Your morning fashion and beauty report: People's Choice Awards had fashion hits, misses and ho-hums

Awards season is upon us (though it seems to me it has kind of stretched into a year-round phenomenon). At Wednesday's People's Choice Awards, the stars did the red carpet thing in a low-key way, favoring minis for the women (Taylor Swift in a ballet-like peach dress by J. Mendel, Emma Roberts in a ruffly black Christian Dior, Kristin Stewart in spangled gold from Reem Acra), while the men were rogue-ish (Johnny Depp in full suit with waistcoat and pocket watch, but no tie, and Robert Pattinson in black pants and shirt topped by a tan bomber jacket). Jennifer Aniston broke the mold in a curve-hugging, cleavage-baring black pants outfit from Dolce & Gabbana. [Telegraph] [StyleList] Some fashion critics were disappointed in the sameness of a lot of the women's looks and horrified by a few really unfortunate choices (the long print dress and orange-y tan sported by Ashley Tisdale, the "shiny pillowcase" worn by Kim Kardashian.) [TheCut]  

Menswear sales are booming, and we can thank ... the recession? Yep, at least that's one of the theories: to compete for jobs, men know that looking good can provide an advantage. And, one expert points out, the ease of the online marketplace has made shopping less onerous for stereotypically shopping-averse males. [WWD]  

Designer Adam Kimmel is partnering with workwear maker Carhartt on a menswear collection slated to debut in May at Barney's New York and that will also be sold at a few other specialty stores. [WWD]

You've heard of the "statement" dress (or blouse or shoe), but for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, what she wears can really communicate. When she moves her ever-present handbag from one hand to the other, it tells her "handlers" she is ready to be rescued from a conversation. Same thing if she twirls her ring. [People]

On the wedding watch front: Shania Twain married Swiss businessman Frédéric Thiébaud in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day in a small ceremony attended by about 40 people. She wore a strapless white gown from a small boutique in Switzerland, a long flowing veil and shoes from Calvin Klein. [People]

Anchor Blue Inc., the Corona-based operator of teen specialty stores, has been shut down by owner Sun Capital and is facing liquidation. [WWD] (Subscription required.) 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Queen Latifah in the opening number at the People's Choice Awards. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters 

Fashion at the People's Choice Awards: Best and Worst

The 36th People's Choice Awards, which kicked off Hollywood's statuette season last night, is one of those award shows that are intriguing from a fashion point of view. Celebrities tend to be a little more daring (and a little more careless) because the stakes aren't so high. (See also the Independent Spirit Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.)

Last night, the red carpet's big winner was Carrie Underwood (she also took the favorite country artist award), in a black cage-embroidered cocktail dress by Mexican-born designer Christian Cota. (Last year, Cota won Fashion Group International's womens' ready-to-Wear rising star award in New York.)

The dress is from the Spring 2010 collection, and it features a cage-like lace made by stitching ribbons onto fabric, then melting the fabric away. I like it a lot; it's edgy and pretty at the same time, and the below-the-knee length looks fresh and entirely appropriate for the occasion. Underwood accessorized with strappy Rock N' Republic sandals and a black Lauren Merkin clutch.

Also a hit, Olivia Wilde's ("House") one-shouldered Monique Lhuillier dress in white chiffon with a black-banded underlay. With a swishy skirt that hit mid-calf, the look was retro and sweet. (Click here or on the picture at left to see Wilde's dress and the other outfits mentioned.)

Sandra Bullock (who took awards for favorite movie actress and favorite comedy movie with "The Proposal") rocked an asymmetrically draped nude-and-gold lace gown that was the same mid-calf length. She also won points for her sculptural yellow gold and rose cut diamond Amrapali cuff, which brought out the color of the lace.