Cold Weather Inspires Golden Globe Watching-Which Inspires Dance Costume Designs!

Satin Stitches | Jan 15, 2009 | 0

The GOOD, the sort of BAD, and some UGLY!

The Golden Globes award show was on television this last Sunday. Everyone seemed really excited, as this show was cancelled last year because of the writers strike. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association sponsors the Golden Globes, which celebrates both television and movies. I enjoy all types of movies and many different types of television shows, and you KNOW I love watching the fashions! This year, the event brought out ALL the stars.

Come on, it is DARN COLD here in the frozen tundra of suburban Minnesota right now! It is good to cozy up to the flat screen, bundled up in a sweater, fuzzy slippers and maybe a nice lap blanket! I enjoyed all of the pre-show red carpet festivities and enjoyed getting my WWD-Womens Wear Daily newspaper on Tuesday, already showing color photos of many of the best gowns.

You KNOW I love to critique the good, the bad, and the ugly, right? And what trends can we take from the show? What details, colors or silhouettes will inspire dance costumes this next season?

Read on, and you will find out!

Not so good....

There were mostly really stylish and flattering gowns this year. If you read my last awards show blog, you read that Ava Longoria-Parker was wearing a not-so-flattering short fringed dress. Well, she redeemed herself in a big way! She wore a stunningly beautiful red satin dress, designed by Reem Acra. Beyonce was gorgeous in a beaded Art Deco gown, by Elie Saab, showcasing Old Hollywood Glam.

The colors? There were lots of formal black dresses and many shades of white and cream, all looking very elegant. There were reds and blues, and many pastels. Unfortunately, many of the pastels and skin-toned colors looked washed out, a pet peeve of mine, with performance costumes. There were metallics, both gold and silver. Some critics loved Jennifer Lopez in her gold, down-to-there dress. I did NOT. She did that look beautifully, back in 2000 in her infamous green dress at the Grammys. This time, it just looked too costume-like. Did I say that? Well, it just looked cheap to me-both meanings of the word.

Most gowns were one-of-a-kind, haute couture, creating a very elegant look for most of the women. Journalist, Jessica Michault said it best, for the International Herald Tribune, when she said: It was as if Hollywood decided to take a break from the dour economic outlook and give celebrity watchers and cinefiles around the world what they want most: a moment of escapist pleasure. They don't call Hollywood the dream factory for nothing. VERY WELL SAID!

As far as fabrics, there were all the usual elegant gown fabrics shown. There were plenty of elegant satins, chiffons, and organzas. Beading was minimal, and generally understated. I am not a fan of the mini-sheer ruffles on several gowns. Many dresses had lovely strapless necklines and several had the popular one-shouldered neckline. I noticed a general lack of necklaces with most of the red carpet looks, with several exceptions worn by Beyonce, Eva Mendes and Christina Applegate, who were wearing Cleopatra-style chunky necklaces that were spectacular.

Silhouettes and details? Interestingly asymmetrical stylings with ruching and draping are still very popular. The natural waistline is back. I saw several fabric-covered belts set at the natural waistline. Some had jeweled buckle details. The blouson style bodice is back. But, but it is definitely not as attractive as a fitted bodice, especially on sculpted movie and television stars bodies. Another look that did not work very well, was print fabric. It is difficult to work with prints, and keep the look as elegantly beautiful, as solid color fabrics generally do.

Mermaid silhouettes, column dresses, and old Hollywood glamour prevailed. Keep in mind, all of the beautiful gowns we saw in the movies in the 1930s, during the Depression. Do not be surprised if fashions on our movie and television stars will be very elegant during these troubling economic times.

Now for the really bad and the ugly!

Renee Zellweger wore a black sheer blouse with a mermaid skirt from Carolina Herrrra. It was pretty awful. She sometimes looks really stylish and sometimes, well, you just wonder-what was she thinking?

Rumer Willis wore a lovely dress, but it did not fit, it was too short-waisted for her, so the strapless dress looked uncomfortably low. Not a good look. If you have read my blogs, you know how I feel about bad fit! An ugly dress will look better, if it fits well, over a pretty dress that does not fit.

Miley Cyrus wore a white Grecian gown. It was not very stylish, and definitely did not suit her style. She needs to wear YOUNG styles, not matronly styles.

Angelina Jolie wore a silver gown that featured a blouson bodice, rather than a form-fitting bodice which did not show off her lovely figure. It was disappointing.

Hayden Panettiere wore a bust-flattening gown. Why?

My Project Runway favorite, Heide Klum was disappointingly not elegant in a short, printed dress with a gigantic red flower at the waist. I hope it was not a design of a Project Runway alum. It was not a good look, and I really thought that she would look good in anything.

Cameron Diaz had a bad, or was it ugly, dress? It had too much going on, and was in a Pepto Bismol pink. Her hairstyle and accessories did not help her look.

The seemingly Pirate-inspired, costume dress on Marisa Tomei, was designed by Oscar de la Renta-a wonderful designer, but it did not work, as it was not elegant.  

Debra Messing never really gets it right, in my opinion. Somehow her dresses do not fit correctly-or maybe do not fit her style. Her flamenco-inspired navy dress by Zac Posen was not flattering. It was not elegant, and did not suit her body shape.

As I first mentioned, generally, most everyone looked very elegant, but happily some did not, which gives us all something to talk about-and blog about, beside our COLD weather! Ah, to be young, thin, beautiful and on the Red Carpet in sunny, warm California in ANY gown!!

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