Golden Globes Style winners of the virtual red carpet

The stars of this year’s online show were the over-40s, writes Bethan Holt

The awards season red carpet was once the preserve of Hollywood’s latest hot young things, but at the 2021 Golden Globes all the most interesting, “I-want-some-ofwhat-she’s-got” outfits were worn by women over 40. This year, they were the stars of the show with their straight talking and sharp looks, which were not just beautiful but also shook up all the usual expectations of what a red carpet look should be like.

The person who encapsulated all of the above was Jane Fonda, who was receiving the Cecil B. Demille lifetime achievement award, and defied almost all the conventions of modern awards ceremony style.

At 83, Fonda managed to deliver a speech which while having a “woke” sensibility, also managed to feel genuine.

“You know, I’ve seen a lot of diversity in my long life and at times I’ve been challenged to understand some of the people I’ve met. But inevitably, if my heart is open, and I look beneath the surface, I feel kinship,” she said, going on to list show, films and documentaries which have shifted her perceptions, from I May Destroy You teaching her to “consider sexual violence in a whole new way” to A Life on Our Planet showing us “how fragile our small blue planet is”.

Fonda has adopted a similarly enlightened, yet no-nonsense attitude to fashion lately, vowing not to buy any more new clothes.

She decided to rifle through her wardrobe for something suitable, choosing an old cream Richard Tyler suit.

Whether joining from homes and hotels across the world or at the mini ceremonies in LA and New York, the style consensus was about taking the pressure off. In clothes now, we look as much for the feeling they give us as how we look and you could see that all these older women, whether in trainers or tulle, were just having a great time, revelling in their new “freedom”. A red carpet lesson we can all heed once dressing up is back for the rest of us.

OLIVIA COLMAN In a sleek Armani jacket and trousers, Olivia Colman looked relaxed, chic and comfortable. Gillian Anderson was radiant in a gold gown by Dior. Her best accessory was her dog Stella who wore a bow to match her owner’s outfit. VIOLA DAVIS Davis effused joy in a beautiful African wax print dress which gave black designer Claude Kemeni, of La Vie by CK, her first Golden Globes moment.

JANE FONDA LAURA DERN Dern’s black suit was by Givenchy’s avantgarde new designer Matthew Williams (a favourite of Lady Gaga) and came paired with fierce studded heels.

GILLIAN ANDERSON ‘We spend too much money, we buy too many things,’ Fonda told Ellen Degeneres last week. She looked elegant, cool and confident in her old suit.

JODIE FOSTER Foster watched the action from her sofa in pyjamas creating one of the night’s most relatable moments. Though her attire was, it should be noted, from Prada.

ROSAMUND PIKE Pike, in raspberry tulle Molly Goddard and stompy Alexander Mcqueen boots was an offbeat alternative to the usual grand gown.

CATHERINE O’HARA Her Schitt’s Creek character Moira Rose loves all things black, white and upscale so it felt right that O’hara was in monochrome Vera Wang.

GLENN CLOSE Glenn Close did laid-back glam in a red silk suit which she teamed with a pair of Golden Goose’s vintage-looking trainers.