Golden Globe Awards: Trends & Commentary

Last night as I was watching the Golden Globe Awards I noticed that the predominant colors of the evening that fell outside the traditional arena of red carpet Red, White & Blue were Pink in all shades, including Honeysuckle (the Pantone color of 2011), orange and green. Almost all the starlets went for full length gowns. Some played it safe, actually too safe while others took risks that were sometimes successful and at other times massive fashion failures.

Pretty in Pink:

Julianne Moore, in Lanvin, with Bulgari jewels and Lanvin shoes. I have to give her credit for trying something new but the uptight neckline or shocking pink color did nothing to flatter her skin tone or her body type. Ms Moore is a beautiful woman but failed to do herself any favors in this outfit. Perhaps if the sleeve was only a pouf instead of a full sleeve and the skirts was shorter it could have worked? I wish she was an actress who chose to wore a beautiful forest green tone instead.

Claire Danes in Calvin Klein Collection and Fred Leighton. I thought Clare Danes looked great. The simple cut, the fun pop color and simple accessories all work well with her look.

Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta. While her soft hair and makeup was pretty, I really feel that Lea Michele’s dress was too much dress and overwhelming on her small frame, especially in the pepto pink shade.


Natalie Portman in Viktor & Rolf. Natalie Portman can never really look bad. I do like that she took a risk by wearing Viktor & Rolf, and while her hair and make-up and dress silhouette were perfect for a mother to be, I couldn’t really get over those red roses.

Megan Fox, in Armani Privé, with Brian Atwood shoes. Ms Fox took a sexy/sweet look in soft pink that wasn’t particularly exciting or offensive. Great hair though took her look to the next level.

Sandra Bullock in Jenny Packham. Ms Bullock looked great! I loved her heavy eye skimming fringe. The soft pink Jenny Packam provided a Hollywood goddess look.

Tangerine Dream:

Rhea Durham in Michael Kors looked great in her dress choice, although it is a bit on the classic end of the spectrum, but the new color of orange sherbet really made it special. I wish that she added some volume to her roots for added glamor.

Emma Stone in Calvin Klein and Van Cleef & Arpels. Ms Stone’s plunging back and clean silhouette made for a very modern and clean look in a new looking sherbet tone. The neutral tone lipstick and cat eyeliner added to the glam factor.

Kyra Sedgwick in Emilio Pucci is a prime example of a celebrity who knows what looks good on her. I love that she steered clear of sherbet and picked a rustier orange that looks great with her complexion. I do wish that she did something soft and romantic with her hair to complement the feel of the dress but her turquoise accented accessories look great.

Green Monster:

Elisabeth Moss in Donna Karan and Lorraine Schwartz. While the dress is great, I wish Ms Moss added a necklace and did something with her hair. It just looks a bit unfinished, although she was off to the right start.

Catherine Zeta Jones in Monique Lhuillier and Van Cleef & Arpels looks amazing. She is a woman who clearly knows what works for her and sticks to it. Again, I wish she added a necklace.

Mila Kunis, in Vera Wang looked great! Hair, makeup, dress, accessories all in perfect balance.

Long Sleeve Stunner:

Angelina Jolie in Versace looks smoking in one of the evening’s trendy colors sporting a big hair with a fairly covered up dress. Best accessory of the evening, with Brad Pitt in tote, the couple were glued to each other. We even caught a glimpse of Angelina straightening Brad’s bow tie (which by the way was a must for almost all the men in attendance)

Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive and Van Cleef & Arpels also took the route of Angelina with sleeves and she upped the ante with the addition of big shoulders and a plunging back. Refreshing proof that sexy does not always mean short skirts and cleavage.

Leighton Meester, in Burberry, with Cathy Waterman jewels, a Louis Vuitton bag, and Jimmy Choo shoes.Ms Meester also opted for big shoulders and sleeves but the front of her dress with it’s thigh high slit. The puffs of her sleeves however at cuff and shoulder weren’t particularly flattering. I wish there were a bit more sparkle to her outfit too. Compared to Angelina and Anne, her effort looks a bit flat inspite of her killer shoes. Perhaps if the dress were shorter and in a fun color it could have worked.

Annette Bening, in Tom Ford rocked glasses on the red carpet and of the glasses I approve. I am not sure how I feel about her burn out velvet dress and her hair left something to be desired.

Flowing Champagne:

Dianna Agron in J. Mendel and Cathy Waterman looked safe but pretty perfect in terms of hair, makeup and accessories.

Carrie Underwood in Badgley Mischka also looked very safe. Wish she was wearing some lipstick for a more finished look.

Sarah Hyland in Max Azria and Mikimoto was wearing something that looked a bit too much for someone her age. It all looked like something someone 10 or even 20 years older than her might wear.

Scarlett Johansson in Elie Saab and Van Cleef & Arpels was another case of too much dress on a starlet. Perhaps minus the angel sleeves this could have worked?

Michelle Williams in Valentino tried something new but I couldn’t find anything to appreciate about this daisy concoction. At least she had pretty hair and makeup.

White hot or not?:

Jennifer Love Hewitt in Romona Keveza was wearing too much dress and also looked an unfortunate shade of orange. Perhaps a case of too much spray tan but she could give the cast of Jersey Shore a run for their money.

Nicole Kidman in Prada and Fred Leighton looked tall lean and statuesque but she also didn’t take any risks. Wish she had done something more interesting and sophisticated for hair.

Hailee Steinfeld, in Prabal Gurung, with Tiffany & Co. jewels looked completely age appropriate and not overdone. It was a way that you could appreciate her beauty and youth.

Red Alert:

Jane Fallon in Marchesa looked quite pretty but I wish she pumped up her look with some flashier accessories. Metallics would have looked so much better than black shoes and clutch.

January Jones in Versace looks like she is trying too hard to be sexy. During the awards show she looked pretty uncomfortable in that dress and although it got attention it was not positive.

Christina Hendricks, in Romona Keveza, with Chopard jewels and a Leiber clutch. Ms Hendricks seams to have a thing for large ruffle details. I wish she put her hair up so that her head would not be competing for attention with the shoulder of her dress

In The Navy:

Tina Fey, in L'Wren Scott decided to take a safe route after previous harsh criticism and I think she managed to get a very classy look.

Amy Adams, in Marchesa, with Cartier jewels and a Kilian Hennessy clutch.

Mandy Moore, in Monique Lhuillier, with Chopard jewels looked a bit like a lost figure skater in her dress. I wasn’t a fan of the mesh illusion yoke. I think, it could have been saved it it was in another material.

Anything but Basic Black:

Halle Berry, in vintage Nina Ricci and Harry Winston jewels always manages to balance sexy and beautiful. While the high low hem with sheer skirt is a bit hard to pull off, I don’t think Halle Berry failed at her attempt. While I didn’t love the look completely I did like her addition of matching Wonder Woman cuffs.

Kelly Osbourne in Zac Posen has come a long way since her time on MTV, she looks sleek and glamorous and while it’s not something I would necessarily wear, I love that her dress has a splash of something different that makes it not just another LBD. I wish she had a sparkly bracelet ala Halle Berry on one wrist.

Helena Bonham Carter in Vivienne Westwood couldn’t have been trying harder to look eccentric. She is a beautiful woman, but the wild hair in addition to the mismatch shoes were all competing with a statement dress. Also the dress falls at an awkward length that makes her look rather squat.

Jennifer Lawrence in Louis Vuitton looks lovely. I really appreciate the print breaking up the monotony of a boring black dress while the cut of the bodice is quite flattering. While I am not a fan of the train, there are worse things possible.

Christina Aguilera in Zuhair Murad looks like the epitome of over processed trying too hard sexy. Her hair almost looks like a wig, while her dress I suppose is to give her that curvy mermaid feel exaggerates her body into a cartoon.

The Winner:
Olivia Wilde in Marchesa stole our hearts. The dress was so pretty that it forgave her fabulous but slightly mismatched shoes. Beauty, glamour and age appropriate perfection.