The Golden Globes 2016

Award season kicked off this week with the 2016 Golden Globes (a lot like the Oscars, but a whole heap more drunken!)  Of course this time is about reflecting on and celebrating the most recent, epic movies and all the outstanding performances that Hollywoodland have exposed… But let’s not kid ourselves here, it’s mainly about the red carpet dresses, people! 

Here is a look at my favourite looks of the night… Ladies, Red Carpet High Fives all round!

Above: Jennifer Lawrence. Wearing wore a bold red Dior Haute Couture column gown topped off with more than 156 carats of Chopard diamonds, J-Law sizzled. A total head turner and show stopper (*and most importantly, she didn’t fall over.)

Above:  Alicia Vikander.  Nominated for not one, but two, Golden Globes, this beauty wore a refreshingly understated, yet effortlessly chic apron-front Louis Vuitton dress with ruffles and shimmering piping.  The cross-strap detailing of the column gown, and delicate pleating, oozed elegance. A total win.

Above:  Cate Blanchett.  The Marmite dress of the night; you either loved it or hated it. I LOVED. For me, Cate can do no wrong on the red carpet, continuously making unexpected, risky and regal choices. Wearing a Givenchy Haute Couture design, with Tiffany & Co. jewellery and a Roger Vivier clutch, Cate’s pale pink 1920’s silhouette, capelet and fringing was all kinds of Downton FAbbey.

Oh, and then there's that awkward moment when bad dresses happen to good people...

Above (L-R): I love Kate Hudson, she’s hilarious… However, I’m still waiting for the punchline of this outfit.  Despite her killer abs being more than sensational, this two-piece Michael Kors (stripper) ensemble, was just not red carpet worthy.  Eva Longoria’s underwhelming and rather conservative floral and bow ensemble just didn’t match the rest of the glitz and the glamour on the red carpet sadly. Melissa McCarthy apparently designed this metallic wrap dress/rain mac herself… Yikes! #StickToYourDayJob.

For the full list of Golden Globe winners, see HERE.  

The Oscars - 2014

With surprisingly less ‘stand out’ frocks on the red carpet this year than the last (what were these drably dressed women thinking, that we cared about their actual films?!) the uncontested best dressed ladies at the 86th Academy Awards were Cate Blanchett andLupita Nyong’o.  In a sea of black gowns and (we’ve seen them all before) nude-toned dresses, both these actresses dressed to impress and with every intention of walking away with those golden statues… which they did.  

Best Actress Cate Blanchett wore a flesh toned, delicately embellished and very romantic Armani Privé dress which almost looked like her own beautifully pale skin.  As faultless as she always dresses, and this was no exception, I’d have loved her to have worn a brighter, red or coral lipstick to really perfect the look.   Best Supporting Actress Lupita Nyong’o, who hasn’t put a (well heeled) foot wrong during the lengthy awards season, wore a custom-made ‘Nairobi Blue’ Prada gown (the colour reminded the actress of growing up in Nairobi) with a plunging neckline and sparkling embroidery.  I wasn’t entirely sold on the actress’ Fred Leeighton diamond headband, but hey, who am I to judge a girl for having her Cinderella moment?!  The award winning actresses, who we are more used to seeing wear bolder (Lupita) and quirkier (Cate) designs, both looked elegant, super-feminine and timeless.

A special mention must also go to Kate Hudson (above), who was presenting an Oscar on the night.  Wearing a stunning, low-cut Atelier Versace dress with amazing caped sleeves, the gorgeous actress evoked an old Hollywood glamour, accessorizing with an Art Deco inspired clutch.   Also, Angelina Jolie’s make-up (below) deserves a special mention. Neutral, earthy and simple, Angie's thick lashes, soft smokey eyes and nude lips looked subtle and flawless. 

Below:  Ummm... déjà vu much?!  Clumsy Best Supporting Actress nominee Jennifer Lawrence, wearing Dior (like last year) and a Harry Winston back-necklace (like last year) fell over (like last year) on the red carpet at the start of the evening.  The loveable clutz then hid behind a giant Oscar statue.  Ellen Degeneres later mocked J-Law by saying if she were to win an Oscar that night, they would bring the award to her... Safety first.

Below:  Singer/Rapper/Producer Pharrell Williams arrived at the Oscars wearing schoolboy-like Lanvin Tuxedo Shorts… Please tell me this is not going to become ‘a thing!’  Come back Vivienne Westwood Canadian Mountain Ranger Hat, aaall is forgiven!! 

Below:  A big new red carpet trend at year’s Academy Awards was… Photobombing!  Jennifer Lawrence’s love of the red carpet photobomb has gloriously caught on andBenedict Cumberbatch’s magnificent airborne photobombing of U2 was worthy of anOscar in itself! Other note-worthy photobombing was achieved by Jared Leto to Anne Hathaway, who then in turn photobombed Jessica Biel. Boom!!  

Below:  ​Pharrell Williams (thankfully out of those shorts) performed his song ‘Happy’ from ‘Despicable Me 2’ (catchiest song EVER?!) and shared short, impromptu dances and shoulder shimmies with nominees Lupita Nyong’o, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.

Below:  Jared Leto, with enviably perfect ombre hair, won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role as transgender AIDS patient Rayon in 'Dallas Buyers Club.'  Jared is 42 years old... HOW did that happen?!  He doesn't look a day over Jordan Catalano. 

Below:  ​John Travolta introduced the performance of (award winning song) ‘Let It Go’ from the Oscar winning animated film ‘Frozen.'  The actor however, some how introduced the song’s singer, well-known Broadway star Idina Menzel, as Adele Dazeem… Car crash.  You had one job John… Just one.  Believing that you’re nobody until you’ve had your name mangled by the actor, Slate immediately created its own widget allowing you to “Travoltify” your name (mine is Kirsty Edians!) Pleeeease next year can he introduce Benedict Cumberbatch and/or Chiwetel Ejiofor?!  ('Travoltify' your name HERE)

Below:  In the most memorable moment of the entire night, a tearful Lupita Nyong’o accepted the award for Best Supporting Actress and became Kenya’s first ever Oscar winner.  Eloquently and humbly, Lupita dedicated her award to Patsey, the brutalized plantation slave she so powerfully portrayed in ’12 Years A Slave,’ "it doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else’s."

Below:  After losing out on Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘American Hustle’ pranksterJennifer Lawrence jokingly tried to steal Lupita Nyong’o’s award. 

Below:  Love was certainly in the air at this years Oscars.  Bradley Cooper lost out on Best Supporting Actor but does he look remotely phased or disappointed? Hell no, he was too busy canoodling with his gorgeous girlfriend, the British model Suki Waterhouse! Likewise, after winning  Best Actor for his standout performance in 'Dallas Buyers Club,' Matthew McConaughey told reporters that he and his beayoooticul wife Camila would not “stay at the after-party long – I want to go home and make another baby!”

Below:  When Steve McQueen's modestly budgeted slavery odyssey, based on Solomon Northup's 1853 memoir, ’12 Years A Slave,’ won Best Picture, the joy and excitement amongst the cast and crew was almost tangible.  After leaping for joy, British filmmaker Steve McQueen poignantly dedicated the award to all those who had suffered, and still suffer, from slavery, saying “everyone deserves not just to survive, but to live."

Ellen DeGeneres took the ‘selfie’ to end all ‘selfies’ mid-ceremony, which later broke all Twitter records (and even Twitter itself momentarily!) for the most retweets (3 million times and counting!), a record previously held by President Obama.  The EPIC picture included Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto, Channing Tatum, Bradley Cooper, Kevin Spacey, Meryl Streep, Lupita Nyong’o, Jennifer Lawrence and… ummm… who? Ohh hi there Junior Yup, Lupita’s brother Junior made his way into the most Hollywood of Hollywood ‘selfies’ and I personally think he MADE this picture.  I can imagine his Christmas card is sorted for the next few years/forever...   

Golden Globes 2013

I have made no secret that I LOVE award shows.  I am thrilled that people from all areas within the film industry are annually rewarded for their often extreme and valiant attempts to entertain us… But mainly, I just freaking love seeing all the pretty frocks on the red carpet.  The fashion at last weekend’s 70th Golden Globes may have seemed a tad disappointing to some in comparison to last year’s more glamorous turn out, but I for one actually really appreciated the more fresh-faced actresses wearing simpler, cleaner silhouettes giving the typically bejeweled and fishtailed crowd a run for their money. 

My two favourite looks of the night were those of Thandie Newton (above, in Giles Deacon teamed with I'd-sell-my-granny-for-this-pair-of bubblegum pink heels) and Marion Cotilard (below, in custom-made Christian Dior by Raf Simons accessorised with a leopard print clutch).   Both actresses wore unconventionally shorter cut dresses than we are used to seeing at these Tinseltown ceremonies , and both looked beautifully modern, unfussy and surprisingly natural in a sea of Veronica Lake hair and embellished tulle.

Several red carpet trends (which in turn, usually indicate what will be 'coming soon to a cinema high street near you’) were very clear for us to see – alongside a bizarrely large amount of black dresses (luckily made more interesting with varying degrees of pretty gold embellishment, as seen below) I noticed the following styles having their moment; 

 1)  Peekaboo Cutaways

As seen in abundance on the SS’13 catwalks, cutaway styles and peekaboo detailing is a mehejour trend for this year, one that was shown in all it’s glory a the Golden Globes.  Below (L-R):  Peepo!  Emily Blunt sparkling in Michael Kors, Nicole Kidman and Kate Hudson looking utterly regal in Alexander McQueen and Kristen Wiig in Michael Kors.

2)  Fifty Shades of Red

From scarlet to ruby, from ox-blood to tomato, all the colours of the red rainbow were well represented on the matching carpet.  Below (L-R, Clockwise):  Ben Affleck's Argo-rgeous wife Jennifer Garner in Vivienne Westwood, Clare Danes in vibrant Versace, Zooey Deschanel was fairy-tale cute in Oscar de la Renta, girl-of-the-moment Jennifer Lawrence dramatic in Dior, Naomi Watts in Zac Posen and Marion Cotillard looking aDiorable.

3)  It's Just, A Little Blush 

The Red Carpet made many an actress blush last night, with a bevy of beauties choosing nude tones.  Below (L-R):  Kerry Washington Wow Wow’s in Miu Miu, Meghan Fox in Dolce & Gabbana, Anne Hathaway elegant in Chanel, Amada Seyfried ethereal in Givenchy.

4)  Backless

Rather than strapless, this year's red carpet was all about backless... Just perfect for that 'looking over my left shoulder' pose.  Below (L-R):  Naomi Watts posing in Zac Posen, Jessica Chastain in Calvin Klein and Julianna Margulies being Pucci Perfect. 

5)  Fishtailed Fancies

There was lots of swishing and wiggling with beautiful mermaid tails a'plenty at this year's Golden Globes.  Below (L-R):  Taylor Swift looked amazing in Donna Karan Atelier, Amy Adams in Marchesa and the always perfect Jessica Alba in Oscar de la Renta.

6)  Brits Abroad

Say what you want about their outfits, and a couple of these choices have indeed had some critics on the fence, but the Brits are all about non-traditional, fashion-forward style.  Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the… Carpet.  I salute you ladies.  (Below L-R):  Dotty for Rachel Weisz in Louis Vuitton, cream of the crop(tops) Sienna Miller in Erdem, Thandie Newton in Giles Deacon and a lady(Mary)like Michelle Dockery in Alexandre Vauthier.

7)  Jolie-ing

An odd trend but a trend nonetheless!   Angelina’s awkward right leg thrust at last year’s Oscars obviously had a resounding effect in Hollywood with several actresses at the Golden Globes also putting their best foot (far too) forward for the cameras.  Below (L-R):  Eva Longoria in Pucci, Lea Michele in Elie Saab , Halle Berry in Atelier Versace, Rosie Huntington-Whitely statuesque in Saint Laurent and Heidi Klum in Alexandre Vauthier.

When Bad Dresses Happen To Good People...

Unfortunately there are always some ladies who just… get it wrong.   This year, I think the worst dress was worn by Jessica Chastain (below).  Usually on all the 'Best Dressed' lists, the Golden Globe Award winning actress wore this saggy light blue dress by Calvin Klein. 

Jessica's style travesty was closely followed by Halle Berry (in Atelier Versace - very nineties J-Lo),  Lucy Lu (this Carolina Herrera dress is too big with too complicated a print for the red carpet) and Eva Longoria (just too chesty and too leggy in Pucci – pick just one).