Every year, the 2011 Golden Globes kicks off awards show season and sets the fashion tone for what’s to come. Proof? The flouncy striped Zac Posen cocktail number that Tina Fey is still having trouble living down one year after she wore it, and the gorgeous purple Bottega Venetta gown that Sandra Bullock opted for in 2010, which helped set us up for the breathtaking Marchesa floor length gown she wore to last year’s Oscars. To top that off, the Golden Globes are widely known for the flowing alcohol which makes for some interesting speeches (and this year, Moët et Chandon made it all the more appealing by bedazzling their mini bubbly bottles). So who shone and who flopped at the Golden Globes this year?
Olivia Wilde, a perennial stunner in Marchesa, once again opted for a floor length gown from the red carpet label. The sparkly brown number was a red carpet stand-out along with Piper Perabo’s black silk faille column Oscar de la Renta gown, which was equally sophisticated and young, thanks to its fanciful bow detail and a train. Also in Oscar de la Renta was Lea Michele, who has had a lot of luck standing out in the designer’s elegant frocks at past award shows. This season, she didn’t disappoint in a salmon silk faille one shoulder gown with cascading ruffle detail from the designer’s Spring 2011 collection.
More so than at the Oscars, actresses take fashion risks at the Golden Globes, making for an exciting red carpet – unfortunately that means a higher risk of flops. Gabourey Sidibe wore a cheetah-like purple maxi printed sequin gown with unfortunate butterfly detailing, and Helena Bonham Carter looked straight out of a Tim Burton movie with disheveled hair, mismatched shoes, and a busy Vivienne Westwood outfit – but, hey, at least when it comes to Carter, that’s exactly what we want to see. Speaking of trying to have a sense of humor about fashion, the usually on-point Michelle Williams opted for a totally off daisy Valentino gown that failed to be dainty or fun and instead just fell flat.
Not all of the night’s risks fell flat however. Halle Berry showed off her amazing figure in a multi-textured Nina Ricci look; Julie Bowen stunned in a hyper detailed neutral colored Tadashi Shoji gown (and kudos to her for not butchering the designer’s name on the red carpet!); Emma Stone and Claire Danes both opted to make a statement with color, keeping it simple with clean, frill-free dresses in eye-catching hot peach and hot pink respectively from designer Calvin Klein.
As for the most buzzed about baby bumps of the evening, Jane Krakowski looked glam in a goddess, draped blue Badgley Mischka number, while Natalie Portman sadly disappointed in a pink strapless Viktor & Rolf gown with an oversized hand embroidered glimmering red rose pinned to the front. Portman’s dress was one of the night’s most highly anticipated, but it looked dated and unflattering (her makeup, however, was flawless). The actress did manage to deliver the biggest shock of the night, as she was widely expected to wear either Dior or Rodarte. Another shocker was Julianne Moore who opted for Lanvin over the predicted Tom Ford – who did not make an appearance on any A-list actresses (perhaps he’s waiting for the Oscars?)
As for the night’s color trends, the main ones were nudes (notably Scarlett Johansson in Elie Saab and Carrie Underwood in Badgley Mischka), emerald green (notably Catherine Zeta Jones in Monique Lhuillier, Elizabeth Moss in Donna Karan, Angelina Jolie in Versace, and Mila Kunis in Vera Wang), and crimson red (notably Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang and January Jones in Versace).
photos via Zimbio
All in all it was an exciting start to the 2011 awards season! Tell us, who gets your vote for best and worst dressed?
