I went to a girls-only Oscars party last night; we got all dressed up and drank champagne and ate cupcakes and took pictures of ourselves. Best Sunday night ever.

My favorite part of awards season, of course, is not the awards (although yay for The Artist!) but the dresses. Because who doesn’t dream of putting on a couture gown and $50,000 worth of Fred Leighton diamonds and going to a party?

i mean, how fun would that be? So much fun. Especially the part where you bump into George Clooney on the red carpet or at the Vanity Fair after party and he tells you how pretty you are and gets you a drink and …

(Sigh.)

Ahem. Anyway — the dresses! There were some great dresses last night — and some really terrible dresses. In particular, I was disappointed by Sandra Bullock’s gown. For a girl who is typically so down-to-earth, this thing was just … bad.

Even Sandra looks sad about her dress. Ugh.

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Photos via Talbots

Going back to work after a stretch at home with the kids can be stressful. Streamline your mornings with a wardrobe of basic, easy-to-style pieces that can be dressed up or down depending on what your week holds. Stick with neutral colors for maximum flexibility — these pieces are the building blocks, not the showpieces. Choose a silhouette that works for your figure and your style; you’re using these pieces to create a consistent, coherent look.

What do you need in your closet? Start with these five pieces and work from there.

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The midi skirt has an irresistible appeal; long enough to cover all your lady parts, but not so long that you’ll step on it or get tangled in it. If you’re looking for a chic skirt option for the office, the midi is it.

But the midi skirt can be difficult to wear — style it wrong and you’ll look like you’re on your way to the convent. Here are three simple ways to make a midi look hip.

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