hello pretties

I've read a few quite favorable reviews of Golden Globes fashion this year, but I must say, I was very underwhelmed. There were plenty of lovely gowns and perfectly made up faces, but where were the risks? Where was the variety? Was everyone freaked out about dressing to the nines in such a crap economy? The red carpet parade seemed so toned down and homogeneous. Dior, Dior, Dior. Oscar de la Renta, Oscar de la Renta, Oscar de la Renta. Occasional Elie Saab. What does a girl have to do to get Bjork to dig out her swan dress and lay an egg on the red carpet? Fortunately, there were some standouts. These are my five favorites of the night.

January Jones channelled old school glamour in her ice blue Versace gown. Her face-framing waves, porcelain skin, and coral lips made the Mad Men star a dead ringer for Grace Kelly. In my mind, she's wearing Hermès Kelly Calèche.

Maggie Gyllenhaal's animal print Lanvin (actually a lengthened version of the original runway dress) was one of the most interesting choices of the evening. This award show is notorious for its open bar and relaxed atmosphere, so why not have a little fun with what you're wearing?

I love that Freida Pinto chose to work within the yellow scheme that was her character's through line in Slumdog Millionaire. Her mustard-hued Christian Lacroix Haute Couture gown made her stand out from the crowd, and her skin positively glows in that color. Chanel Beauté, give this woman a major cosmetics contract immediately.

Back in the day, Cold Comfort Farm and Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing (Keanu Reeves!) made me a bit of a Kate Beckinsale fan. Over the years, my good will has mostly faded, but every now and then she shows up somewhere looking like a goddess and I find myself thinking, I guess Underworld wasn't that bad. This is one of those times. I love the architectural quality of this J. Mendel gown. It almost makes up for Serendipity.

I love Dita von Teese. And I quite like Evan Rachel Wood. However, I did not like the Dita 2.0 thing Evan Rachel Wood had going for a while. That was a lot of makeup for a 21 year-old. So I'm glad to actually be able to see her skin through her foundation. I think she looks great here in Elie Saab. A youthful gown that hints at retro. Soft hair. Age appropriate makeup. The whole package.

The Hair! It Attacks!

God, Cameron Diaz. You have a great smile, a gorgeous figure, access to some of the most beautiful clothing in the world, and you still can't make time to run a damn brush through your hair? Ahhh! You're not running out to Whole Foods in your comfy pants. You're in a Chanel Haute Couture gown at a nationally televised red carpet event. Your dress deserves better than this.

Oh hippy dippy Drew. I love this custom Galliano for Dior creation. But goodness gracious, the hair. Full disclosure: I already wasn't wild about the color. The combination of blonde hair and Drew Barrymore makes me think of her 90s Guess ads, penchant for daisies, and marriage to that Lemonheads guy. Or was it the guitarist from Hole? So I was probably predisposed to dislike Barrymore's hair, no matter how she styled it. But I think this is a great example of something that's easy for anyone to struggle with. How does one walk the fine line between looking retro and looking dated?

Perfect example of the former: January Jones. Her updated Grace Kelly is pitch perfect, while Barrymore's take on the Marilyn Monroe bob seems terribly misguided and out of touch. When picking retro elements to reference in a contemporary look, be sure that they won't compete with modern details. Though multiple aspects of Jones' look are definitely referencing past eras, the pleats and folds of her gown are as current as any of the other trends on the red carpet. And rather than compete with those modern elements, her old school movie star hair and makeup compliment them. Factor in the coral lip (as opposed to Barrymore's washed out nude) and icy blue gown, and you've got a fresh take on the Hitchcock blonde.