Welcome to the first-ever Golden Globe Awards actually worth discussing! 

The Good, the Bad, and the Hypocrisy: A Golden Globes Overview

This was the first major awards show of the #MeToo movement, and the message was everywhere. It was more than just black dresses, coordinated as part of the Time’s Up message – it was a night centered around powerful women making their voices heard. Many stars walked the red carpet with women’s rights activists at their side, and the best of them refused to answer questions about their films in favor of letting the brilliant, hardworking advocates by their side have the spotlight to promote their cause. An audience of millions got to learn about organizations fighting everything from violence against black women to sexual assault of female farm workers – straight from the women on the front lines of those fights.

Was it a perfect red carpet? Well, you can always count on the E! Network to fuck up a good thing. First, their (incorrect) insistence that they had to ignore any mention of the fashion designers and stylists who helped craft the actresses’ looks in order to ask the stars why they’re wearing black. People labored to make these women red-carpet-ready, and deserve credit for taking part in this statement, particularly the many stylists who donated their fees to women’s rights organizations so that they, too, could show their support for those in other industries who suffer even worse sexual harassment, with fewer resources to fight it. It would have been wonderful to credit those behind the scenes who made these black dresses happen weeks before the event, and to stop pretending that in order to be political and make a statement, we have to avoid talking about fashion entirely. I guess E! isn’t familiar with my twitter brand, because the intersection of fashion and politics is WHERE I LIVE.

Worse yet, E!’s red carpet correspondents saved their Time’s Up questions exclusively for the women. Because apparently it takes a rocket scientist to figure out that letting men ignore this problem, and expecting women to solve it alone, is precisely how we got into this mess in the first place. And no men took it upon themselves to bring up the issue during their acceptance speeches, either. Even more infuriating were the James Francos in the room, wearing their Time’s Up pins while politely pretending they haven’t tried to elicit sex from underage girls via Instagram. So, let’s not pretend the evening was flawlessly executed. But neither should we forget the first-ever red carpet that felt created by and for women with a voice.

Throughout my fashion recaps, I’ll be including links to a variety of organizations and causes mentioned on the red carpet. Be a true democracy diva, and donate to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund here. And now, let’s dive into some fashion.

Best Dressed: CLAIRE FOY
suit by Stella McCartney, jewelry by Harry Winston

All hail Claire, queen of the double-breasted pantsuit, and the button on her sleeve promoting 50:50 – Actresses for Equal Representation, a British organization working for equal gender balance on stage and screen. I was hoping for a night of Le Smoking tuxedos, but the gods did not grant me such a bounty. But they did give us Claire Foy in this suit, and for that, I am grateful.

Runner-Up: TRACEE ELLIS ROSS
gown, pants, and turban by Marc Jacobs, jewelry by Irene Neuwirth

Have you ever seen something so awesome, it actually made you mad? That’s how I feel about this turban. LOOK INTO THE DEPTHS OF TRACEE ELLIS ROSS’S FACE AS SHE ROCKS THIS TURBAN. NOBODY CAN TELL HER NOTHIN’. This is just goddamn divine.

Honorable Mention: MICHELLE WILLIAMS and TARANA BURKE
Michelle’s gown by Louis Vuitton

Michelle refused to answer any interview questions about herself, pivoting everything over to Tarana Burke. Tarana is the creator of the #MeToo movement and the director of Girls for Gender Equity, and Michelle’s willingness to give all the spotlight to Tarana and her cause made my cold little heart melt. I’m here for the delicate loveliness of Michelle’s look, and the neckline in particular. And Tarana is WORKing those sequins.

DEBRA MESSING
gown and pants by Christian Siriano

The first, greatest moment of the red carpet came when Debra Goddamn Messing called out E!, on E!’s own live red carpet broadcast, for paying their female hosts significantly less than their male hosts. Giuliana Rancic was definitely not prepped with talking points about that, and it was a brave and bold moment to see Debra explain that that’s an inequality that could end tomorrow, if E! wanted it to. Debra was also one of the many women who opted for a dress-pants combo, which can be tough to pull off, but her attitude (and Disney princess hair) sold it.

HELEN MIRREN
gown by Zuhair Murad, jewelry by Harry Winston

Those lace sleeves are maybe the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. And the DIAMONDS! The selfish fashion blogger part of me was worried an all-black red carpet would mean a boring red carpet – anyone who knows me knows I have no patience for stars who refuse to wear bright colors or bold prints or interesting silhouettes – but that bitchy part of me needn’t have worried. If anything, the red carpet blackout made the hair, makeup, and accessories pop even more. Helen’s perfect silvery tousled bob and bright strawberry lipstick and nails, plus the aforementioned RIDONKULOUS DIAMONDS, practically explode off the screen. Or maybe I just threw my computer at the wall because Helen Mirren is more than four decades older than me and definitely has a better body than I do.

ALEXIS BLEDEL
jumpsuit by Oscar de la Renta, shoes by Jimmy Choo

Love the leaf details, the sparkly belt-sash-thingy, and the skinny pants. And the slim earrings and skinny bracelet add such gorgeous, light touches of glamour. A+ for Rory Gilmore, as per usz.

EMILIA CLARKE
gown by Miu Miu, jewelry by Harry Winston

I made an embarrassing noise when Daenerys and Jon Snow appeared on the Globes stage together. Like, truly embarrassing. She’s even Targaryen Blonde now! I don’t care if we’re a year-plus from Game of Thrones actually being on television, just let me get hype, okay?! Anyway, she looks elegant and cool, and if I had to choose between riding a dragon and wearing this necklace, I’m picking the latter. ‘Cause that shit is just stunning.

MERYL STREEP and AI-JEN POO
Meryl’s gown by Vera Wang, jewelry by Fred Leighton

A stunning pair. I love how happy Ai-jen looks to be allowed to touch Meryl Streep on the red carpet promoting her cause. Ai-jen is the Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, an organization that works for better protections for domestic workers.

ALLISON WILLIAMS
gown by Armani Privé

I feel like I’m never going to find her outfits worth talking about, no matter what she serves up. And it’s definitely because she always plays characters who are absolute monsters. Allison, I’m sorry I can’t separate fiction from reality well enough to compliment you on what is actually a cool and unique dress. But as far as I’m concerned, you’re Marnie, and that’s on your good days. Let’s not even talk about your character in Get Out.

SARAH PAULSON
gown by Calvin Klein, jewelry by Tiffany & Co.

Love the top half, though I’m not sold on the curved seam across that skirt. I also have sky-high expectations for Sarah, who always tends to throw us a curveball and surprise me on the red carpet. So while I’m enjoying this look, I’m still left wanting more.

MARGOT ROBBIE
gown by Gucci, purse and shoes by Roger Vivier

The cut, from the sharp shoulders to the plunging neckline, is gorgeous, and the fit is impeccable. I think there’s a little too much tinselly nonsense happening just below the bustline, but I’ll forgive it because this look is sharp as hell.

KELLY CLARKSON
gown by Christian Siriano

Sing it with me, ladies: IT! HAS! POCKETS!!!!!

Also, watching Kelly Clarkson spot Meryl Streep on the red carpet, almost fall over from fangirly excitement, scream “Can I meet you?!”, and run over to squeal in Streep’s face was one of the great joys of the entire Golden Globes.

DAKOTA JOHNSON
gown by Gucci, jewelry by Nirav Modi

I find her absolutely painful to watch – she makes Kristen Stewart look like a charismatic extrovert – but I don’t hate this look. It’s better from the back:

I like the silver explosion and the shimmering sheer skirt. Plus, the earrings are gorgeous.

GEENA DAVIS
gown by Monique Lhuillier

It’s got maybe one too many details, but damn if she doesn’t look incredible. I don’t think it needed the fringe-y skirt AND the sparkle AND the mixed-texture cap sleeves AND the lace on the neckline AND the lace on the skirt, but it’s hard not to love how damn glam Geena looks.

KATHERINE LANGFORD
gown by Prada, jewelry by Chopard

There’s no reason for a 21-year-old to dress this matronly. Find something more fun and cheer up, Katherine!

RITA MORENO

THAT JACKET IS FUCKING ICONIC. And so is Rita Moreno. Apparently Getty Images labeled her as “and Guest,” despite the fact that she is an EGOT and a living legend. Put some respect on her name, Getty.

LAURA DERN
gown by Armani Privé, jewelry by Bulgari

America’s Cool Stepmom Laura Dern walked the red carpet with Mónica Ramírez, co-founder of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, which works to prevent violence against farmerworker women. I don’t love all the detailing in this dress, but I would like five of that bracelet, please and thank you.

AMY POEHLER and SARU JAYARAMAN
Amy’s gown by Greta Constantine

I’m always here for Amy (who really should have been the host of the Golden Globes – sorry, Seth Meyers), but can we talk about her date? Saru Jayaraman started a nonprofit called Women and Youth Supporting Each Other when she was IN HIGH SCHOOL. Her work now is mostly focused on workers’ rights in the restaurant industry. And her earrings are fucking amazing.

GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE

Her presence is so magnificent, Gwendoline actually tricked me into thinking I liked this dress for a minute there! Despite it being just several rolls of fabric tacked together and torn apart! That is the power of Brienne of Tarth. Her ability to just look like the most powerful human alive is red-carpet-worthy by itself, even when her dress isn’t.

MARIAH CAREY
gown by Dolce & Gabbana, jewelry by Chopard

It will never not be 1999 in Mariah’s head, and honestly, I kind of respect that.

HALLE BERRY
dress by Zuhair Murad, jewelry by Swarovski

I think I speak for all of us when I say:

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© Democracy Diva, 2018.
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