Filipino moments and old Hollywood at Golden Globes
The first fashion party of the year kicked off at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards and the Philippines was represented thanks to model Kelsey Merritt who made waves on the red carpet and Monique Lhuillier, a favorite designer to the stars.
Kelsey wore a slip dress and Tiffany & Co. jewelry that made Vogue and WWD take notice. The former cited her pale gold outfit as “a winning formula” together with the likes of Ariana Grande, Cate Blanchett, and Elle Fanning. The latter listed her among the trendsetters for her “plunging scoop neck gown with a tuxedo belt-sash at the drop waist, completed by silver strappy high-heel sandals and a diamond lariat necklace and diamond bracelet.”
Monique Lhuillier, on the other hand, designed the gowns of The Bear star Abby Elliot who wore a navy one with a pearl embellished scoop neck; and actress and NYT bestselling author Molly Sims who came in a slinky peach cape dress. Monique’s designs always grace the red carpet with their romantic, glamorous looks exemplifying Old Hollywood which seemed to be the dominating theme this year.
Ariana’s vintage 1966 Givenchy column piece was as “Old Hollywood” as it could get, embodying the spirit of Audrey Hepburn during that period. It was in a pale shade of gold, the color that made a good showing for the evening, often in more glittery versions like Anora star Mikey Madison’s Bottega Veneta made of scales and Best Actress winner Demi Moore’s sculptural Armani Privé.
Metallics were obviously in the memo: Angelina Jolie in silvery McQueen and Cara Delavigne in iridescent blue Gucci. Selena Gomez followed the era by channeling Jackie Kennedy in ice blue Prada, as did Nicole Kidman, wearing a hairdo with a fall a là Catherine Deneuve to match her Balenciaga Jetsons-inflected piece.
Fifties ballgowns were ubiquitous, from Elle Fanning’s Balmain take with a cheetah print bodice to Zendaya’s Louis Vuitton homage to Black artist Joyce Bryant.
The accessory of the evening that also harked back to a bygone era were black opera gloves, worn by Pamela Anderson with her Oscar Dela Renta. Black, of course, always rules, but red gave a jolt with Emma Stone in a Louis Vuitton tulip with a belted waist and Dakota Fanning in a strapless Dolce & Gabbana. Pink was also a welcome color, like Anya Taylor-Joy’s Dior column.
Surprisingly, many men went off-tangent: Andrew Scott wore his tux in baby blue while Jeff Goldblum did sea green; as did Jeremy Strong, wearing his velvet sage tux with a bucket hat and aviators. Colman Domingo flirted with a giant bow by Valentino.
Vanessa Friedman, fashion director of the New York Times, lamented how, aside from these men and some women like Ayo Edibiri in an oversized Loewe suit with a long feather tie, most opted for safe looks that were all retro and did not move fashion forward, probably because of the mood of the moment and “the promise (and fears) of the incoming presidential administration with its bombastic reverence for the days of yore when America—and Hollywood—ruled the world and men wore ties and women wore pointy bras and (yes) gloves.”
