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Gloden Globes 2020 Red Carpet Looks – Faves and not so faves

Last night was the Gloden Globes awards ceremony which is the first of what Hollywood likes to call the awards season. I am fascinated by red carpet looks as they are when Hollywood’s elite gets to play dress up.

Here are my thoughts on the looks. I have divided them into categories that stuck out for me: The Played It Safes, The Female Tuxedos, The Risk Takers, The Red Gowns, The Most Tragic, The Fearless Mens Styles and The Black On Black Tuxes.

Of course, there were hundreds in attendance walking the red carpet but these are the ones that caught my eye and that I remembered. Mostly because I am familiar with their work.

The Played It Safes

These are the looks are just so run of the mill for red carpet. To me, these seem like the red carpet equivalent of jeans and a white tee shirt for the school run. You look smart enough – but just enough to get by.

Jenifer Aniston – has been getting a lot of recognition for her role in Apple TV’s show Newsroom. Sometimes I feel like I don’t get Jennifer Aniston – its quite low key. The hem is a bit off-putting as if it has too much horsehair braid giving it an unnatural stiffness. It is Jennifer Aniston but never takes a risk.

Reese Witherspoon – nominated for the Apple TV show Newsroom. I find her gown to be quite bland. I am not sure that colour works best on her but it is ok. It is a red-carpet so maybe her stylist is subverting expectations?

Margot Robbie – has had a stellar film year. She is in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and Bombshell. These two films getting a lot of critical acclaim but her red carpet look is underwhelming. I read that the Chanel sequined bodice took about 250 hours to hand-stitch but I don’t see the luxury. I believe that if a work of art takes that much time to create it should show. I do like the practical pockets though.

Taylor Swift – this is a lovely Etro Couture dress and even though I know this is Ms Swift’s first time at the Globes (for her song in Cats), I can’t help but feel disappointed somehow. You could recreate this dress using McCalls M7789.

The Red Gowns

There were some stunning red dresses on the red-carpet – some great and some so and so.

Nicole Kidman – in a strapless sheath gown with the delicate draping pleats is eye-catching because of the bright red that she accentuated with a red lip – I must say no one does a red lip quite like Ms. Kidman. It is a good look.

Scarlett Johansen – nominated for A Marriage Story was stunning in red Vera Wang Collection gown with a deep plunge v neck. The look is all nice until the eye travels further down and the skirt sort of becomes a mishmash of subtraction cutting and a prom dress. It would have been better to keep it as a sheath at the skirt rather than going with excess volume.

Sofia Vergara – seldom goes wrong in her red carpet looks. She is always stunning and this look is magnificent. It is like looking at a red blood cell that has been given fluorescent edges.

Dame Helen Mirren – is an icon. Red has always looked amazing on her. I love the colour of the dress but I do feel like it too “much”. I can’t put my finger on it but maybe its the combo of the wrapped bandeau and the super full skirt. Perhaps if the bandeau was not as deep.

The Female Tuxes

There were plenty of female tuxedoes on this year’s red carpet.

Kerry Washington – took the tux and turned it on its heels into a magnificent scientific display that tethers on the edge of “wardrobe malfunction a la Janet Jackson“. I think she must have used tons of double-sided tape! I believe only Kerry Washington could carry off this Altazurra look. The key to such a daring look is having the confidence to wear it and you never see her seeming afraid that something will fall out. She owns it. Brava!

Kate McKinnon – the SNL comedic genius wore a Prabal Gurung tux. I think the trick to a tux looking great is fantastic fit and Kate’s stylist has nailed it.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge – one of the biggest winners of the night wore a Ralph & Russo sassy sequin tuxedo. I liked the look. The whole styling was spot on. Edgey enough for a red carpet.

Ellen DeGeneres –wore her trademark slim-fit trousers look in the form of this CELINE suit. She looks great and comfortable.

THE RISK TAKERS

I do love risk-takers – the ones that do try and go outside their usual zone. It may not always work out but when it does they knock it out of the ballpark and create an iconic fashion moment.

Salma Hayek – is a legend and she knows it.  I want to look and feel like this when I am 52 years old! Plus dressmakers take note of what a perfect gown hem length looks like! This is a Gucci masterpiece.

Jennifer Lopez – and her Valentino dress had Twitter abuzz (more than usual) with the polarized opinions about this dress. I stan J.Lo – to me she is the OG who is a triple threat – she sings, dances and acts! She ALWAYS looks great on a red carpet. This look works on her in my opinion BUT I do think if she’d let her hair down it was have been even better. The other problem is the hem; the gown length feels just a little too low (I’d have liked to hem it more so it skims the carpet like in Salma Hayek’s gown). This adds to a crumpled messy look. The earrings and necklace make it pop though.

Cate Blanchett – her look is bold and daring and unlike anything else that was on the carpet that night. The jeweled mantle is something that I think only Mary Katrantzou could think up. The juxtaposition of the hard gemstones with the softly draping chiffon like fabric is mesmerizing. Personally its not a style I loved but I do admire it on her. I can’t imagine anyone else carrying this off as well as she did.

Joey King – Talk about a futuristic style – both minimalist and decadent at the same time, I couldn’t stop looking at the waving lines and trying to see how this dress comes together. This is art. This Iris van Herpen dress should be getting more attention but alas Joey’s star is still on the rise.

The Most Tragic

These looks were the ones that had me wondering what on earth the stylist was thinking.

Michelle Williams – I don’t even know where to start with this Louis Vitton dress. It maybe is a subverting expectations thing?

Kirsten Dunst – I don’t think this Rodarte dress suits her at all especially with the feathers at the bust and armhole area. The colour is a lovely delicate pink but I can’t get past those feathers.

Gwyneth Paltrow – All I can say is that we get it, Gwyneth – your body is banging and you are in fantastic shape. But wearing a Fendi crochet bikini and voluminous beach coverall in sheer brown to a red carpet event? Nah.

Lucy Boynton (Louis Vitton) – I have never, ever, not once believed that aluminum foil would look good as a garment. I stand by that.

And what about the men – I was surprised by the range of styles I saw. Usually, the red carpet is all about the women but this year I felt like more men were equalising the fashion red carpet look.

FEARLESS Men’s Style

Billy Porter – as usual, he leads the charge with his perfectly tailored looks. This time in all white with a feather train – why let all the women have the fun eh?

David Furnish – must have a hard job of standing next to icon Elton John at such events given Elton’s flamboyant style but on this red carpet, he was stunning in a floral jacket. I loved this. Understated but commanding attention.

Sasha Baron Cohen – wowed in his all cobalt blue double-breasted ensemble from Dolce & Gabbana. This outfit was elevated when he was standing next to his wife Isla Fisher who was clad in an electric pink Monique Lhuillier sheath gown. Husband and wife together combined to create a look that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Wesley Snipes – was looking as dapper as they come in his velvet marron three-piece with a jabot collared shirt. This was a homage to the Netflix movie “Dolomite is My Name” that he stars in. It works on him!

The Black on Black Looks

I noticed that a lot of men were going for the black tux with a black shirt look that is universally flattering. Some took it to another level.

Kit Harrington – has trouble letting go of his Black Watch Jon Snow character :-)! He does look good in this black YSL slim fit suit though.

Eddie Murphy – is currently having a triumphant comeback after years of living a quiet family life. He stills looks as youthful as he did back in the eighties and this deep red dinner jacket on black look is perfect on him.

Jason Momoa – is all-male in his green dinner jacket. Like Eddie Murphy, he is wearing a black tee instead of a shirt – I think you can only do that after you have reached a certain level in that industry. Even when he is wearing tight pink trousers Jason always looks great. Maybe its all those muscles…..

Antonio Banderas – bucked the black tux trend by donning a white tux jacket with a white shirt and the effect is transcendental. Perhaps its because I have loved him since From Dusk Till Dawn but this was a perfect red carpet look to me.

And finally how cool was Joaquin Phoenix with his perpetual sunglasses! Only he could do that and make it not look absurd! I think Joaquin is one of the finest actors working at the moment and it’s nice to see him comfortable on the red carpet garnering the recognition he deserves.

That’s it! Those are my thoughts on the Golden Globes 2020 red carpet looks. What were your favourite looks? I don’t actually watch the awards show itself as I find it to be as much fun as watching paint dry. However, the parade of dressed-up actors is a fun watch.