Oscar fashion

Model Christine Marzano in a blue-and-gold iridescent silk taffeta gown with hand-pleated folds by designer Elda De La Rosa. It’s one of the gowns competing in the Oscars Designer Challenge 2010.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Model Jenna Hurt, wearing a black laser-cut leather gown with bubble drape skirt, poses with the designer, Rania Salibi, after the fashion show at the academy headquarters.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Model Candace Kroslak wears a black ombre tulle strapless twister gown by fashion designer Ari Sheuhmelian.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Model Bianca Palmerin wears a gown with Swarovski crystals by fashion designer Oday Shakar and a 4-carat diamond lattice bracelet by Martin Katz after the runway show for the Oscars Designer Challenge 2010.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Model Talesha Byrd, wearing an ivory pineapple-and-abaca-fiber mermaid gown with freshwater pearl detail by fashion designer Oliver Tolentino, talks to reporters after the Oscars Designer Challenge 2010 fashion show Tuesday.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Model Talesha Byrd in a gown designed by Oliver Tolentino.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Model Christine Marzano wears yellow-and-pink-diamond chandelier earrings by designer Martin Katz.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Model Jenna Hurt gets a touch-up from makeup artist Star Sarkisyan in preparation for the fashion show.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Model Candace Kroslak with makeup artist Emily Christison, left, and hair stylist Antoine Brechu in preparation for the fashion show at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Public voting for the Oscar Designers Challenge 2010 begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Oscar.com, the official website of the Academy Awards.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Model Christine Marzano is in the hands of makeup artist Jeffrey Paul before the Oscars Designer Challenge 2010 fashion show. Voting on the fashions begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday on Oscar.com.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Fashion designers previewed their gowns at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences runway fashion show on Tuesday. The academy is inviting the public to vote on which designer’s gown will be worn on stage at the March 7 Oscar show.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)