I watched the Golden Globes so you didn't have to.

To my surprise, one of the most commented upon blog entries I've ever written was about the dresses worn to the 2008 Academy Awards (the link is to my entry, not the awards) It's too late now to go into depth, but I'll write more about the 2010 Golden Globes tomorrow (which also gives me a chance to hunt down a few photos that I can't find right now, such as one of Sally Hawkins, who presented in a marvelous dress nothing like anything else being worn tonight).

For now, let me whet the knife of fashion criticism with a very few comments. Overall, the trends this year were: bold gem colors (lots of purple, magenta, red, too much heavy all black, often in satin) or metallic silvers and golds (which usually had lots of sequins -- another trend). Enough women bucked the bold-color trend and wore peach, apricot or pale pink that that was a counter-trend that makes a trend in itself. (But there were few seafoam green or pale blue -- in fact, aside from three emerald green dresses, there were almost no cool tones at all.)

Also trending this year were lots of slits up to the thigh -- in conjunction with long dresses. Few enough women wore short dresses (Sally Hawkins being one of them) that they looked fresh and interesting next to the others.  No cocktail length, no mini length (that I recall).

Generally in silhouette the look alternated between fluffy/ruffly/floaty, and slinky and tight to the body, with a few highly sculptured gowns to remind us it's possible to make buildings of fabric.

Best Dress Until You See the Back
I thought Sandra Bullock had finally overcome her tendency for horrible dresses, when I saw her vivid purple floaty organza dress.  Beautiful color, nice shape, light without being ruffly.  Then she turned around and the back of the dress is the same color but entirely sheer, and it turns out that, instead of a slit up her skirt, one leg had only a thin sheer layer of fabric over it, so it might as well have been slit.  You can kind of see the sheer leg in this photo -- I'll find a picture of the back tomorrow.

Worst Dress of the Night

I can't say exactly why, because other women wore skin tight, too unrelievedly black, breast revealing dresses, but I just hated Mariah Carey's slinky number. Maybe I don't like it because she doesn't look attractive in it?  I don't like to diss a woman for not having a too-skinny figure, but in this case, honey, calling attention to your floppy bosom doesn't help take our eye away from your hips. Or it does, but only for a moment.

In my Top Five Favorites
Jennifer Garner wore a heavily sequined metallic form-fitting gown.  It draped nicely, and moved nicely as she walked, and it looked comfortable, if that's possible for a heavily sequined metallic form-fitting gown.  I loved the color, even.