is now considered the Dress that Launched a Thousand Duplicates- right up there with Kate Middleton's engagement dress.

 

Not everyone can rock this shade of purple, but Ukranian beauty/possible Hottest Woman Alive Mila Kunis showed everybody how to do it at the 2008 awards. (Side note: she was robbed of a Best Supporting Actress nod for 'Black Swan.' *steps off soapbox*)

 

Scarlett Johannson. DAMN. I'm so distracted by how friggin' hot she looks that I don't even know when she wore this dress. Also, she wore it to the Golden Globes, not the Academy Awards. (Do you care? I certainly don't. LOOK AT HER. DAMN.)

 

 

I look forward to seeing what these beautiful ladies (and many others) will wear to the upcoming 2013 awards!