The Golden Globes

There’s nothing like the red carpets of awards season to inject some much needed glamour into the post-Christmas slump. Although not the first of the season, the Golden Globes is the big kick-start event for red carpet fashion and this year was no exception. There was great anticipation amongst the fashion world as to which designers’ couture creations would be gracing the red runway and which stars would land on the best and worst dressed lists.

There were a few trends that emerged amongst the glamorous ladies, the first being for mermaid style gowns. E! Presenter Kelly Osbourne kicked things off in a pale green strapless Zac Posen design with an abstract style fishtail and Jessica Alba gave us a colour-popping coral creation by Oscar De La Renta. Although the colour sat beautifully against her radiant skin tone, it remains to be seen why she is currently topping the best dressed lists with the perhaps, cheapening satin effect of the fabric and the odd patchy fluffy clutch, coupled with the fact that there were some much more deserving efforts.

Neutrals like those seen on Amy Adams and Hayden Panettiere were also a recurring theme. Isla Fisher dazzled in a sparkly and sheer neutral design by Reem Acra, which was perfectly finished with gorgeous old school Hollywood glamour hair and makeup and Jennifer Lopez made a sexy racy lacy statement in faux-sheer Zuhair Murad.

Sensual black gowns were also common; Eva Longoria in Pucci, Rosie Huntington-Whitley in Saint Laurent Paris and Katharine McPhee in Thyskiens Theory all ‘pulling a Jolie’ in their thigh slit dresses. The black didn’t stop there; Salma Hayek poured her curves into a glittery Gucci gown with a big bow and Girls star Zosia Mamet wowed in a Tony Ward couture piece with leather panels. McQueen provided the two best black dresses of the night, with Nicole Kidman showing her toned midriff in a sheer panelled column dress and Kate Hudson looking glamorous in a peephole cut gown encrusted with gold beading around the neckline.

It would appear that the age-old unwritten rule ‘don’t wear red on the red carpet’ is now destined to remain unwritten, as we saw many stars choosing the stunning bright orange-red colour for their frocks. Zooey Deschanel knows what suits her and the kooky New Girl star didn’t disappoint in a strapless Oscar De La Renta prom style, accessorised with pearls and cute camera and filmstrip nail art. New mum and award winner Claire Danes almost made us forget that she has only recently given birth by showing off her miraculous post-baby body in a wrap style by Versace. By far the stand out red dress was that of Best Actress (comedy/musical) winner Jennifer Lawrence, who wore a strapless Dior Haute Couture piece. Despite the actress admitting to not knowing what ‘haute couture’ meant, she looked stunning, although some critics didn’t like the ‘Madonna pointy’ style bus.

There were a few other stand outs, in particular Julianne Hough’s frothy, glittery, princess-style Monique Lhuillier design, which she punked up with an edgy quiff. Lucy Liu also caused a stir in a rather large, full skirted, strapless blue Carolina Herrera ballgown covered with red and yellow roses. Thandie Newton took a different approach to the majority in a glitzy beaded and sheer mini by Giles, while Halle Berry attracted lots of attention with her Atelier Versace pink printed thigh split dress.

Flying the flag for the Brits were Adele in her trusted empire-line Burberry and Sienna Miller in pastel floral applique Erdem.

Anne Hathaway was the most anticipated arrival with rumours flying around that a) she would be wearing Chanel and b) she is pregnant. When she finally did arrive, she was indeed wearing a white Chanel column creation, which had a peplum detail that only served to fan the flames of the pregnancy rumours!

All in all, generally a good night for everyone, however, some outfits stood out for the wrong reasons. Fashion commentators were raving over Lena Dunham’s eggplant coloured Zac Posen dress even though it appeared to have a most unflattering off-the-shoulder neckline as well as being a strange colour. Rachel Weisz wore a Louis Vuitton design that consisted of a structured black mini over the top of a sheer polka dot layer which was plain and boring and Best Actress (drama) winner Jessica Chastain wore an ill-fitting seafoam Calvin Klein gown with slicked back hair that appeared to age her. But what would awards season be to fashion lovers without the Worst Dressed lists?

By Louise Hayward