HOT TIPS : WE CAN ALL BE STARS ON OSCAR NIGHT.

Byline: Barbara De Witt 

We'll all be watching the beautiful people at the Oscars Monday night as usual. It's enough to send Miz Hot Tips on a sorry-for-herself cookie binge - but Cliff Chally, a costume designer whose credits include ``Designing Women,'' says we can all look like a star.

First, choose clothing that's flattering to your figure instead of merely trendy (remember those peplum suits on Delta Burke?), and always buy quality over quantity, he advises.

Chally is big on outlet centers (he favors the new Ontario Mills) because there are so many designers housed together, but without Rodeo Drive prices. By saving all that money, Miz Hot Tips figures you should be able to buy - or maybe rent - some of those jewels from Harry Winston. (You know, he's the Beverly Hills jeweler who helped Mira Sorvino sparkle at last year's Academy Awards.)

Now, about star-quality makeup. According to Max Factor makeup artist to the stars Ronnie Specter (``One Fine Day,'' ``Up Close and Personal''), your makeup style should match your clothing style. He expects light, sheer floral dresses to be a favorite this year, so the natural look with light and luminous foundation, smoky eyes and sheer glossy lips would be a great complement. However, he adds, the classic Hollywood glam gals go for ripe red lips with shades such as Paris Red, Ming Red and Bistro Red.

Easter gifties: Once upon a time, the Easter Bunny filled children's baskets with hard-boiled eggs, jelly beans and a chocolate bunny, but now that poor rabbit needs to borrow Santa's sleigh to deliver the latest Easter treats.

Miz Hot Tips is talking about items such as a Cabbage Patch Kid ($23.88) with bunny ears; children's pink satin-lined bunny ears with Bonne Bell lip gloss ($2.79); a Mr. Potato Head watch ($4.99) that opens so you can blow bubbles during long-winded church services; a home video of Beatrix Potter's ``Peter Rabbit'' ($7.99) and the latest in Easter candies, including lavender-colored Peeps, Dove truffle eggs and Rain-Blo Bubble Gum Eggs. They're all at Target, Kmart and drug stores.

For more discriminating tastes, stuff the basket with Waterford crystal bunnies from Macy's and white porcelain rabbits from Lladro, Beverly Hills, priced at $75 and up.

Backyard barbecue time: Forget the groundhog thing - in L.A., it's earthquakes that predict a warming trend - so start dusting off the barbecue.

While you're thinking about fun in the sun, check out the swell deck chairs covered in red and blue Hawaiian print (Hawaiiana is very hot this year) for $19.99 at IKEA in Burbank.

They've also got a charming frog-themed sun umbrella for $4.95 and a way-cute outdoor puppet theater made of lacquered corrugated cardboard, priced at $12.95. Of course, you'll need puppets, too - $7.95 a pair.

Slumber-safe: No longer do you have to avoid slumber parties or visits with Grandma the Cat Lady because of your germ phobia. Now you can sleep without fear on your own portable anti-microbial, anti-bacterial mattress topper by Talatech for $54.99. Miz Hot Tips hasn't tried it, but it sounds helpful for overnight visits to friends who don't share your high housecleaning standards.

For more information, call Latex Foam Products Inc., [phone].

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Photo: (1) For overnight visits to friends or just peace of mind at home, try Talatech's portable anti-bacterial mattress topper.

(2) Charming frog-themed sun umbrellas are available at IKEA in Burbank.