EMMA JOHNSON
ADDRESS TO IMPRESS FROM BRIDGERTON’S NICOLA
There was no red carpet and the stars were sitting at home rather than getting drunk and being vilified by Ricky Gervais, but what a joy it was to see A-listers all dressed up in glamorous gowns and suits for the Golden Globes at the weekend.
And the women really went for it when it came to the outfits. Actually so did the men – and I’m looking forward to seeing how they step up for the Oscars next month, whatever form the ceremony eventually takes.
Rosamund Pike was my look of the night. Her hot pink tulle concoction from British designer Molly Goddard, teamed with black Alexander McQueen combat boots, was a scene-stealing affair. Utterly over-the-top, it was exactly the kind of dress you want to see in the depths of a global pandemic.
A dress that reminds us that we can still have fun, that things will get better. If I could afford it, that would be my firstnight-out-of-lockdown dress right there. No need to worry about people getting too close.
I do wonder, given its proportions, whether Rosamund, who won a Golden Globe for her performance in dark comedy I Care a Lot, would have worn it had she been attending the ceremony in person.
However, that her avant garde look was almost universally praised across the media spectrum filled me with joy about how far we have come when it comes to discussing women’s fashion choices.
As someone who has herself been guilty in the past of saying unkind things about celebrities’ outfits – in the dark days when ‘worst-dressed lists’, ‘nip-slips’ and cellulite shots were par for the course in magazines and newspapers – it gladdened my heart that we are all realising that taking down a woman over her clothes, hair or body shape is no longer acceptable.
Or so I thought. Like Rosamund Pike, Derry Girls and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan chose a dress by Molly Goddard for her virtual Globes look – a gorgeous lemon sherbert design, which she accessorised with a small black cardigan.
But not everyone was a fan. An American podcaster – whose name I won’t print because I had not heard of her before and think she has had quite enough mileage out of this – took to Twitter to say: “The fat girl from Bridgerton is wearing a black cardigan at the Golden Globes, bc no matter how hot and stylish you are, if you’re a fat girl there will always be a black cardigan you think about wearing, then decide against, but ultimately wear bc you feel like you have to.”
I am not sure where to start with how rude and unnecessary, if not downright cruel, that statement was.
Nicola herself had no trouble addressing it. The Galway-born actress took to social media to clap back: “I thought the cardigan looked ace, Molly Goddard used them on her runway with the dresses that’s where the idea came from... “Also I have a name.”
If ever a mic drop emoji was appropriate surely that was it.
But, Nicola, who has form for calling out bodyshamers – she tackled a theatre critic who referred to her as ‘overweight’ in a 2018 review of her performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Donmar Theatre – was not done.
In a string of follow-up tweets she went on to say that “Every time I’m asked about my body in an interview it makes me deeply uncomfortable and so sad I’m not just allowed to just talk about the job I do that I so love” calling it “reductive to women”.
Funny, fabulous and fierce. I think we will be hearing from Nicola long after keyboard warriors have run out of things to say.
THE electric car segment is moving forwards at a frantic pace, with newer and sharper models being released every month.
There are a variety of different sizes and shapes too, with many carmakers opting to go straight for battery-powered SUVs off the bat.
However, for many people, a large car simply isn’t fit for purpose. So if you want to make the switch to an electric vehicle, but want a car that won’t prove too large, then what are your options?
We’ve picked out a few of the best compact EVs on sale today...
MINI ELECTRIC
Mini has delved into the electric market with an attractive-looking offering. The Mini Electric brings you the same exciting driving experience that you get from the firm’s range of conventionally-driven cars, but with the added bonus of an electric powertrain.
It matches the performance of the sporty Cooper S, in fact, and though its 145-mile range is quite limited, it makes up for it with character.
HONDA E
If you’re after styling that’ll draw a crowd, the Honda e could be the electric car for you. It’s a properly eccentric-looking thing, with round headlights and matching rear lights combining with the car’s compact dimensions to create a vehicle which looks like nothing else on the road today.
Though its 125-mile range sits on the shorter end of the scale, the e’s small proportions make it ideal for darting around the city.
HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC
The Kona Electric is somewhat of a dark horse in the EV segment.
This car is absolutely jam-packed with technology, while its claimed 300-mile range outclasses those offered by far more premium alternatives.
It’s well made inside and good to drive, too. In fact, the Kona Electric is one of the very best EVs on sale today – regardless of size.
It’s little wonder that Hyundai experienced such demand for it when it was released.
RENAULT ZOE
The Renault Zoe has been a common sight on the UK’s roads for some time now, having been a key offering in the EV segment since 2021.
It’s been updated since then, of course, with the most recent model arriving with a range of up to 245 miles.
It’s this impressive range which gives the Zoe a long-legged ability that few other EVs in this segment can offer. It’s also smartly designed and packed with features.