In the first edition of “A Feminist Sensibility,” I mentioned the unfortunate practice of calling out feminists for not being “feminist enough.” This time of year, I find myself defending my feminism more than ever because I enjoy talking about the makeup, heels, and sparkly dresses on all our favorite stars of film, television, and stage.

I absolutely love awards season in Hollywood. I know there are individuals out there who feel like the whole thing is nothing more than Hollywood patting itself on the back, but I think it’s a great time when we get to recognize not just actors, but directors, writers, make-up artists, and all the other participants who contribute to our entertainment.

I love watching the red carpet coverage on E!, and I sometimes find myself defending my enjoyment of this to those around me, and sometimes even to myself. But I’ve come to realize that my love of fashion and the pleasure I get from watching red carpet coverage doesn’t need to conflict with my feminist sensibility.

To me, fashion is wearable art. It conveys a message to the world around you about your style, sense of adventure, and overall personality. The Oscars ceremony, held last Sunday, is the grandest of them all, and the grown-up equivalent to prom. It is also definitely the most decadent when it comes to wardrobe choices.

If I had to sum up this year’s Academy Awards fashion in one word it would be “timeless.” The actresses that made their way down the carpet mostly favored a structured, old Hollywood glam look. Some of my favorites in these classy starlet gowns were Sandra Bullock, Amy Adams, Kate Hudson, and Charlize Theron.

There were some other actresses that shied away from the structured fabrics and tailored designs in favor of more flow or a glitzy look. Two of these notable standouts were Lupita Nyong’o and Cate Blanchett. Nyong’o looked stunning in a long, flowing, pale blue Prada dress. She stated in one red carpet interview that she actually participated in the design process for that dress. Blanchett was breathtaking in an Armani gown that made her glow like a chandelier.

I thought all the ladies looked at least “good,” although some could have raised the bar to “excellent” by choosing dresses that were better-suited to their age or body type. I adore Anna Kendrick, and I hope someday she will marry into my family so we can sing duets and go shopping together. Despite my affection for her, I think she missed the mark with her dress. She’s so youthful, light, and stunning; that dress was a little too gothic, too dark, and too matronly, all in one fell swoop. I think the gothic look can be extremely well done, and Kendrick probably could have pulled it off if she would have committed to the overall look, but as it was, the dress paired with that make-up and those accessories felt disjointed.

Let me just take a moment to share my thoughts with everyone about Liza Minnelli. Liza was rocking an age-appropriate pantsuit in cobalt blue with matching blue hairstreaks. As soon as she hit the red carpet, critics were taking to Twitter to chastise her for not wearing appropriate (or any) undergarments, some even calling it obscene. If Liza were a 20-something with perky breasts going sans bra, would people be calling it obscene or just plain hot? The idea that it’s acceptable for young, attractive women with tight bodies to go without a bra, but not the older ladies, is just plain ridiculous. Personally, I wouldn’t go to an awards show without a bra or cups in my dress, but if there is someone who feels comfortable enough with her own body to do so, more power to her.

As for the male fashion, I’ve been trying to encourage The Modern Urban Gentleman for his comments, but I’m not sure that he’ll weigh in, so I’ll give you my thoughts. It always seems that the ladies get to express themselves way more than the men do at these awards shows, so I was happy to see some variances from the standard black tuxedo. I really enjoyed Will Smith‘s fashion statement: a classic suit, but instead of the traditional accouterments, he completed the look with a patterned necktie scarf and matching pocket square. Another notable look was Ryan Seacrest in his white dinner jacket with black pants and black bow tie. Interestingly, Jared Leto sported an almost identical look, but opting for a maroon bow tie instead. Last, but not least, I’m giving out my best classical black tie look award to Chiwetel Ejiofur. The only mistake in that ensemble was pairing a tux with a wristwatch. It’s the Oscars, my friend: Where else could you possibly have to be?

Feminism is about standing up and declaring that you will not let someone else tell you what you should or shouldn’t do or like. So if you are a secret fashionista, come out of hiding and let me know: Did I miss any of your favorites? Leave your thoughts in the comments!