If there was ever a place where you’re going to be judged on what you’re wearing, it’s at the Costume Designers Guild Awards. At the star-studded 13^th annual ceremonies at the Beverly Hilton, some of the ensembles literally took your breath away.

Talk about a stunner, she’s baaaaaaaaaaaaack. Halle Berry had been (a little bit) under the radar, since the Golden Globes at least, in a messy custody battle with her former flame Gabriel Aubrey over their daughter Nahla, with accusations between the two flying back and forth.

But none of that mattered as Berry regained her fashion mojo with a piece from one of her favorite designers, Elie Saab. It was stunning— a partially see-through red gown of chiffon and lace –as she was honored with the Lacoste Spotlight Award. The crowd was treated to a montage of her costumes throughout 20 years on screen, including her roles as Storm, Catwoman, the Bond girl in the hot orange bikini and some of her early films like “Jungle Fever.” In one role, she sported a gold tooth, suggested, she said, by the costume designer.

In a rousing speech, Berry closed by saying, “Stylists are not costume designers. Not to belittle them, but there’s a huge difference. A stylist helped me pick this dress, but she’s not a designer. Costume designers help bring characters to life.”

Well, that will put Rachel Zoe in her place, or, um, maybe not.

“Boardwalk Empire” continues to sweep up awards left and right this season– the latest being a coveted Costume Designers Guild Award for outstanding period/fantasy television series. The awards honor the best costume design in television, film and commercials.

In the 1920s-era freshman HBO series, set in and around Atlantic City’s boardwalk, costume designers John Dunn and Lisa Padovani dress everyone from gangsters and their molls, rum runners, law enforcement officers and suffragettes.

The beautifully-tailored and often brightly colored men’s suits and overcoats worn by characters based on real people including Nucky Thompson and gangster Arnold Rothstein have drawn the attention of major men’s fashion magazines.  The women’s clothing is even further spotlighted in a shop on the boardwalk run by a French woman who imports the latest fashions from Paris, often shown off on Nucky’s girlfriend, or his former consort.

HBO continued its winning ways as acclaimed “Temple Grandin” took the award in the outstanding TV movie or mini-series category for designer Cindy Evans.

In the category for outstanding design in contemporary television series, it was a tough race between “Dancing with the Stars,” “Glee,” “Modern Family” and “Treme.”

A “Glee-ful” cheer went up as costume designer Lou Eyrich took home the prize, as he did last year at the event. It was hosted by actress Kristin Davis, who wore a flowing full-length Oscar de la Renta white gown with large black polka dots for the occasion.

Ashton and Demi laud designer Julie Weiss

Other presenters, including Samuel L. Jackson, Kellan Lutz, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Robert Duvall and Diane Lane, showed off their finery, although some wondered about Moore’s wind-blown, messy, nearly waist-length braid. Billy Bob Thornton joked he’d left all his Helmut Lang shirts at the cleaners, but most in the well-dressed crowd would agree he looked pretty dapper on stage, even if his tie was admittedly a little off center.

The costume designers for “Black Swan,” “The King’s Speech” and “Alice in Wonderland” took home the awards for costume design excellence in the three motion picture categories for period, fantasy and contemporary film.

Isaiah Mustafa, better known as the Old Spice guy, fittingly presented the award for best design in a commercial.  It went to Aude Bronson Howard for the spot “Chanel, Bleu de Chanel.”

Director Joel Schumacher, who began his career as a costume designer, was presented the Distinguished Collaborator award by Bill Maher.   Schumacher reflected on his early days pulling pieces at Western Costume, the famous costume house that was lauded throughout the evening.

The late Michael Dennison, known for his work on the television biopic “Georgia O’Keefe” and films including “World Trade Center” and “W.” was honored with the Hall of Fame Award.

The Disaranno (yes, as in amaretto) Career Achievement in Film and Television award went to Julie Weiss, a woman with a larger than life personality who has dressed everyone from Brad Pitt in “Twelve Monkeys,” for which she received an Oscar nomination, to Diane Lane in last year’s “Secretariat.” Lane was among the high-wattage group which included Moore and Kutcher, Duvall and Thornton—all of whom she’s dressed—on stage to honor Weiss’s illustrious career.

The night was an inspiration to always look your best.

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