Frills and Sequins: My Best of the Globes

I seriously love awards season. I was truly excited last night at the thought of poring over the Golden Globes red-carpet, even though most actresses - armed with their stylists and ever fearful of bitchy bloggers - tend to play it safe these days. This was certainly true of this year's Golden Globes, where muted frills or tried and trued Hollywood styles were in favour. But there were a few ladies that managed to make me say wow.

Anna Paquin backed up her shining Victor & Rolf moment with a glittery gold Stella McCartney dress. In the past I haven't been a big Stella fan, so I'm surprised at how much I've been loving her most recent collection on the red-carpet. This dress is seriously sexy on Anna ... as well as the plunging neckline it also had a leg split which isn't apparent in this photo. This is a little bit of razzle dazzle 80s styling that I'd be happy to see more of.

I think Chloe's Valentino dress came very close to not working. It contains a mountain of frills which could have over powered, but I reckon her style confidence has helped her to pull it off. I also love the back of this dress. The loose bow and soft fall of the dress makes me sigh.

Versace on the catwalk doesn't fill me with the glee that Dior or Chanel or McQueen does, but then January Jones went and blew me away in the label at the Emmy's last September, and now Christina Aguilera did the same in this gown. This looks like it was made for her; her figure is WOW and the contrast of the futuristic bodice with the peachy pink fabric - which almost looks like jersey - makes this gown very unique. Loving her bob too.

Christian Lacroix's haute couture outings will be sorely missed, and Diane Kruger demonstrated why in this ensemble which shouted perfection.

And yes, I've deliberately chosen a pic with her BF Joshua Jackson because I think he is looking mighty fine himself. Who needs a clutch when your man bag is this gorgeous?

I don't know yet what will happen to Betty Draper in Mad Men series 4, but it looks like January Jones is pretty assured of a gold star red-carpet career. Black often bores me but this Lanvin dress is very chic. I love her glamorous make-up and headband too.

Maggie Gyllenhaal took tried and trued and twisted it just a little bit. This pretty in pink dress is RM by Roland Mouret.

And I couldn't forget to include at least one Aussie, and who better than Golden Globe winner Toni Colette. She chose to run with the sequins trend in this Elie Saab frock which did wonderful things for her figure and skin tone.

I read on-line that Chloe's Valentino frock was torn on the night, so a quick change for the after party was needed. So I know this isn't strictly a Golden Globe gown, but I did rather love it. Tulle and sequins in a tea-length party dress is a recipe for happiness in Louise's world.

Funnily enough the betrothed and I recently watched the first season of Big Love and really enjoyed it. I know ... I'm terribly far behind. I might get onto Series 2 now, for another squizz at Chloe's character with her long braid and prairie styling.

Vintage for today and tomorrow

Marisa Tomei confirmed her preference for vintage and pink - a woman after my own heart it seems - when she wore a 1950's Traina-Norell frock to The Art of Elysium's "Heaven" Gala this weekend. Marisa is friends with Cameron Silver, owner of Decades in LA, and the store featured this classic example of mid-century American design on their blog. I must confess I don't know much about the Traina-Norell label, so I looked it up on the Vintage Fashion Guild's website and they tell me that Traina-Norell's designer was Norman Norell and he was a ...

"Major American designer, born in Noblesville, Indiana. Norell worked with Hattie Carnegie from 1928-1940. He then partnered with Anthony Traina in 1941 to form the firm Traina-Norell, where he remained until Traina's death in 1960.

Anthony Traina was, for years, Norman Norell's backer. He died in 1958. At that point the Norman Norell label (without the Traina name) appears. Prior to that everything is marked Traina-Norell - back to the 1940s.
In 1960 he formed his own company, Norman Norell. Norell used a basic repertoire of shapes, yet achieved a great deal of variety. He was known for the waistless chemise dress, his "mermaid" sequin sheaths, the pussycat bow, and for making day sportswear shapes in evening fabrics and doing up sport fabrics for evening. Also known for his precision tailoring, he favored the finest imported fabrics, and thought it better to have one really good but threadbare dress than a wardrobe of cheap clothes."

On the red-carpet at the same event - which all together featured some wonderful dresses - I noticed a couple of other looks which I think may well become the vintage of tomorrow.

Anna Paquin aka Sookie Stackhouse from True Blood was brave and beautiful in this fabulous Viktor & Rolf 2010 design. This is one label that is truly cutting edge and completely of our time.

And Ashley Olsen was very glamorous in this 2006 Alexander McQueen gown. The lace on this looks stunning and the train is very old Hollywood glamour. Like something Joan Crawford might have worn if she was at an Edwardian party.

Photos courtesy of True Blood Online and Red Carpet-Fashion Awards.