Houston Chronicle

Daring designs make a splash on red carpet

- By Joy Sewing STAFF WRITER

The Golden Globes’ red carpet Sunday night could have been a repeat of last year — awash in color with pops of bling — had it not been for the distractio­n of décolletag­e.

Starting with Kerry Washington in an Altuzarra black skirt and blazer with nothing underneath but a glittery silverknot­ted belly chain that went from her shoulders down to her hips. The blazer was carefully placed — double-sided tape, no doubt — so as not to be so revealing, but there was little left to the imaginatio­n. The former “Scandal” actress isn’t known for making scandalous red-carpet statements, so this one made many stop and stare.

Then there was Cate Blanchett (“Where’d You Go, Bernadette”), who wore a pastel yellow frock with accordion-pleated sleeves and a strappy, sequinned breast plate. Scarlett Johansson stepped onto the red carpet in a scarlet gown with plunging neckline. And Gwyneth Paltrow wore something akin to a brown bikini with a frilly, chiffon overlay.

But “Bombshell” star Charlize Theron showed just how the décolletag­e trend should be done. She wore a lime-green belted one-shouldered gown with sexy black bodice and a black train. Can we talk about her stunning pixie haircut?

Speaking of ’dos, it was a night of bobs. Tiffany Haddish, Reese Witherspoo­n and Washington all sported the peppy, classic hairstyle.

Witherspoo­n, who looked fresh in a sculptural one-shouldered Roland Mouret gown, tweeted that she was “wearing white to the biggest party of the year, wish me luck!”

Also in white was “Pose” star Billy Porter in an Alex Vinash feathered tuxedo with 4,000 Swarovski crystals, $2 million of diamonds and a 14-yard train. His look took more than 465 hours to make, and Porter had his own train handler to help him down the red carpet. Thankfully, the feathered train was detachable for the after-party.

Houston native Renée Zellweger

looked effortless in a custom Armani Privé powder-blue silk strapless gown with crystalemb­roidered piping along the neckline.

Zoe Kravitz (“Big Little Lies”) wore one of the most refreshing looks of the night, a polka-dot Saint Laurent gown with three-quarter sleeves. Her mom, Lisa Bonet, and stepdad, Jason Momoa, had to be among the best-dressed couples with their matching green looks — Bonet in couture Fendi and Momoa in a velvet Tom Ford coat.

Another red-carpet trend was the nod to menswear: Portia de Rossi in a classic men’s tuxedo with a skinny tie and “Fleabag” star Phoebe Waller-Bridge in a Ralph and Russo black Chantilly lace suit with a silk tuxedo lapel and ribbon appliqué. Equally chic was Awkwafina in a Dior tuxedo dress with high ruffled collar.

Wesley Snipes and Eddie Murphy, who both star in “Dolemite Is My Name,” along with Ramy Youssef, wore burgundy tuxedos, while Brad Pitt and

Adam Driver went classic with basic black.

Greta Gerwig, who was not nominated as a director for “Little Women,” brought her A-game anyway in a black and white, off-the-shoulder Proenza Schouler gown. The Hollywood Foreign Press Associatio­n has been criticized once again this year for snubbing women in several big categories, including best director.

When celebritie­s make fashion misses, you have to wonder what were they thinking. Such is the case with Jennifer Lopez in her green, gold and cream Maison Valentino ball gown with a huge bow. Since the “Hustlers” star rarely misses on the red carpet, this choice had social-media talking.

 ?? Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images ?? Charlize Theron’s pixie haircut accented her Dior Couture lime-green and black gown.
Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images Charlize Theron’s pixie haircut accented her Dior Couture lime-green and black gown.
 ?? Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images ?? Zoe Kravitz made a refreshing red-carpet statement in Saint Laurent.
Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images Zoe Kravitz made a refreshing red-carpet statement in Saint Laurent.
 ?? Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images ?? Ana de Armas looked like a princess in a Ralph and Russo gown.
Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images Ana de Armas looked like a princess in a Ralph and Russo gown.
 ?? Marcus Yam / TNS ?? Tiffany Haddish
Marcus Yam / TNS Tiffany Haddish
 ?? Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images ?? Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach
Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach
 ?? Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images ?? Gwyneth Paltrow
Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images Gwyneth Paltrow
 ?? Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images ?? Renée Zellweger
Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images Renée Zellweger
 ?? Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images ?? Reese Witherspoo­n
Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images Reese Witherspoo­n
 ?? Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images ?? Laura Dern
Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images Laura Dern
 ?? Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images ?? Brad Pitt
Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images Brad Pitt
 ?? Marcus Yam / TNS ?? Wesley Snipes
Marcus Yam / TNS Wesley Snipes
 ?? Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images ?? Ramy Youssef
Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images Ramy Youssef

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