Mirror, Mirror: Elizabeth Wellington: Oscar gowns showcase winter whites

Bright, optic white is bleaching out its eggshell sister, quickly becoming the preferred winter choice among milky hues.

That's the big fashion take-home from the 2015 awards season that came to a brilliant close Sunday night with the Oscars.

At the Golden Globes, the season's official kickoff, Kate Hudson was cool and curvy in a pure-as-the-driven-snow cutout, courtesy of Versace.

A few weeks later, Jennifer Hudson smartly selected an immaculate, strapless Tom Ford sheath for the Grammys. (Speaking of Ford, the designer mixed a few all-white gowns - some with fringe, others with tiers - into his western-influenced fall collection that debuted Saturday in Los Angeles.)

And remember the alabaster shorts-and-blazer combo that Pharrell Williams wore to the Grammys? In certain light, Williams' fluorescent Adidas suit appeared chalky gray.

"White is returning to its roots as a glamour color," said Clare Sauro, referring to the delightful, Dior Haute Couture drop-waist that Marion Cotillard donned to the Oscars. Sauro called it 1960s Givenchy.

The no-bright-white-after-Labor-Day rule goes back to the 19th century, but so does its role as a cold-weather, special-occasion shade. But back then, explained Sauro, a white gown was more virginal than sultry.

In the 1930s - the decade from which many of our current fashion trends hail - Jean Harlow made white Hollywood glam-worthy with the help of designer Gilbert Adrian. Designer Madeleine Vionnet also mastered the use of white silk crepe during that decade.

By the 1970s, Halston based his popular collection of minimalistic gowns on Vionnet's draped dresses in shades that were a cross between ecru and optic white. In the 1990s, Ford brought Gucci to prominence with a collection of perfectly pristine, white gowns. And First Lady Michelle Obama returned the white gown to evening wear prominence when she wore that Jason Wu gown to President Obama's first inaugural ball.

This red carpet season, some white pieces have been uniquely fashioned - think singer Charli XCX's white-tailed Moschino tux at the Grammys. And Lupita Nyong'o had a spectacular, pearly Calvin Klein halter, a one-of-a-kind by the house's creative director, Francisco Costa.

But there were other fashion notables . . .

The red carpet's love affair with cleavage went deep this year. At the Grammys, there was Nicky Minaj's still-being-discussed curvaceous Tom Ford, and Kim Kardashian's golden, Jean Paul Gaultier (just as much bathrobe chic as it was gown). And Jennifer Lopez did Oscar glitz the only way she knows how: in a to-the-tummy-V-neck by Elie Saab.

Felicity Jones' teal Christian Dior was my Golden Globe fave. Her jeweled, silver halter gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen was a popping Oscar choice. Jennifer Aniston's vintage Galliano was a SAG award winner. But when Rihanna emerged seven minutes after the Grammy red carpet in a Elsa Schiaparelli pink, strapless Giambattista Valli overflowing with tiers and tulle, my jaw dropped.

Jumpsuits and pantsuits - especially in black - are creeping back into evening wear. And they were so sharp on the 2015 red carpet. Gwen Stefani's strapless black Versace took this category. Yet honorable mentions go to Julia Roberts, who shimmied into a black Givenchy jumpsuit for the SAG Awards, and singer Lorde, who wore a custom Narciso Rodriguez - a perfect Golden Globe choice.

We should all follow Kerry Washington's awards season makeup lead - especially her fresh-faced Oscar look - that can effortlessly take any of us from day to night. Her blushed cheeks and lips were the perfect complement to her ivory peplumed Miu Miu.

Compared with previous red carpet seasons, Nicky Minaj toned it down a lot. Bye-bye pink hair. On the other hand, Katy Perry went for shaggy lavender hair at the Grammys, but the silhouette of her shining Zuhair Murad was decidedly simple.

And the meat-suit-wearing Lady Gaga came to the Oscars totally grown up in a highly structured Azzedine Alaia. The dish-washing red gloves, however, are still being debated, much like the black, elbow-length ones that Amal Alamuddin wore to the Golden Globes. Gloves didn't help anyone on the red carpet make a best-dressed list this year.

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