Julie & Julia, Nora Ephron’s cinematic adaptation of two memoirs—Julie Powell’s Julie & Julia and Julia Child’s My Life in France—stars Amy Adams as Powell, a blogger determined to master every recipe in Child’s cookbook. At the movie’s New York premiere, Adams looked deliciously sexy in a shoulder-baring, floor-sweeping gown by Carolina Herrera (and her gold clutch added an extra dash of style).

In the offbeat romantic comedy Adam, Brit actor Hugh Dancy plays a man with Asperger’s Syndrome who begins an awkward courtship with his upstairs neighbor (Rose Byrne). Dancy and his real-life significant other, fiancé Claire Danes, however, are the picture of elegance. At a Cinema Society screening of the film last night, Danes stunned in a strapless white Zac Posen gown adorned with an eye-catching metallic belt (Posen also turned out for the screening).

In the new thriller The Orphan, Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga play a husband and wife who adopt an evil nine-year-old after losing their unborn child. Despite the movie’s dark, sinister theme, Farmiga (know for her roles in 2006’s Running Scared and The Departed) looked positively angelic at its L.A. premiere, in an elegant white one-shouldered gown and gold clutch by Versace.

In the new rom-com The Ugly Truth, Katherine Heigl plays a perpetually single TV producer who allows her chauvinist co-worker (Gerard Butler) to give her advice on affaires de coeur. Heigl certainly didn’t need sartorial guidance at the movie’s Hollywood premiere this week. The elegant Grey’s Anatomy star stunned in a tulle cocktail dress by Lanvin, a gray snakeskin Tod’s clutch, and pearls by David Yurman.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy stepped out in style to celebrate Bastille Day yesterday at the Elysee Palace in Paris. France’s first lady looked effortlessly glamorous in a white cashmere Dior dress, cinched at the waist with a festive bow. Do you share Bruni-Sarkozy’s fashion sense?

Though best-known for her role as the bookish Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise, Emma Watson ditched her character’s scholarly V-neck sweater and Gryffindor tie for a more feminine ensemble at the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Wearing a floor-sweeping vintage frock by Ossie Clark and a yellow-gold Fil de Camelia ring by Chanel Fine Jewellery, the elegant actress (recently named the new face of Burberry) looked every bit the emerging fashion icon.

London’s Serpentine Gallery held its annual summer party last night. The soiree drew plenty of A-listers, including Bianca Jagger and models Jacquetta wheeler and Lily Donaldson. Actress Thandie Newton wore an appropriately artistic frock to the fete, a Matthew Williamson ombre satin dress in a multicolored tie-dye print, which she accessorized with a studded belt and clutch.

It wouldn’t be Fourth of July weekend without Sean “Diddy” Combs’ annual White Party. This year’s affair, held in Beverly Hills, was attended by Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Mariah Carey, and Nick Cannon, among others. R&B singer Cassie proved that LBDs are overrated, wearing an edgy Alexander Wang minidress in the color du jour.

The 9th annual BET Awards, held at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium last night, shifted gears to celebrate the life of Michael Jackson with tributes from host Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo, and Beyoncé, among others. Beyoncé, nominated for five trophies, including Video of the Year and Best Actress, called MJ her “teacher and hero.” The I am Sasha Fierce singer performed a medley of “Ave Maria” and Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel,” in an angelic white frock. But on the red carpet, she went for color, wearing a dazzling Balmain minidress and purple stilettos.

Cameron Diaz stars in Nick Cassavetes’ latest tear-jerker, My Sister’s Keeper (based on Jodi Picoult’s 2004 novel), along with Jason Patric and Abigail Breslin. But at the movie’s New York premiere Wednesday night, the radiant actress was all smiles, turning heads in a white asymmetrical number from J. Mendel’s resort collection, a black-and-gold Roger Vivier clutch, and nude-and-gold suede sandals from Pierre Hardy’s fall 2009 collection.