Alexandria's Little Corner of the World

The fashion is half the fun of watching awards shows. The ladies who looked classic and the ladies who obviously didn't look in a mirror before they left their Hollywood mansions.

On the whole, the fashion at the Golden Globes seems to be more relaxed and more daring or experimental -- to both fabulous and horrible results. While at the Oscars the ladies go for the classic shades of black, black, white and sometimes cream or navy, at the Golden Globes all the colours of the rainbow are on display, and again to both good and horrible results. This year, short, cocktail-style dresses seemed to be the trend with Reese Witherspoon, Tina Fey, Renee Zellweger and Cate Blanchett (sort of) sporting above the knees smocks. And heart-shaped necklines were all the rage, extra fashion points if those dresses were also white.

As it's always more fun to start with the bad, here we go!
Vanessa Williams must've had a Freaky Friday moment with "Ugly Betty" on this occasion, or she was channeling Diana Ross. The big hair and the fur jacket and the boobs that look like they will fall out of the dress if she sighs too deeply.


Rinko Kikuhi may have received critical acclaim for her performance in "Babel," enough to be recognized with a nod at the Golden Globes, but I bet she doesn't receive critical acclaim for this outfit. Pom poms and evening gown are not two (okay, three) words that ever go together in a sentence. And how did she walk or sit in that outfit? Didn't it feel like she had gobs of toilet paper tucked into her underwear and trailing her around?


Oh Annette Bening, I know your husband received an honourary award on this occasion, so why do you look like you stepped out of your house in a fancy nightgown? You managed to domesticate Hollywood's lothario -- did you really do it with outfits like these?


And Heidi Klum seems to be taking a page from the Annette Bening style book. She looks like she just wrapped her bed sheets around herself and left the house. You're a supermodel Heidi! You're just a bedsheet away from a moo-moo. (And the elbow-length white gloves seem like afterthoughts. Like you knew how bad your outfit was so you tried to dress it up with a pair of gloves. It didn't work. Don't try it again!)


More from the bedsheet chronicles ... Salma Hayek's dress is better than Annette and Heidi's combined, but perhaps it wouldn't have hurt to borrow a bit of fabric from Heidi's dress for yours, Salma. We know you're blessed in the bosoms, but must they hang out like that? Didn't your mom ever tell you that less is more?


Really, there must have been a white sale in Hollywood. You get to wear a white doctor's jacket all day on the set Ellen Pompeo, on your next glammed out evening perhaps you could try a different colour. And preferably that doesn't make you look like an alien. What's with the "hook" from your behind to your shoulder?


I guess your character Alison didn't have any dreams to share with you about your outfit, Patricia Arquette. I know the Golden Globes are a laid back affair but a leather bustier should not be seen outside of the bedroom or a S&M club, please.


And finally, I hate to diss you Cate Blanchett, because I think you're a class act and I like your movies, but what's with this dress. It's like you couldn't decide if you wanted to go long or short so rather than make a decision you went wishy washy. That or your designer ran out of black lace.



And the good, who are very, very good.
Radiant Rachel Weisz in red, try saying that three times fast. But it's worth it. The soft curls, the simplicity of the dress and the cheery red against that porcelain skin, it just doesn't get better.


Unlike her costar Vanessa Williams, Becki Newton was not channeling anything ugly in this emerald number. Fitted and elegant with her hair pulled back and chandelier earrings, this is classic Hollywood at its best.


All rise for Her Majesty! Helen Mirren is a classic in this chiffon number and shows that a little cleavage isn't just for the youngsters. The topper however is the hair: Softly pulled back, she is as majestic as the queen she portrays.


If I could only look at you Emily Blunt from the waist up, I'd be a happy gal. Everything from the waist up works for me, especially the beaded straps and neckline. It's simple and beautiful with some detail to keep things interesting. But from the knees down, it looks like the mummy unwrapped itself and now pools of fabric circle your feet. Your outfit would've looked so much nicer if there wasn't such a contrast between your slight train and the rest of your dress.


Meanwhile, Jada Pinkett-Smith has pulled off the mummy-wrapped look to perfection. It's carried through all the way from the top of the dress to the bottom, giving Jada a lovely swirly shape at the hem. And the orangey-coral choice is superb: Not only does it look good on you it's a colour that's sure to stand out even from the paparazzi planes circling above. (Plus having Will Smith on your arm isn't a bad accessory, either!)


Kyra Sedgwick, I want to call you a Grecian goddess because you look that good! Sometimes your fashion choices are questionable. I've raised an eyebrow more than once at your red carpet choices. But not this time. It's simple and flattering and it becomes you.


Keshia Forester, not an actress herself (at least I think not), but her husband Forest Whittiker, won the award for Best Leading Actor for his role in "Last King of Scotland," looks beautiful in her white dress. Looks like Forest had two great accessories that night: his wife and his Golden Globe!


And from the look-alike dresses department ...
Toni Collette ("Little Miss Sunshine") and Mary Lynn Rajskub ("24").


Ditto for Sarah Paulson ("Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") and Kate Winslet, down to the last loose ringlet.


And Cameron Diaz, I'm just not sure whether to make heads or tails of your outfit. I want to like it, it is a nice outfit, but the feathery thing and the bright red lips combined are all just a tad too much.


And while not nearly as interesting, the men's fashions. Everything from black tie to black suits with ties -- quite the range, apparently! Clockwise: Eric Mabius (from "Ugly Betty), Brad Pitt, John Stamos (he'll always be Uncle Jesse to me!), Patrick Dempsey, Leonardo DiCaprio and Justin Timberlake.

Labels: Hollywood