As I was contemplating my first blog of the New Year, I thought about all the obvious topics. The most apparent were New Year's resolutions, the Obama family's first year in the White House, predictions of break-through celebrities of the year to come, and of course, hair color, hair styles, and makeup trends for 2009.

Unfortunately, I am not psychic, and do not have any mystical powers. I don't have a clue about tomorrow's headlines or how the next year will unfold. I am, however, an astute observer who thrives on pop culture. I always think of myself as someone who chronicles data more than a predictor of fashion or beauty trends. The holiday movie releases (which are consistently the best films of the year) give the first clues to the newest trends of 2009. The actors whose films come out as the year ends are usually the preeminent stars of Hollywood who stroll the red carpet during award season. I mean after all, aren't the Academy Awards show the Super Bowl of beauty and fashion?

The reviewers and the box office opening numbers are starting to make it increasingly clear who the star players will be. The candidates this year seem to be a group of well-established actors with whom we are quite familiar. This season, in fact, seems to provide a Hall of Fame of glamorous thespians for whom we'll wait with baited breath to see their "look" for this momentous evening. They will be reviewed from head to toe by every self-proclaimed fashionista on television and in print. There will be two groups of winners: the people who win the Oscars and those who are proclaimed to have the best dress, hair and makeup.

There are many fashion savvy contenders at the Oscars this year. The competition will be brutal and I predict one of the most glamorous award seasons that we have ever witnessed. The world has never been more ready to escape to the fantasies of Hollywood. We'll see the usual suspects: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchette, Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, and Penelope Cruz channeling the old Hollywood style. Don't be surprised to see the more free-spirited actors also primed for their close ups. I am sure Meryl Streep, Francis McDormand, Kathy Bates, Sean Penn and Frank Langella will have never looked so poised, polished, and sophisticated as they will at this year's Oscars.

Hollywood, movies and the stars are the perfect diversion from our very real world. We are entering a new heyday for Hollywood and 2009 promises to be one of the most exciting years ever to watch the Academy Awards. I'll be glued to the TV on February 22 and be sure to report Hollywood's new glamorous look as its glitterati walk down the runway.

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