Lee DeWyze loses to Crystal Bowersox in 'American Idol' fashion wars

On 'American Idol's' most important night so far, you'd expect Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox and Casey James to spiff up. But two out of three dressed down.

During the first round, Crystal tossed on a black silky tunic and a lacy vest worn over some bad, beige jeans. Fine for rehearsal, but jeez, this was her close-up.

She redeemed herself on her second shot when she looked (and sounded) much better singing Ellen DeGeneres’ pick, “Baby I’m Amazed.”

Amazing she was -- it was all very rocker chic – the black, body-conscious embroidered shirt with cut-out shoulders topping leggings, and stomper, over-the-knee black boots.

She belted out the song, and we think afterwards Ryan Seacrest may have been asking her if the musical genre was out of her comfort zone, but she thought he was talking about the boots (maybe he was --the camera panned them).

“No,” she replied, “I feel like I look good.” And she did.

Frontrunner Lee DeWyze did not look great in the first go-round. In a too-smooth griege leather jacket (kind of elephant-colored) and a dark t-shirt and jeans, he wasn’t duded up, but he didn’t look like himself.

Second time, he got even shlumpier – he ditched the jacket and threw on a rumpled white button down over the same tee.

But you know what? His voice transcends it all, and we like him best when he forgoes fashion artifice. That said, we are not fans of the beard at all.

Oh, poor Casey James. He really dressed up for his first song – a swank gray jacket, pastel abstract print shirt and designer jeans – he looked great --but got totally shot down by the judges.

He went back to the Western shirt for his second round, and again, he looked good but the song – eh, mediocre.

If we expect the contestants to dress a bit for this crucial show, well, the judges should too. Darn if Paula Abdul wouldn’t have been rhinestone nation tonight. But no.

Kudos to Randy Jackson for at least choosing a bold colored cardigan – deep red with an argyle print.

Ellen, well, what happened? The boring striped navy sweater wasn’t much of a showstopper.

Now Kara Dioguardi wore some secret glam – the whole bottom half of her dress was embellished with metallic detail, but who could see it hidden behind judges table?

And God bless him, Simon Cowell was Simon Cowell in a muscle-hugging sweater. But, aha! We did notice something new – something that looked a lot like a proud papa on his beaming face after Lee sung his song choice with such passion and guts.

Hallelujah!

Fox photo