Fashionable People & Questionable Things
Celina Lam // January 20, 2012
With a new year comes award season and all the celebrities are in their closets preparing for their red carpet entrances in the next couple of months. This year’s red carpet extravaganza began with the Golden Globes. The evening brought forth stunning dresses from designers all around the globe, and it also spawned some not-so-stunning choices that leave one thinking, “What went wrong?”
This year’s Golden Globes were full of hits and misses, the grand and not-so-grand, and unforgettable moments on the red the carpet.
Let’s start with Glee star Lea Michele, who walked onto the carpet with a lovely nude illusion embroidered Marchesa dress. Lea showed off her elegant body through the daring silver embellished dress and looked flawless. The sheer shimmer from the dress seemed to extend Lea’s classic lines and bare back, and she cleverly finished the look off with silver Lorraine Schwartz jewelry and smoky eye shadow to emphasize her beautiful eyes. My verdict? Pure beauty.
Unfortunately, not everyone can pull off a dress like Lea’s, and some dresses are just not meant to be worn on the red carpet.
Madonna, what were you thinking? I mean, you’re a great songstress but your dress lacked your usual “material girl” flair. Madonna strutted down the red carpet wearing a Reem Arca dress; the silver and bottle green dress closely resembles Roman gladiator armor. The dress didn’t bring out the best in Madonna but, luckily for her, the award for Best Original Song outshone Reem Arca. If only Madonna chose dresses like she sings songs, she may not have looked like such a disaster. Final Comments? Maybe next time, Madonna.
Aside from body armor at the Globes this year, drapes also made an appearance. Sarah Michelle Gellar ‘stunned’ the Globes this year with a Monique Lhuillier blue-white ball gown that looked like curtains tie-dyed in blue. The gown makes her look like a walking curtain rod instead of achieving the elegance she was probably going for. Minus the bubble patch in the middle of the dress, the design could have looked much simpler and a little easier on the eye. Sorry Buffy, but that dress slayed us!
Aside from the curtains and armor, the Globes did have dresses that did not come from craft time at home or the Roman ages. The Ides of March star, Evan Rachel Wood, walked the carpet with an exquisite Gucci Premiere gown, with green sequins creating the illusion of layers and accentuating Evan’s gorgeous curves. Evan’s low V-neckline would be risky for some, but she pulls it off with poise and grace. Evan finished her look off with a natural powder matte makeup that, along with her dress, was a complement to her natural beauty.
It wasn’t only stars that wore some disastrous dresses at the Globes. E! Talk host Giuliana Rancic stepped out on the carpet with a Monique Collignon gray and black gown that made her look like a neckless black bird. The black-laced top-half of the dress looks beautiful but, coupled with a black-feathered bottom and a high neckline, it makes Giuliana look like a bird that will never fly. The high neckline consumes her face and the bottom of her dress does not help by consuming her waif-like figure. Giuliana’s tiny body is lost in the gigantic Monique Collignon dress and does not leave anything for her to flaunt except her slender arms. I think we need to pluck the feathers out of this one.
Saving the best for last, the winner of the night had to be Ms. Pitt herself. Angelina Jolie looked elegant in her stunning champagne satin Atelier Versace gown. The gown was just beautiful on her, emphasizing Angelina’s lithe figure. The one shoulder satin dress was simple, but sophisticated, and was brilliantly accented with a hint of red at the neckline. Angelina lived the dress and brought out its best features. Her look wasn’t over-the-top, not overly designed – instead, Angelina chose a simple dress that made her the attraction of the night. Ms. Pitt’s finishing touch was a bright red lipstick that stood out along with her dress. Jolie dazzled the Globes this year, walking the carpet with confidence and poise.
All in all, this year’s Globe fashion had its beauties and its misfits. There were the elegant and the not-so-attractive. Some dresses left me breathless, others left me with not a word. I must say, however, that this year’s Globes kicked off what I think will be a very fashionable 2012.
