Top 5 Best Dressed
 
5. Kirsten Dunst
The 2016 Golden Globes red carpet was all about gowns with plunging necklines, with stars like Sophia Bush and Olivia Wilde flaunting flat-chested forms. Kirsten Dunst stood out from the rest in a black velvet Valentino dress from the designer’s fall 2015 Haute Couture collection. Dunst, who was nominated for best actress in a television motion picture for her role in Fargo, opted for a more simply styled version than what was shown on the runway. Replacing the original gaudy gold headpiece and necklace with Fred Leighton drop earrings and matching bracelet, she managed to look gothic and sultry without being too overpowering.
4. Rooney Mara
Nominated for her performance in Carol, actress Rooney Mara’s Golden Globe look did not deviate from her usual edgy fashion choices. The pale nude Alexander McQueen gown she wore blended in with her skin tone and would have washed her out had she not contrasted the hue with a dark crimson lip. Further offsetting the garment’s frilly delicateness, Mara wore her hair pulled back in a dismantled braid and abstained from accessories. In October of last year she wore a nearly identical look to the London Film Festival: nude McQueen dress, maroon lips, slicked back hair and no accessories, but something about her Golden Globe look was more glamorous in her trademark grunge manner.
3. Alicia Vikander
Alicia Vikander was the definition of sophistication in a narrow, pillar-like Louis Vuitton gown. Her dewy makeup and twisted updo made her look ethereal, not to mention on-trend. Brands like Calvin Klein and Jil Sander emphasized fresh-faced makeup in their spring 2015 shows and the look has gained popularity since then. Vikander will no doubt gain popularity as well, not only for her acting, but also for her refined style and ability to pull off an apron dress with elegance.
2. Taraji P. Henson
Aside from winning a Golden Globe for her performance in Empire, Taraji P. Henson wooed the red carpet in a white Stella McCartney gown. It was minimal and sleek, much like Alicia Vikander’s slender Louis Vuitton dress in a sense, but the train-like cape in the back served as the perfect accessory for posing, which Henson was not shy about. She offset her emerald drop earrings with a simple gold chain clutch and her short, messy hairstyle and minimal jewelry kept the overall look polished and precise.
 1. Jennifer Lopez
Can Jennifer Lopez do any wrong? It seems as though she keeps looking better and better with every event she attends and the Golden Globes were no exception. The star showed up in a marigold yellow Giambattista Valli caped gown, as well as nearly 200 carats of Harry Winston diamonds. The ensemble was originally shown on the runway with a wraparound necklace and strappy black sandals. Lopez added more glitz with crystal-embellished Jimmy Choo pumps and similar Judith Leiber clutch. The dress arguably looked even better on Lopez than on the runway model; her famous hourglass figure filled out the draped waist better than what was initially shown. Her lipstick (much like Rooney Mara’s) and corresponding nail hue complimented the dominant color. It was easy to see that every detail of Lopez’s look was styled to perfection, which is why she is always one to wait for on the red carpet.
 
Top 5 Worst Dressed
 
5. America Ferrera
America Ferrera’s Jenny Packham Resort 2016 dress was pretty, but not right for her. Either that, or the tailoring was simply not done well because the bottom of the dress dragged instead of hitting the ground and made her look formless instead of put together. A better suggestion would be to completely ditch the unfashionable frock and try something like a coral-red gown from Naeem Khan’s Spring 2016 ready-to-wear collection. The high ruffle collar would have been more flattering than the Packham pinafore’s choker alternative and a lipstick and drop earrings of the same color with Ferrera’s current pulled-back hair would have been much more complimentary to her figure and coloring.
4. Amy Schumer
There’s nothing much to say about Amy Schumer’s getup except that the white panel and shoulder sleeves on the upper half look like a napkin or some sort of protective barrier designed to keep spaghetti sauce from getting on the actual dress. Combined with the 1950’s housewife hair, Schumer looked more like she was at the event with the catering company instead of as a nominee. The strappy pointed-toe heels also did the opposite of elongating her legs. The shape and cut of the frock was fine, but would have been much better in a solid color.
3. Sarah Hay
Sarah Hay, who was nominated for her performance in Flesh & Bone, wore a ruffly tulle Marchesa gown, which could have been pretty if it had been styled correctly. The frosty blue color looked good with Hay’s pale skin and red hair, but the bulky white clutch clashed with the fragile-looking dress. Also, Hay’s hair was too “pageant girl”; something messier would have seemed more effortless instead of the chunky curls. To make it more trendy, the rumply sleeves and sheer front panel should have been removed and replaced with spaghetti straps to create an almost celestial ambience.
2. Bryce Dallas Howard
When asked who she was wearing on the red carpet, presenter Bryce Dallas Howard said she picked out and bought her Jenny Packham resort 2016 sheath herself without the help of a stylist. Unfortunately, that was clearly evident. The metallic blue ensemble made her look like the mom of a bride; the unnecessary lace paneling and three-quarter length sleeves aged her and did nothing for her body. Adding to that, her awkward choice of red earrings didn’t make any sense. The quickest solution would be to ditch the cheap-looking garment and instead go for something like the lacy black Oscar de la Renta dress from the designer’s Fall 2015 collection. Its high neckline, thin straps and delicate bow beneath the neck would look chic with Howard’s straight hair and not age her as much as the Jenny Packham gown did.
1. Regina King
Another follower of the cape trend was best supporting actress nominee Regina King, but unfortunately, she was unable to pull the look off as well as others. Her gold Krikor Jabotian gown was too much, and the cape only overwhelmed it even more. A better alternative would have been to remove the cape completely and have the gold embellishment on either just the top or bottom half of the outfit and replace the other section with a simple white material. King’s shoes were also very outdated; a simple ankle-strap sandal of either silver or gold would have completed the look without distracting the eye from the main attraction.