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VIDEO: OWH movie critic Bob Fischbach talks Oscars.

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For many Oscar viewers, "Who are you wearing?" has become as important as "And the winner is ..." Y The Oscar red carpet is the fashion world's biggest night. Actresses prepare for months for the ceremony, working with stylists and fashion designers to come up with the perfect look. Y But style watchers — including local ones — have become weary of actresses playing it safe on the big night. The threat of landing on a worst-dressed list is bigger than ever. Gossip bloggers such as Perez Hilton, celebrity magazines such as People and the E! "Style Police" dissect each woman's look from head-to-toe, moments after she steps from her limousine.

Local stylist Sarah Lorsung Tvrdik, who blogs about fashion at FashFlood.com, said she thinks actresses are taking fewer risks because their ensembles — good or bad — will be remembered long after the ceremony is over, much longer than in the past.

"Now they even have 'worst dressed of all time' lists," Lorsung Tvrdik said. "Celebrity gossip sites rip people apart five minutes after they appear on screen. The pressure has really mounted."

Lorsung Tvrdik remembers watching the E! red carpet coverage last year and seeing an actress ask one of the cable channel's hosts, Kelly Osborne, if she was dressed OK.

"I thought that really showed how concerned everyone is about how they look," she said.

Cora Rasp of Omaha, a designer and blogger whose work and style photos are at hellocoriander.wordpress.com, said she thinks a lot of actresses during the past two Oscars ceremonies have gone incredibly safe.

"We've seen a lot of plain solid dresses," she said. "We've seen a lot of neutrals and a lot of jewel tones, and maybe a lace dress in a nude (shade). It's sort of interesting, but not really that interesting."

She blames the trend on too many "celebrity stylists."

"All the actresses have a publicist and a stylist telling them what they need to wear or not to wear," she said. "There are the rare few who have their own take on red carpet fashion. The team is being paid to make sure the actress doesn't take a risk and land on the worst-dressed list."

Both women hope to see some risk-takers on this year's red carpet, and each had some ideas for what they'd like to see on the Best Actress nominees.

Rasp said she hopes to see actresses playing with pattern and texture, sheer and opaque and gowns with layers.

She said she hopes to see Rooney Mara, nominated for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," go feminine, and envisioned her in a deep purple layered gown by Rodarte.

"I think people like it when an actress recognized for a specific role does something on the red carpet that completely contrasts her character," she said.

Lorsung Tvrdik said she thinks Mara — who for other red-carpet events has been dressing in clothes that seem to be inspired by her goth "Dragon Tattoo" character — will stick with the tough look at the Oscars, possibly in a Givenchy gown. The line's designer, Riccardo Tisci, is known for his gothic touches and minimalism.

Lorsung Tvrdik doesn't expect to see Mara wear color, but thinks it would be great if she went bold.

"How much attention would she get in a red dress?" she said.

Michelle Williams is the other actress to watch, and because she's known for being a fashion lover, Rasp and Lorsung Tvrdik said they could see her taking a risk. Lorsung Tvrdik predicts we'll see Williams in Chanel, a designer she's worn many times before.

Viola Davis, nominated for her role in "The Help," sticks with a similar one-shouldered silhouette on most red carpets.

"If there were a time for her to wear something in a bold color or something with a train, this would be it," Lorsung Tvrdik said.

Melissa McCarthy is another actress Lorsung Tvrdik plans to watch.

"She's such a good representative of the plus-size range, and she isn't afraid," she said. "She knows how to make her body look good."

Lorsung Tvrdik and Rasp can easily name some of their top fashion moments in Oscar history — and most fashion-loving fans agree with their choices.

Rasp loved the sheer and burgundy Elie Saab dress Halle Berry wore to accept her best actress award in 2002.

"It was just amazing on her," she said, "It had just enough of an element of costume, but it was just so glamorous."

Another of Rasp's favorites was Rachel McAdams in a soft, watercolored floral gown by Elie Saab on the 2010 Oscar red carpet.

Lorsung Tvrdik loved Michelle Williams' gold Vera Wang with intricate twisted detail on the 2006 Oscar red carpet. Lorsung Tvrdik said she took a photo of that dress with her when she had her wedding gown made.

Hilary Swank in a low-back, long-sleeved navy blue Guy Laroche gown was another favorite. The actress wore that gown in 2005 when she won best actress for "Million Dollar Baby." Lorsung Tvrdik also liked Gwyneth Paltrow's candy pink Ralph Lauren gown from 1999.

Sharon Stone (who is probably most famous for wearing her husband's white dress shirt and a Vera Wang skirt to the Oscars in 1998), actress Tilda Swinton and Bjork and her now infamous swan dress from the 2001 Oscars are some of Lorsung Tvrdik's favorite Oscar risk-takers.

"I don't care what anyone says, Bjork's swan gown will always stick out in my mind," she said.

Both stylists said above all, fashion should be fun — even on Oscar night.

"There are iconic fashion moments that happen on Oscar night," Lorsung Tvrdik said. "Sometimes, they are the biggest moments in an actress's career."

Rasp agreed.

"What other time in the U.S. do we have events like this where we get to watch people get so dressed up?" she said. "So why not go all out?"