Golden Globes: Vanilla Fog

Pale, pale ladies in pale, pale dresses.  If I had ever been into anemia-chic, I'm over, over, over it now.

Nicole Kidman in Prada.  I get it Nicole; you're pale and delicate.  Now eat a hamburger and get a spray tan.

Jennifer Love Hewitt looking robust in Romona Keveza.  J-Lo-Hew was nominated for playing a prostitute; that dress ain't foolin' anybody.

Diana Agron in J. Mendel.  Nicole wannabe.



The hot Heather Morris in a dress by Lorena Sarbu. This could be the hot dress hot Heather deserves, in another color, as it is, it's only vanilla blah.



J-Lo in Zuhair Murad.  That poncho thing looks like something a much older woman (i.e., me) would wear to cover up her upper arms.  J-Lo doesn't need it, and after three or four weddings, she doesn't need the bridal look, either.

Julie Bowen in Shoji Tadashi.  I like the bottom of this dress, the top is the same old Wilma with a growth.

Sarah Highland in Max Azria.  Her outfit looks much better in close-up, where you can see the lace detail on the bodice and her fabulous necklace.  From a distance, however, the dress looks like a day-old latte. 

Ladies of the Red Carpet, let this be your mantra: "I'd like that dress in a darker color."  And just say NO to the one-shoulder dress.

I guess all the stylists got the memo . . .

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab

Penelope Cruz in vintage Balmain

Ann Hathaway in Armani Prive

Taraji P. Henson in Cavalli


Marisa Tomei in Versace


Sarah Jessica Parker in Dior Haute Couture


Jessica Biel in Prada

Melissa George

. . . that strapless white (or the equivalent thereof) was required wearing for A-list actresses (and a few wannabes) . . .

So that makes three nominees for best supporting actress in strapless white, and two nominees for best actress in strapless white. Is this kind of overlap result from borrowing dresses, or is there some kind of conspiracy among Hollywood stylists to level the playing field?

Whatever. I liked the dresses worn by Evan Rachel Wood (my favorite), Penelope Cruz (goooooo VINTAGE!), Taraji P. Henson (very soft and graceful) and Marisa Tomei (I hope she avoids the worst dressed lists this time). The rest were meh.

And SJP demonstrated, yet again, the problem with strapless dresses -- they have to fit exactly right to look good. Hers didn't.

Drive-by post

Oh, I am sadly, sadly behind in my clothes comments, what with inaugurations, the Award Season's red carpet parades, the Paris couture shows and all that. I haven't been behind in my bookmarking, though, and I want, at least, to share two fun links with you. One is from zimbio, comparing what women wore on the red carpet to the runway looks, here. The photo of Laura Linney, wearing my favorite Golden Globe look, is a sample thereof. Oh, I do love me some goddess look and some yellow, and nothing's better than yellow goddess gown in my book. I'm so happy to see red carpet dresses trend away from the strapless mermaid and toward the goddess; anything that gets rid of strapless gowns and the often ill-fitting bodice is great in my book, even if it's done one shoulder at a time.

Oh, and I followed zimbio's link to redcarpetfashionawards.com. Eye candy for days, including a runway to red carpet review for the SAG awards. And speaking of sag, (unfortunate pun, but too obvious to ignore) good grief, Katie Holmes!

Maggie Gyllenhall in Lavin, Golden Globes, 2009

Vogue just posted a Style Note titled "Ladies, We've Got Your Backs: critics hated these red carpet looks, but we beg to differ." I agree with them about Tilda Swinton (black modern Lavin goddess); Nicole Kidman (in gold Dior goddess); Kirsten Dunst (blue Rochas that should have been mine, MINE, I TELL YOU!, and worn with a big jet choker); and Maggie Gyllenhall (printed Lavin proto-goddess). Good for Vogue for pointing out that the infamous swan dress was a joke, but, sorry, Cameron Diaz looked like a mess in that Ungaro kimono dress. Poor dress.

I kept searching the stage for heaters while I was watching the Inauguration because I couldn't believe that Michele Obama and Laura Bush, both of whom were wearing buttonless coats (albeit over suits) could look so comfortable in that freezing weather without a little outside help. I didn't see any, but maybe the crowd kept them warm. January inaugurations must have been easier on first ladies when hats, hose, slips and girdles were required, and fur trim at least an option.

Michele's gown was on trend, one-shouldered and white. I appreciate that she wore the work of a relatively unknown designer, Jason Wu, whose clothes I like. I'm assuming that gazillion-dollar outfits by the big names won't be among her wardrobe for a while.

And speaking of white, I'm not thrilled about all those actresses showing up on the red carpet dressed like brides. But that's a topic that will have to wait for another post.