Hollywood was all abuzz last January 6, 2019, as the 2019 Golden Globes Awards ceremony was held at the famous Beverly Hilton hotel. Movie and TV stars alike all converged in this annual affair, celebrating the best of the best of the entertainment industry of the past year. Big winners of the night included “Bohemian Rhapsody” which won the Golden Globes for Best Actor in a Drama, courtesy of lead Rami Malek, and Best Motion Picture – Drama, as well as “Green Book,” which took home the awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical or Comedy with Mahershala Ali and the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
As usual, the night started with a glamorous bang of a star-studded red carpet. The likes of Lady Gaga (in Valentino), Julia Roberts (in Stella McCartney), and Saoirse Ronan (in Gucci) all gave show-stopping fashion moments that sent the industry and social media into a frenzy. But the biggest trend of the night, surprisingly, was the bevy of ballgowns that a ton of A-listers wore. This year marked a return to elegance, as the classic couture silhouette reigned supreme, from Isla Fisher’s old Hollywood look in Monique Lhuillier to Lili Reinhart’s modern and risque take on the beloved style.
This was a complete 180-degree turn from last year’s trend of wearing black to stand in solidarity with the #TimesUp movement. Nevertheless, activism was still on full display this year in the forms of bracelets and pins. For the 2019 red carpet, however, fashion definitely took center stage again, with various celebrities giving reverence to the “Golden days of Haute Couture.” Among those who sparkled that night, here were the best ballgowns that took our breath away!
Lady Gaga in custom Valentino Haute Couture
Trust Mother Monster to turn up the ante in a mind-blowing periwinkle dress by Pierpaolo Piccioli of the house of Valentino. Custom-made to perfection, her look paid tribute to Judy Garland’s wardrobe in the latter’s iteration of “A Star is Born” back in 1954. With her signature touch of “Gaga” quirk, the Best Actress nominee also dyed her hair the same hue as her dress, making an already iconic look even more unforgettable.
Dakota Fanning in Armani Privé Haute Couture
Simplicity is often the key for a sophisticated look and this was manifested so beautifully by Dakota Fanning in her shimmering silk number by Armani Privé. The dress had little to no frills and thrills, save for a couple of small bows that fastened the dress at the back. The sweetheart neckline, paired with a stunning Beladora diamond necklace, looked exquisite and was all kinds of old-school elegance. Consequently, Fanning’s slick lower bun and bright red lips made sure that the entire look was still cool and contemporary.
Gemma Chan in Valentino Haute Couture
Crazy Rich Asians star Gemma Chan pulled out all the stops for her first ever Golden Globes look. In a stunning dark Aegean blue dress by Valentino, plucked from their memorable Fall 2018 Haute Couture collection, Chan put a sexier spin on the classic style. Worn with similarly-hued shorts underneath, she was able to open up the slit a few times to show off her gorgeous legs. She gave major Astrid Leon-vibes as well with her slightly messy low bun, stark red lips, and eye-catching Forevermark diamond earrings.
Isla Fisher in Monique Lhuillier
Australian actress Isla Fisher was as classic as one can get in her black lace Monique Lhuillier stunner. She looked straight out a 1950s film, with her fiery red locks coiffed in an old Hollywood Veronica Lake-like hairstyle and a dress that even Audrey Hepburn would go green with envy over. The black lace detailing added a touch of dramatic sexiness to make the entire outfit look more mature and alluring.
Penelope Cruz in Ralph & Russo Haute Couture
Penelope Cruz is a veteran on red carpets but on this night, she proved that she still has a lot of surprises in store. Her Ralph & Russo galaxy-printed gown from their Fall 2018 Haute Couture collection fitted her down to a tee. The shape was immaculate on her well-toned physique and embraced all the right curves. While the shoulder straps and the big bow on the back added a tinge of vintage sexiness that only Cruz can pull off!
Kiki Layne in Dior Haute Couture
It’s always interesting to see young starlets do couture, and among those who did, Kiki Layne did not disappoint. The “If Beale Street Could Talk” star worked the red carpet in a blush-toned Dior tulle ball gown by Maria Grazia Chiuri. The dress itself had a bit of edge to it with the sheer overlay barely covering up the corset-wiring that held it all together. But Layne also made it look younger and fresher with her braided bun and diamond-encrusted choker from Bulgari.
Lili Reinhart in Khyeli Couture
Another youngster doing the couture game is Lili Reinhart, whose fiery Khyeli couture ensemble set the red carpet ablaze. She looked every bit the Hollywood superstar in the classic silhouette with a tulle train that made the back look just as good as the front. Being the millennial A-lister that she is, she paired this couture look with a sleek bun, eye-popping red-toned makeup, and sparkling Swarovski earrings.
Emmy Rossum in Monique Lhuillier
Emmy Rossum might not be a fresh face in Hollywood anymore, but her red carpet look screamed freshness from head-to-toe. She looked simply impeccable in her pale rose tulle confection of a dress by Vera Wang, which she elegantly donned with slick-back hair and Lorraine Schwartz earrings. The waist of the dress was also dropped down to her hips, creating a modern shape that only a beauty of her caliber can pull off with such ease.
While there were many others who wore the same ballgown silhouette, these 8 actresses shone the brightest. It’s clear that the entire fashion industry is moving towards more traditional nods to elegance and sophistication and Hollywood is closely following in suit. But as the awards season is now on full throttle, it’ll be interesting to see if other ceremonies will also go as retro or if there will be new trends arising.
Image credits: RollingStone.com (Featured image), Bustle.com and EOnline.com (Article images).
