Golden wonders: Stars bring the sparkle back to the red carpet
From brilliant white to shimmering sequins, the stars dazzled on the red carpet, writes Meadhbh McGrath
Last year’s Golden Globes ceremony was a protest, signposted with a uniform of all black and a guest list that included activists alongside A-listers. One year on, attendees still showed their support for Time’s Up with bracelets and pins, but politics took a back seat to classic Hollywood glamour.
The biggest, boldest and most talked about look of the night was Lady Gaga’s periwinkle Valentino confection, an unintentional callback to Judy Garland’s dress in the 1954 version of A Star Is Born.
With a cascading train that required two aides, it was gorgeously old-fashioned, but Gaga added a contemporary twist by tinting her hair to match.
Elsewhere, there were great swathes of elegant tulle, complemented with masses of diamonds. Emmy Rossum was pretty in pink Monique Lhuillier, If Beale Street Could Talk breakout Kiki Layne paired her caged-bodice Dior gown with a dazzling choker, and
Crazy Rich Asians actress Constance Wu looked every inch the modern princess in Vera Wang.
Many of the guests ran in the opposite direction of 2018’s sombre black, landing on bright white instead. Some critics interpreted it as a nod to the suffragettes, drawing parallels with Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s all-white outfit at last week’s swearing-in.
White is a notoriously tricky colour on the red carpet — it’s not an easy shade to pull off, and runs the risk of looking bridal. But since Hillary Clinton stepped out in a white suit at the Democratic Convention in 2016, commentators have rushed to imbue any woman in white with suffragist symbolism. In
some instances, it’s simply a case of the lucky few who can wear it well reaping the rewards of a sartorial challenge.
Sandra Oh’s Versace gown was one such triumph. The show’s host, and Best Actress winner for her role in TV hit Killing Eve, likely had woman-power on the brain as she wore only female designers on the night.
Jamie Lee Curtis went full ice-queen in Alexander McQueen, coordinating her pixie cut and dress (after Lady Gaga, are we seeing the start of a trend?), while Julianne Moore opted for a busy Givenchy in brilliant white.
Saoirse Ronan’s stylist, Elizabeth Saltzman, explained that her goal was to “find the positive” after a year of industry tumult in Hollywood. Her request to Gucci? “I’d like a silver lining.”
The result — a shimmering platinum gown — was a sexier look than the actress usually goes for, but she struck a delicate balance with sleek hair, emerald earrings and a vibrant lip. Sparkle ruled on the red carpet, from the millions of dollars’ worth of jewels to the gleaming metallic gowns.
Thandie Newton brought disco glamour in Michael Kors, and Lupita Nyong’o mastered high-low dressing, teaming a Calvin Klein dress dripping in silver fringe and exquisite Bulgari earrings with a pair of €75 sandals from Aldo.
Slinky columns were as popular as ever, with Regina King’s rose-coloured Alberta Ferretti number proving the most striking.
It may not have screamed ‘Time’s Up’, but during her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress, she pledged that all of her projects in the next two years will include 50pc women, concluding: “Time’s Up, times two.”
The dress code may be off the agenda, but the movement isn’t far from anyone’s minds.