Golden Globes 2026, an awards ceremony and Red Carpet events offer a fashion event as stars sweep past, stop and pose and continue on their way to watch or receive awards. The clothes are very very expensive, they’re all named as are the jewellers and the stylists, makeup artists, and hairdressers. It a modern fashion moment and we’re very used to the, be it The Met Gala in the first Monday in May or an obscure director’s event in a city somewhere across the globe. Our consumption of the images and the names is voracious, and it fills social media both on major sites and being judged by ever fashion fanatic with an account.
Sometimes, through all this noise and hype, something genuinely interesting does emerge and something they observers can take away as a new step in the style promenade or a fresh move in fashion. This Golden Globes delivered a really instant shift in dressing both for men and women. A new grown up seriousness, a new attitude in what was selected, and a step back to glamour. How would I define this?
Well, drape for women was a key element and true couture beauty in the line and decoration rather than vulgarity and exposure as grabbing for attention. A sophistication in line from top to toe and images which reflect this new attitude, an attitude which in menswear was all about proportion and silhouette, rather than making leading actors look uncomfortable as they awkwardly pose for the cameras.
Amal Clooney wore scarlet vintage Pierre Balmain draped and swathed around her, Amanda Seyfried wore white Versace Atelier couture draped and swathed around her, enhanced by a sliver of long stole and her hair swept up and a stunning necklace. Top to toe in draped tangerine Laufey was in Balenciaga and with its long train was like liquid flowing around her, hair pulled back and up into an architectural ponytail. Kate Hudson in Armani Privé wasn’t draped but with its embroidered loops simulated drape in a classic Art Deco, Silver Screen way, her hair nearly centre parted and pulled back. Renate Reinsve in Louis Vuitton which was strictly drape but had a similar softness and Art Deco Hollywood mood, simply floor length finest pewter beaded fringe, suspended from a curved line is swept the floor; she wore no jewels and her long straight hair was draped behind her shoulders. Wunmi Mosaku in Matthew Reisman in brilliant sunshine yellow flowing and draping to the floor, only her arms exposed as the silk mousseline drifted around her. Eve Victor wore a red cape dress by Loewe where the simple lines draped as the fabric folded and unfolded wrapped a ross and fastened with a large gold plaque. The dress was strapless, and she wore only small diamond earrings and her long straight hair just tucked neatly behind her shoulders.
Dakota Fanning wore blush champagne sparkling Vivienne Westwood where the soft asymmetric drape curved around her body and spilt onto the floor. Tayana Taylor wore black slithery satin Schiaparelli with drape and a long attached scarf twisting around to an open lower back detailed in sparkle and a baroque bow. Lisa also wore black but by Jacquemus in both slinky jersey for the hourglass Kirt and bandeau top topped off by a semi-sheer silk mousseline overlayer draped across and weighted by silken tassels swaying and moving across the body. Mia Goth wore a Dior gown in black silk saying with a soft halter drape and long stole whilst the silhouettes skimmed down the body and then unfolded into undulating points to the slight train. Her hair was tied up with just a few light fronds to soften the look. Eyo Edibiri wore a black Chanel dress with softly draped crepe and velvet layers and an off-the-shoulder neckline finished with soft knotted tails. Britt Lower was in a dark green dress by Loewe which folded and draped across her body to cascade and ripple down one side. Janine Rubinstein also wore a darker shade, a deep claret red draped and ruched close to the body with long sleeves until it burst into a flip hem just at the knee.
Alongside black was black and white Selena Gomez in an hourglass black dress with a wreath of exquisite white blossoms of silk encircling the shoulders and swooping lower at the back created by Matthieu Blazy at Chanel. Charli XCX wore a stunning look from Saint Laurent of a black feathered and feathery top curved and cinched tightly at the waist with a silk satin bow and a column skirt in white silk.
The second big style story for women was pure line in a single colour or sometimes and single embroidered surface. We note Chase Sui Wonders in Balenciaga Matt emerald/jade green duchess satin, Olandria Carthen all wore the same colour in a fit and flare silhouette by Christian Siriano. Elle Fanning in solid “love in a mist” encrusted embroidered Gucci, as well as Tessa Thompson in severe strapless Balenciaga dress entirely covered in mos coloured sequins, and Rose Byrne in brilliant grass green Chanel Hailee Steinfeld in a Prada long fluid dress of pale shell pink entirely embroidered with scattered silvery long beads in geometric lines.
The men predominately returned to the tuxedo and even the evening waistcoat, and some even wore a cummerbund. What made it fascinating was they wore shorter and more fitted shapes, longer and straighter, Timothée Chalamet had all the focus down the centre of his suit with multiple buttoning and some men selected to embrace the broader shoulder. It was fascinating to see out of the hundreds of images show the return of classic and with the focus on getting this choice right far outweighed the most designer and tricksy looks which can dominate the menswear. This wasn’t about safe or boring it was about the choice to look good and reflected the womenswear trend perfectly. This is fashion as stylish, chic and understated sexy, not naked flesh, over tight and cheap. In fact, I guess the word is “expensive snd many gentlemen, I use the word deliberately, chose elegance and confidence over fashion.
Of note I will just mention a few suitably attired names. Coleman Domingo managed to combine a perfectly tailored tuxedo with silver ivy leaves scattered across one side in sartorial perfection by Valentino, please note the black shirt and immaculate tie not to divert the attention or make the look fussy. Jut look at the proportions of Jacob Elordi in Bottega Veneta, long stretched line, high buttoning, big revers, and so on until you realise it’s all about this subtle yet superb tailoring. I personally love Paul Mescal wearing Gucci, relaxed but very formal, and so clever to revive the wing collar but with no bow tie. Hudson Williams in Armani where the white jacket, shirt and cummerbund are slender cut but still at ease and the sating shirt isn’t unbuttoned too far, proportions again. Charlie Hunnam again an exceedingly long jacket this time by Saint Laurent especially neat smaller bow tie giving a fresh look. Patrick Schwarzenegger wore Dolce e Gabanna with huge stain revers and a slender silhouette, the brooch looks more like a decoration or medal than flamboyance.
So please note double breasted is definitely the way to go in dinner jackets and tuxedos, if you wear white or ivory jacket then white or ivory shirt, and wide pants/trousers seem to not be the first choice for ninety per one of the gentleman on this particular occasion.
In fact, fashion and tricks seem to have been all but absent from the story for men and women alike at this event, so let’s watch what the future awards and events show us this season.
