With the start of a new year, the most exciting thing to look forward to is not the chance to turn over a new leaf, but rather, awards season. And with awards season comes a myriad of haute couture and not-so-haute get-ups worn by celebrities parading across red carpets seemingly all the time. The 77th Golden Globes had its fair share of stars wearing the best (and the worst) from a variety of extremely talented designers and stylists. Here are some highlights of the most hot and the most “not” looks that kicked off this year’s awards season.

Best:

Lucy Boynton — wearing Louis Vuitton

Channeling a futuristic-yet-1960s vibe, Boynton styled a silver dress with matching geometric eyeliner and platinum blonde hair; her look was completed with chrome heels. Boynton’s dress took 215 hours to create and 220 hours to hand-embroider, including more than 8,000 silver glass beads to achieve Boynton’s look. With boyfriend Rami Malek on her arm in a black velvet Yves Saint Laurent jacket, she was more than successful in achieving one of the best looks.

Taylor Swift — wearing Etro

To say Swift’s navy and gold Etro gown was eye-catching is an understatement. The vivid colors and large floral pattern in a ballgown shape could easily be overwhelming, but Swift pulled it off effortlessly and elegantly. Her simple makeup and updo complemented the look without pulling it over the line. 

Cate Blanchett — wearing Mary Katrantzou

The yellow pleated dress with fan-like sleeves that Blanchett wore may not be appealing to all, but it certainly won us over. The soft lemonade shade of the skirt and sleeve portions paired beautifully with her creamy skin tone and casual hairstyle. The real showstopper was her bedazzled bodice, which kept the dress from appearing too bland, elevating the look to prime sartorial quality. The look was a risk, but well worth taking.

Billy Porter — wearing Alex Vinash

The “Pose” star, who has become known for his extravagant and statement-making outfits, undoubtedly had millions of viewers looking forward to what look he’d slay this time around. Porter did not disappoint, gifting eyes with an all-white, angel-themed suit, including a long, feathered train, that took three months to create. From his black tuxedo ballgown at the Oscars last year to his 2019 Met Gala look reminiscent of a “Sun God,” Porter’s Golden Globes look seemed to tone it down compared to his history of lavish awards ceremony looks.

Worst:

Charlize Theron — wearing Dior

Theron’s previous Golden Globes looks maintained an air of elegance and minimalism. It’s clear the actress hoped to channel this same energy with a touch of risk, but Theron ended up looking more like a supervillain than a statuesque queen. She wore a bright green and black dress and a collar necklace — perhaps if the green drape of her dress was a more muted shade, the look would have helped her retain that iconic, timeless image.

Jennifer Lopez — wearing Valentino

Jennifer Lopez is known for her often bold sense of style, but this Valentino gown was bold in all the wrong ways. The stacking of oddly large gold and green bows did Lopez no favors. The only chic part of the dress was the gold top. The homage to “Maid in Manhattan” was duly noted with her hair in a braided bun, but overall, it looked more as if J-Lo hoped to extend the holiday season into awards season.

Kerry Washington — wearing Altuzarra

It’s certain that Washington would be one to pull this look off, but only if it was done right. Unfortunately, the ill-fitting blazer and silk satin skirt just didn’t sit right on her frame (or together, for that matter). Each piece Washington wore, including the knotted body chain, worked for her on its own, but not as cohesive parts of this outfit. Wearing a more delicate chain or a blazer that better complemented the material of the skirt could have helped Washington achieve the same jaw drop without the thrown-together undertone.

Gwyneth Paltrow — wearing Fendi

While Paltrow’s dress was revered for being eccentric, the frock ultimately appeared as a frilly, hippie-inspired look gone wrong. The sheerness of the dress coupled with the unfortunate appearance of undergarments below the tulle made for a questionable fashion choice. The Goop mogul attended the Golden Globes essentially naked, and while Paltrow has the confidence to do so, this outfit was not the way to go. If her beautifully layered diamond necklace was worn over her dress instead of underneath, she could have been slightly forgiven.

Contact Pooja Bale at [email protected].