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Golden Globes 2013 Red Carpet

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

photo credit: instyle

I haven't done a fashion commentary on red carpet dresses since 2010. I've missed this. 

Disclaimer: I am by no means a fashion expert, but I've always had a strong opinion on fashion and red carpet dresses. I've been obsessed with award shows and red carpet events since I was a kid. Mainly because I aspire to make films, but I've always dreamed of wearing stunning dresses on the red carpet one day. So when I saw the dresses on Sunday, I was quite disappointed by the lack of imagination and boldness. Considering how these people have access to the most gorgeous dresses out there, they show up to the Golden Globes in dull, boring, unimaginative and frankly, some quite ugly dresses. I know it doesn't affect me in the slightest, but it really bothers me. If I ever have the connections in the future, I would try to take advantage of it and wear something that's beautiful and artistic.

Fashion is art. Red carpet dresses and haute couture dresses are a true art form. You'd think an award show would be the time to wear something that's breathtaking (don't get me started on the Met Gala dresses from 2012). Be daring! Be bold! Mermaid gowns and sweetheart necklines dominated the red carpet and I was just... bored. I mean I've never like fishtail gowns, so seeing them every award season just makes me yawn. I am so over nude on the red carpet. I want to see color and I don't necessarily mean neon colors or even bright colors, but color in general. Something atypical, something original please. I love red, but red on the red carpet is also starting to get predictable, unless it's Valentino red. If you're going to wear black on the red carpet, let's see a spectacular black dress, like the black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's designed by Hubert de Givenchy. I just want to be inspired.

I've loved Anne Hathaway since she was Princess Mia and she usually doesn't disappoint on the red carpet, but I was slightly underwhelmed by her Chanel Column dress. It was flattering and minimal, which isn't a bad thing, but I think she could have been a bit more daring. I loved the Prabal Gurung dress she wore, that was absolute perfection with that pixie cut. Her speech moved me to the core, she inspires me so much and if I were to ever meet her and work with her in the future, I would be the luckiest person ever.

I'm so proud of Kristen Bell's choice to wear Jenny Packham. If I ever had access to Jenny Packham's dresses, I would proudly wear them on the red carpet. This was a stellar choice. The color is so ethereal and the bead work is always beautiful. I'm sure she chose an empire waist dress, because she's got a bun in her oven. I personally would have chosen a different silhouette, but I love this dress.

Although I'm not a fan of fishtail mermaid gowns, I was surprised to like Taylor Swift's Donna Karan Atelier gown. That dark aubergine has a very regal feel. Maybe a bit too much of the side boob and the fabric is a bit too shiny for my taste, but it has a classic feel overall. And I think her side parting is a little too far to the side. P.S. It's a shame she didn't win Best Song, because weirdly enough I prefer Safe and Sound to Adele's song for Skyfall.

I've never liked the Carolina Herrera dresses I've seen on the red carpet unfortunately. So I was pleasantly surprised to see Lucy Liu is this over-the-top floral Herrera gown. It's almost verging into wallpaper or curtain territory, but it's actually quite beautiful. I'm a huge fan of florals, so I wouldn't mind wearing a curtain as long as the floral pattern is pretty. At least this dress stood out. It looks like Lucy is the only one who wore a print too.

I'm not in love with Emily Blunt's Michael Kors dress, but it works on her. If I had her body, I'd work a cutout dress like that. I would have preferred either a different color and/or fabric with that silhouette. I actually prefer her dress at the Critic's Choice Award.

I love Zooey Deschanel and I've loved her since Almost Famous, but I'm starting to feel underwhelmed by her red carpet choices. Yes, she's wearing an Oscar de la Renta dress. The silhouette is exactly the same as the Reem Acra dress she wore to the Emmy's last year. Now that's probably my favorite red carpet look of hers, she looks like Cinderella. At least this dress is way better than the Prada she wore last year. I wish she wore a different necklace with this dress too.

I'm very impressed by Naomi Watt's dress. Her entire look is so polished and elegant. As much as I love maroon or bordeaux or whatever you want to call that color, I would have preferred it in a deep forest green or even black or silver! She would look like a stunning silver statue. Not gold though, I think gold is too obvious a choice at the Golden Globes.

None of the black looks are really worth discussing. Rachel Weisz's black dress looks confused, but I personally like it. It was a bold and edgy choice for her. I don't picture Rachel Weisz in something unconventional as this choice. I think this dress would probably work better as a cocktail dress, there's just too much sheer, which doesn't work on a red carpet in my opinion. I'm always a fan of an illusion necklace.

I've mostly been impressed by Julianne Moore's red carpet dresses. That french twist is perfection and that lip color really works with the Tom Ford gown. I like the graphic quality, it's very Sixties and it just reminds me of her looks in A Single Man. Loved her in that film.

Then comes the worst dresses. I don't want to be mean, I'm just being critical here. Halle Berry, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Claire Danes, what were you ladies thinking? Halle Berry, you don't want to know what I think about that dress. I've never liked Versace dresses to begin with. Jessica Chastain, you'd have a pretty good run of red carpet looks, but this Calvin Klein gown is just unfortunate. And that hair. It's a nice color, but somehow it doesn't work with the hair and skin tone. And I love redheads: Julianne Moore, Florence Welch, Rachel Curd Wood. Somehow that dress isn't sitting right on her body. Is it trying to be draped and what? How can you mess up a halter neck dress? I don't know. Jennifer Lawrence, I love you and I loved you so much in Silver Linings Playbook. But you need to fire whoever put you in that dress. It's not exactly a bad dress, but I promise there is something wrong with the bustier and how the dress fans out. Dior Haute Couture? I am confused. It's not flattering. If she didn't have big boobs, they would just pop out. Somehow she keeps wearing unflattering and age inappropriate dresses, she needs a new stylist. Claire Danes, just another boring halter neck dress that isn't very flattering or original by any means.

Hopefully these ladies will step it up from here. Award season is just beginning, so they have many opportunities from now till Oscars to step up their game. I really want to see something beyond. I want to be impressed. I also hope to see more Jenny Packham, Valentino, Erdem, Jason Wu, Elie Saab this Award Season.




1 comment:

  1. Hai! I think it's great to see you blogging again. I've only just seen the intro and the win for Adele by the golden globes but a full dress-report I have missed so this is brilliant. I think only Lucy Liu really stands out here, she actually smiles and her dress is actually quite lovely.

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