There were 4 noticeable trends of the night. Green, pink, nude, and conservative. Yes, I just used the words nude and conservative in the same sentence.
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Trend #1 - Hands down, the best red carpet trend I've seen in years.
Emerald Green Gowns
Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men) in Calvin Klein
Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace
Catherine Zeta Jones in Monique L'Huillier
Mina Kunis (Black Swan) in Vera Wang
I just adore this trend! It's my favorite color. It looks great on most skin tones and hair colors. Did I mention it's my favorite color? All four of these ladies get a huge thumbs up from me.
Trend #2 - Done often, just not usually this well.
Nude Gowns
Carrie Underwood in Badgley Mischka
Dianna Agron (Glee) in J. Mendel
Nicole Kidman in Prada
Scarlett Johansson in Elie Saab
It's strange that I actually like this trend, because I'm not usually a fan of the nude gown, especially on blondes. It's a very difficult look to get right. You can easily become washed out and blah. However, these blondes, except Nicole Kidman got it totally right. I think Nicole would have looked better if her gown were one or two shades darker - this one matches her skin too closely. Her hair was too flat, and she ended up with the blah thing going for her. Otherwise, this was a really good trend.
Trend #3 - Some good, some bad, some ugly.
Shades of Pink
In order from best to worst, we have;
Claire Danes in Calvin Klein
Lea Michelle in Oscar de la Renta
Megan Fox in Armani Prive
Sandra Bullock in Jenny Packham
Julianna Margulies in Yves Saint Laurent
Natalie Portman in Viktor & Rolf
Julianne Moore in Lanvin
Claire Danes looks very pretty, I just wish her gown were about an inch and a half shorter. Lea Michelle does the poofy princess look a lot, but she does it well, so I guess I can't hate. Megan Fox looks like a poor man's Angelina Jolie, and I don't love this dress - it's just better than the rest. Sandra Bullock's dress isn't bad - I actually quite like the beading, but the bangs are a mess. Why she didn't get a trim before the show, I'll never figure out. I don't care for the black top with the pale pink skirt on Julianna Margulies. It just doesn't flatter her. I can't stand that stupid rose on Natalie Portman's dress, and the red shoes are even worse. Bringing up the rear is Julianne Moore in yet another atrocious red carpet gown. There isn't a whole lot more to say about her look cause it's just that bad!
Trend #4 - Kind of like a mullet, conservative in the front and party in the back!
Conservative Long-Sleeve Gowns
Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive
Leighton Meester in Burberry
Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace
I actually really like Anne Hathaway's gown. It just doesn't fit her correctly. This should have hugged the body, rather than hang loose through the bodice. Leighton Meester looked like she raided her grandmother's closet. Angelina looks great. The back could have been a little lower, but overall, this is a beautiful dress. (Sorry, couldn't find pics of the backs of the dresses.)
This falls under the "first impressions aren't always right."
I thought Emma Stone was a little too casual for her first nomination in this t-shirt Calvin Klein. That was until I saw the back detail. It had a deep plunging back that made this dress just appropriate enough for the Golden Globes. I'll admit it, my first impression was completely wrong on this one. Now, I just wish I could find a picture of the back!
The following are prime examples of what not to do on a red carpet.
Halle Berry in Nina Ricci
Jennifer Lawrence in Louis Vuitton
Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad
Kyra Sedgwick in Emilio Pucci
Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang
Tina Fey in L'Wren Scott
Halle Berry looks like she forgot to step out of her negligee and actually put her dress on. Jennifer Lawrence just has too much going on. The texture, the weight, the thick velvet looking straps, and the uneven hem is just too much for one dress. Jennifer Lopez never ranks very high in my book, but the sheer shawl thing at the neckline of this dress doesn't make any sense. It's just ugly. Kyra Sedgwick's dress is horribly unflattering to a woman who has a great body. It makes her look much bigger than she actually is, and the color is terrible. Sofia Vergara looks like she's wearing a red plastic bag. I hate it. I know it's making some of the best dressed lists, but I don't see what they are seeing. I find this to be tacky. Tina Fey seems to be on an every other award show schedule. She missed on this one with the fringy sleeve detail. I expect her to come back with a hit for the next award show.
I love her, but I can't wrap my head around this.
Helena Bonham Carter (in Vivienne Westwood) is always quirky and usually cute. This is a little over the top, even for her. The mixed and not matching shoes are pretty bad, but the sunglasses just push this one over the edge.
The worst of the worst.
January Jones in Versace
Michelle Williams in Valentino
January Jones tries so hard to rebel against her Mad Men character, Betty Draper. She goes too far every time. This looks like she bought it at the local DEB store. I don't know what Donatella is doing to this woman, but she's not helping her. The past two red carpet fashions have turned January Jones into a red carpet nightmare! Michelle Williams must have forgotten where she was going. This is not 1972, and flowers have no place on a red carpet gown (see Natalie Portman, above). She just looks frumpy and extremely unfashionable.
The best of the best.
Christina Aguliera in Zuhair Murad gown with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry
Christina has been channeling Marilyn Monroe for years. She's got the hair, the lips, and now, the body. She looks amazing in this mermaid gown with black lace detail over the nude lining. The best part of her look though, was not the dress. The ring with bracelet attached is gorgeous! I wonder if Britney Spears jewelry line for Kohl's will knock that off? A girl can dream, right?
Olivia Wilde in Marchesa with Christian Louboutin booties
Olivia Wilde's dress is my favorite from any red carpet event thus far. I can't find anything wrong with her look. Besides the fact that she's already stunning, this look is a homerun from head to toe (literally). Her hair is great - Sandra Bullock should take notes on how to wear bangs properly. Her dress is incredible. And the shoes...the shoes are awesome!! If I could afford such a thing, I would buy them, put them on a shelf, just so I could admire them every day! AMAZING!!
Overall, I think this was a pretty good red carpet. Mostly hits, a few misses, and a couple disasters.
Who was your favorite? Least favorite?
