That '70s feeling

LADIES OF THE CANYON: In my mind the greatest decade for fashion in the last 50 years is the '70s. There were a lot of bad moments, for sure, think platforms for men and hot pants. But the evolution of the late '60s hippie look was a success with natural hair, denim and peasant blouses. And the early '70s were a great time for singer-songwriters, especially women like Carly Simon, Carole King and Joni Mitchell. A recent issue of "Vanity Fair" featured a lengthy article on the three groundbreaking singers, as excerpted from a recent book. With spring finally here it's a perfect time to take fashion inspiration from that time. Think maxi-dresses, floral prints and moccasin boots. And what with jacked-up gas prices and an unpopular war, it's almost like we're really back there!

For the birds

HITCHCOCK REVISITED: The recent Hollywood edition of Vanity Fair featured one of their best photo portfolios ever, stars in famous Hitchcock scenes. Jodie Foster playing Tippi Hedron in "The Birds" is my favorite, but also great are Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem as Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart in "Rear Window."

Dressed to impress

AND THE AWARD GOES TO: Well it's a bit late for my favorite Oscar looks, but better late than never! The dresses this year were really great overall, with few misses and a lot of people looking much better than in recent outings, including the Jennifers: Garner and Hudson. And the best dressed ladies were all about the accessories, from baby bumps to jewels to die for. Among the best were Helen Mirren in a ruby red dress, Penelope Cruz in sapphire blue and Anne Hathaway in stunning scarlet. But the best looks of the night? Check out a pregnant Jessica Alba, Marion Cotillard in a fishtail white gown, Jennifer Hudson in a look reminiscent of "Dreamgirls" and Nicole Kidman dripping diamonds while also pregnant.

Joe lies when he cries

I GAVE HER MY HEART AND SHE GAVE ME A PEN: When I was in high school there was no movie couple cooler than Ione Skye and John Cusack in "Say Anything." Every girl I knew had a major crush on Lloyd Dobler, and I still always look for that bit of Lloyd in the men I know. And Ione Skye, in real life, was the girl you wanted to be. She's Donovan's daughter, went out with Ad Rock, started a clothing label and was in "River's Edge," a great '80s movie. It didn't get much better than that. But "Say Anything" is still the pinnacle of both their careers. Watch for the best Red Hot Chili Peppers song ever, "Taste the Pain," Eric Stoltz dressed as a chicken, a lovelorn Lili Taylor and a very young Jeremy Piven.

The doctor is in

The day I got my first pair of Doc Martens in high school was a very big occasion. I picked them up in a little store in Greenwich Village on a school trip to New York City. They were purple, and I was in love. My second pair I found at a shop in Birmingham, Ala. They were blue square-toed boots and I was no longer in love, just in like. The infatuation had faded, and very soon it would fade for the rest of young America, as Doc Martens became a memory, much like "Singles" and my old flannel shirts. I'd been reading that the British standbys were on the verge of a comeback, but it was still pretty shocking to see this pair at www.freepeople.com. I'm thrilled, though I don't think it's possible to do a trend the second time around. If you want to give it a try, they'll work perfectly with the short floral dresses on the way for spring. And don't forget the Pearl Jam.

Seems like old times

OF MINISKIRTS AND MASCARA: Goldie Hawn is one of my favorite actresses ever, and it's not just because of her comedic timing. She is the poster girl for late sixties style, which was all about psychelic colors, minidresses and mascara. She was a free spirit with cropped hair, and was totally different than actresses who starred on screen just 10 years earlier. For classic Goldie Hawn check out "Cactus Flower," for which she won her Oscar, and "Shampoo," the seventies classic starring style icons Warren Beatty and Julie Christie.

Just (barely) friends

We haven't watched "Pushing Daisies" yet, but we love it, if only for the casting of Anna Friel in a lead role. Friel is in the ultimate girl movie that spares no truth about the good, the bad and the ugly of female friendships: "Me Without You." In the 2001 British flick, Friel and Michelle Williams play best friends growing up in the 80s, who hate eachother as much as love eachother, and for whom there is no "me without you." Check out the new wave music and the outfits, especially when the girls make dresses out of trash bags. The film is classic, cutting and very cool.

More than teen TV

CALLING CATALANO: The best show to only last one season on TV? "My So-Called Life," followed closely by "Freaks and Geeks." Jordan Catalano was gorgeous, sullen, brooding and clearly trouble, which made him the most irresistible character ever to appear on TV. And Claire Danes' Angela Chase was as complicated and misguided as a real teenage girl. And her clothes were perfectly accurate for that mid-90s period, Danes wore thermals, flannel shirts and Converse. Also very cool, Juliana Hatfield makes an appearance as an angel in a later episode.

Truly Julie

Julie Christie has dazzled on the silver screen for more than four decades, and she's as stunning today in her 60s as she was in the 1960s. In her most recent film, "Away From Her," she stars as a woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease. She's been a fashion icon as well as an example of Hollywood glamour, her relationship with Warren Beatty was comparable to today's Brangelina in terms of a blinding marriage of style and substance. Check out these essential flicks starring the British beauty: Darling In this 1965 film, Christie plays an ingenue who'll do anything to make it big. Don't Look Now Christie and Donald Sutherland are a couple in mourning who've lost their daughter in this 1973 thriller. They take a memorable trip to Venice in search of redemption. Shampoo In 1975 Christie and Beatty were at the height of their celebrity. Her blonde bob and black glitter gown in the party scene are pure '70s style. Heaven Can Wait Christie and Beatty team up again in 1978 to make this incredibly charming comedy. Movie magic.

Swinging '60s

Michael Antonioni, who died this week, directed a remarkable piece of fashion history, "Blow Up." The film is a snapshot, no pun intended, of London in the 1960s, and stars a young Vanessa Redgrave. Jane Birkin also makes a brief appearance, which is noteworthy for what she isn't wearing, which is anything. Other films from the era that are fun to watch are "Darling," starring Julie Christie," and "Alfie," which was very daring for its time. For those who love film as much as fashion though, "Blow Up" is a cut above, and definitely worth checking out.

The dynamic duo

"The Two Coreys," the new reality show starring '80s teen icons Corey Feldman and Corey Haim, may be unwatchable, but "The Lost Boys" isn't. It's a perfect snapshot of the decade, from Corey Haim's spiked, bleached 'do to Jason Patric's feathered hair and Jami Gertz's beach-hippie damsel in distress. It's also a addictively awesome movie to boot.

Nothing compares to her

Like many others, the first time I saw Sinead O'Connor was when her "Nothing Compares 2 U" video came on MTV. I was in seventh grade, and my friends and I couldn't believe how beautiful she was, even with a shaved head. Although the video was from O'Connor's second album, everything about her look and her voice was totally new. It proved that great style is created, not copied.