Golden night for black and white: Who dazzled at the Golden Globes... and who didn't?
By Liz Jones
There were no British designers to speak of, bar one Julien Macdonald silver sheath, chosen by Nicole Richie, and a deeply unflattering Jenny Packham monochrome number worn by Kate Winslet.
Instead it was the Italian big hitters — Gucci, Versace, Prada and Armani Prive — who made a triumphant red carpet return at Sunday night’s Golden Globes in Los Angeles.
My overall winner: Angelina Jolie at last found her fashion feet in a white, one-shouldered silk Atelier Versace gown teamed with white Versace shoes. I love the matching bag and lips, and the upswept hair. Simply stunning. HITThe Italian economy is in dire straits, and as fashion is its foremost export and employer, it was no coincidence that the Italians were in Hollywood weeks beforehand, wooing and securing those all-important female stars (note, too, the Bulgari jewels that sparkled on almost every scrawny neck).
The stars mostly played it safe, but committed the usual faux pas: the lambs dressed as mutton, the trophy girlfriends in pillar box red... and why so many stars in nude?
Do they not know nude is the new beige and, therefore, is officially boring!
THE PALE PARADE
HIT - Jessica Alba: Gucci was the most popular designer of the night and Jessica teamed her very pale lilac dress with Bulgari jewels. I’d have worn a necklace, too
HIT - Kate Beckinsale: In order to do strapless right you need just a glimpse of the perfect decolletage. Kate gets it spot on in nude Roberto Cavalli
MISS - Nicole Kidman: This gold-studded Versace gown would be fabulous on a brunette, but looks washed out against Nicole’s ghost-like complexion
MISS - Elle Macpherson: She looked stunning in cream Zac Posen with an explosion of froth at the hem. I love this dress, but feel it doesn’t suit her super-ambitious personality
MISS - Charlize Theron: This nude Dior couture is much too fussy and shows too much leg. And giant bows on a grown woman are never a good look
1. It gives her a nipped-in waist.
2. It covers her arms.
3. It shows off her milky decolletage without being overly revealing.
The Queen: Helen Mirren showed all the Hollywood starlets exactly how to look sophisticated, fashionable and attractive - and she's 66!She understands that to avoid looking frumpy, some flesh must be on show, and for older women, the decolletage is usually in quite good nick, especially if you are not razor thin. She also smiles, which always helps.
Her sleek up-do with minimal make-up was also a winner. My only gripe is that she didn’t wear British — apart from her Jimmy Choo shoes.
Over many years, Helen Mirren has learned better than any stylist what suits her, and while she is not obsessed with her appearance (unlike most stars on the red carpet, she has had nothing done to her face; trust me, I have peered at her in bright sunlight in a Beverly Hills garden), she understands that cheering us all up is part of her job.
By Liz Jones
There were no British designers to speak of, bar one Julien Macdonald silver sheath, chosen by Nicole Richie, and a deeply unflattering Jenny Packham monochrome number worn by Kate Winslet.
Instead it was the Italian big hitters — Gucci, Versace, Prada and Armani Prive — who made a triumphant red carpet return at Sunday night’s Golden Globes in Los Angeles.
My overall winner: Angelina Jolie at last found her fashion feet in a white, one-shouldered silk Atelier Versace gown teamed with white Versace shoes. I love the matching bag and lips, and the upswept hair. Simply stunning. HIT
The stars mostly played it safe, but committed the usual faux pas: the lambs dressed as mutton, the trophy girlfriends in pillar box red... and why so many stars in nude?
Do they not know nude is the new beige and, therefore, is officially boring!
THE PALE PARADE
HIT - Jessica Alba: Gucci was the most popular designer of the night and Jessica teamed her very pale lilac dress with Bulgari jewels. I’d have worn a necklace, too
HIT - Kate Beckinsale: In order to do strapless right you need just a glimpse of the perfect decolletage. Kate gets it spot on in nude Roberto Cavalli
MISS - Nicole Kidman: This gold-studded Versace gown would be fabulous on a brunette, but looks washed out against Nicole’s ghost-like complexion
MISS - Elle Macpherson: She looked stunning in cream Zac Posen with an explosion of froth at the hem. I love this dress, but feel it doesn’t suit her super-ambitious personality
MISS - Charlize Theron: This nude Dior couture is much too fussy and shows too much leg. And giant bows on a grown woman are never a good look
1. It gives her a nipped-in waist.
2. It covers her arms.
3. It shows off her milky decolletage without being overly revealing.
The Queen: Helen Mirren showed all the Hollywood starlets exactly how to look sophisticated, fashionable and attractive - and she's 66!
Her sleek up-do with minimal make-up was also a winner. My only gripe is that she didn’t wear British — apart from her Jimmy Choo shoes.
Over many years, Helen Mirren has learned better than any stylist what suits her, and while she is not obsessed with her appearance (unlike most stars on the red carpet, she has had nothing done to her face; trust me, I have peered at her in bright sunlight in a Beverly Hills garden), she understands that cheering us all up is part of her job.