Best Dressed at the 2016 Golden Globe Awards

Several trends were discernible on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards last night: the abundance of all-black, all-white, and fiery red gowns; the exciting emergence of floor-sweeping dresses with ballgown skirts incorporating handy pockets; the continuing momentum of cape-inspired embellishments; plunging necklines; velvet designs (both in women’s gowns and men’s tuxedo jackets and bow ties); modern but modest side cut-outs; and sequin-covered, shimmering metallic numbers. Below, check out some of the leading ladies that led the fashion pack at the much-anticipated awards show.

CATE BLANCHETT

Nominated for her role in Carol, Cate Blanchett stunned in a delicate petal pink Givenchy gown with a very feminine ombré color scheme, an intricate lace bodice, and long fringe strands nodding to the 1920s adorning the shoulders, laying atop the elbow-length sleeves, and tiered along the floor-length skirt to add a free-spirited romanticism that felt fresh and daring.

JAIMIE ALEXANDER

The Blindspot actress and award presenter may have encountered technical difficulties with the temperamental teleprompter, but all circuits were go on the red carpet, where she stood out in a graphic emerald green Genny dress with a plunging neckline. The voluminous skirt (equipped with pockets, no less!) and the geometric squares, circles, and spirals pictured on the fabric made this gown a show-stopper. It was a risky choice, but it paid off well and, moreover, it reflected the actress’s edgy aesthetic.

JENNIFER LOPEZ

After dominating 2015 with arguably the best “naked dresses” of the year, Jennifer Lopez decided to go down an entirely different route this awards ceremony season, picking a gown without the plunging neckline or sheer panels she so often favors. By doing so, Lopez reminded everyone of why she’s a fashion icon, proving that she’s far from a one-trick pony and that, moreover, she doesn’t need to show tons of skin to emanate sex appeal. Since J.Lo never plays it safe, she gambled on a tricky color — canary yellow — but it paid off, only bringing more attention to her tanned skin and infusing a much-needed burst of color to the parade of red carpet dresses. Her Giambattista Valli Couture gown did feature a deep thigh slit that provided the right amount of sultriness, while the built-in capelet emanated glamour and drama. The ruched, criss-crossed fabric at the hips, meanwhile, accentuated her famous assets.  Silver Jimmy Choo heels, a Judith Lieber Couture crystal herringbone clutch, and Harry Winston jewels completed the jaw-dropping look.

LADY GAGA

It’s refreshing to watch the woman who once donned such wacky ensembles as a meat dress and a Muppet-covered gown continue to evolve — not just in regards to her personal style, but also in terms of her music and her projects. Lady Gaga, who won the Best Actress in a TV Drama or Miniseries award for her role as the Countess in American Horror Story: Hotel channeled Marilyn Monroe in a black velvet, off-the-shoulder Versace gown with a sweetheart neckline, a well-defined waist, and exaggerated hips. By wearing her platinum blonde locks in curls, she brought us back to 1955 — and we were thankful for the trip down memory lane and for Gaga’s modern iteration of Monroe’s classic look.

JENNIFER LAWRENCE

Red gowns are nothing new for J.Law, who has made the best-dressed list at the 2011 Oscars with a simple scarlet Calvin Klein tank dress; at the 2013 Golden Globes in a strapless, belted Dior gown; and at the 2014 Oscars with a strapless Dior gown featuring peplum flounces along the sides of the hips. This year, she went for a red-hot look again — this time, a sculptural, sleeveless Dior dress with a straight, column skirt; an on-trend crop top overlay; and cheeky rounded cut-outs along the sides.

LILY JAMES

The Cinderella star looked like a Grecian goddess in a white hand-draped Marchesa gown crafted out of seemingly cloud-like, diaphanous fabric, with some panels featuring hints of mint, blue, and lavender. The asymmetrical neckline and over-the-shoulder cape detail added to the ethereal energy of the design.

AMBER HEARD

Johnny Depp’s wife dazzled in a flowing, micro-pleated dress featuring shades of light rose, dusty pink and pale crimson. What made this dress a true winner, however, was the floral embellishments along the neckline, which gave the gown an infectious romanticism.

ALICIA VIKANDER

Demonstrating that minimalism can speak volumes, Ex Machina star Alicia Vikander stunned in a white Louis Vuitton gown with a ruffled neckline and ruffled arm holes, as well as vertical opaque white stripes cleverly spaced out by semi-sheer white stripes to create the illusion of pleats.

OLIVIA WILDE

Yes, the ’70s-inspired silhouette of Wilde’s Michael Kors Collection gown has been spotted on the red carpet before — in fact, Jessica Chastain wore a similar bronze Versace gown at the Globes just last year — but it’s the details that make this piece stand out: first, the oxblood red color; second, the banded waist; and, most importantly, the texture of the fabric, which resembles stingray skin, giving the gown an exotic twist.

JENNA DEWAN-TATUM

Jenna Dewan-Tatum outshone her hubby Channing Tatum (who parted his hair in a very unflattering way) in a midnight blue Marchesa gown with a plunging V-shaped neckline, sequined embellishments in rounded shapes reminiscent of rosette petals that added the requisite sparkle (like stars in a dark night), and a voluminous ball skirt with pockets.

BRIE LARSON

There was a bit of a ’70s funkiness to Larson’s golden Calvin Klein collection gown, featuring rows of shimmering sequins. Unlike the standard metallic gowns seen on award show red carpets, Larson’s dress stood out thanks to the halter-like collar, the center split along the chest, and the carefully placed cut-out. The result was a winning combination of classic Hollywood glamour and fun-loving, disco diva attitude.

KIRSTEN DUNST

The Fargo star flaunted some major cleavage on the red carpet thanks to the navel-grazing neckline of her black velvet Valentino dress, featuring two rope-like strips running horizontally along her chest, right below her bosoms, and a longer strap positioned right below her collarbone.

GINA RODRIGUEZ

Jane The Virgin star Gina Rodriguez looked positively regal in an off-the-shoulder, sapphire blue Zac Posen gown featuring a voluminous, ballroom skirt and a sculpted bodice with molded breast cups. And did we mention it had pockets? Bonus points!