Award-Worthy Red Carpet Style — The Best Dressed Stars At The 2017 Golden Globe Awards

The 2017 Golden Globe Awards were, in essence, a multi-hour tribute to La La Land but, on the red carpet, there was a wider range of honorees (though, yes, Emma Stone won in both the fashion and film performance milieus! ). In terms of colors, yellow and pink gowns were particularly prevalent, with stars like Viola Davis, Reese Witherspoon, and Natalie Portman opting for sunny sunflower and saffron gowns, and actresses like Lily Collins, Claire Foy, and Carrie Underwood opting for rose-colored dresses. As usual, there was no shortage of sequined gowns or of gold- and silver-toned dresses, but only a few managed to feel truly extraordinary. Another big trend: tuxedos and pantsuits, which were favored by Kathryn Hahn, Octavia Spencer, and Evan Rachel Wood. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the Golden Globes red carpet was how unpredictable it felt — some stars who typically slay at awards ceremonies missed the mark majorly (Nicole Kidman among them) while other up-and-coming stars like Ruth Negga and Lily Collins beat out long-time favorites to top our best-dressed list.

Below, check out our picks for the most stunning looks at the Golden Globes!

Evan Rachel Wood

As a tribute to the late David Bowie, whose androgynous stage looks inspired generations of fans and helped to expand the oft-narrow way in which we view gender, Westworld‘s Evan Rachel Wood donned a custom Altuzarra suit modeled after a tuxedo, replete with wide-leg pants featuring shiny satin stripes along the sides, a tailored jacket with satin-covered lapels, and a white vest. The pussy bow blouse under her white vest, meanwhile, added a retro femininity to the look. While walking the red carpet, she exuded the type of nonconf0rmist glamour we associate with the likes of Marlene Dietrich — and you could practically imagine Bowie’s “Space Oddity” playing in her head.

Kristen Bell

Look at the way Kristen Bell’s hand is propped on her hip, how her eyes are narrowed and her lips are pursed, how her shoulders are back and her chin is raised. Just by looking at her stance, we can tell Bell felt confident at the 2017 Golden Globes — and with good reason! Though she often makes the Best Dressed list at awards shows, Bell tends to favor gowns with voluminous, princess-ready skirts featuring layers of tulle; intricately beaded strapless gowns with figure-hugging bodices and fluffy mermaid skirts; or fluid numbers with Grecian-inspired draping elements. Last night, however, she eschewed the fairytale fashion overtones in favor of a seductive, smoldering look with a bit of a ’70s edge (think of Michelle Pfeiffer’s character in Scarface). It was refreshing to see Bell switching up her red carpet game in a long-sleeved Jenny Packham gown with all-over sequins featuring a daring neckline that dipped right below her bustline. The neckline in and of itself is ode-worthy: first, it doesn’t reach navel-grazing depths, which makes it feel more demure; second, it’s not quite the traditional “V” shape since it remains quite square and wide; and third, the amount of cleavage revealed is actually minimal, with just a hint of side boob action, so that the effect is titillating but still modest overall (especially in the era of illusion dresses and pelvis-high slits!). The dress, combined with Bell’s slightly tousled hairdo, is utter perfection.

Lily Collins

There were quite a few pink confections on the red carpet last night but, sadly, most of them missed the mark — that is, except for this Zuhair Murad number donned by Lily Collins. The gown’s antique rose shade works beautifully against the star’s alabaster skin, and the lace floral appliqués add a dreamy element to the gown. I particularly love the contrast between the fitted bodice and the full skirt, with its layers of diaphanous tulle, how the sheerness of the gown’s upper half gives the otherwise busy design some breathing room and compounds its delicacy. It almost looks like Collins is emerging from a pink cloud, her naked body covered in roses. What’s dreamier than that?

Olivia Culpo

Apparently, viewers and fashion critics alike were completely divided in terms of their reactions to Olivia Culpo’s Zuhair Murad gown. I, for one, thought the floral-themed number was a risky move that paid off beautifully. The crisscross halter neck was completely unexpected, and the beading along these wide straps and the banded waist created a lovely mosaic quality, while the wide skirt’s folkloric overtones made the gown feel like a work of art, like a Diego Rivera mural or a Frida Kahlo painting come to life. I felt like this dress was bold, vibrant, and full of life.

Emma Stone

Part of me wishes Emma Stone had opted for a gown in a bolder hue like red, yellow, or blue since this pale pink washes her out a bit, but I adore the star motif of her Valentino gown. The plunging neckline adds a sauciness to the otherwise dainty number, but it’s really all about those silver sequined stars and the faint silver vertical stripes all over the gown, which create an ethereal, celestial effect. If you look close enough, you can see how the neckline is lined with tiny stars, as are the gown’s thin straps.

Ruth Negga

According to Ruth Negga’s stylist, Karen Welch, it took 120 hours to hand-sew the rose gold, yellow gold, and silver paillettes on the Loving star’s Louis Vuitton gown, which was custom-designed by LV Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquiere. Shimmer factor aside, what makes this gown so special is how it successfully exudes strength thanks to the armor-inspired, chest plate detailing, as well as the small metallic buckles on the sides. The front zipper also added a modernity to the design that made it feel completely unique and fashion-forward.

Blake Lively

A dress with pockets on the red carpet? Leave it to Blake Lively to pull off that feat, all the while exuding sex appeal. The actress made jaws drop in this body-hugging black Atelier Versace gown, featuring an embellished gold halter neck, a V-shaped cut-out that revealed a hint of cleavage, and sparkly sequined gold pockets.

Mandy Moore

I thought I’d had my fill of cape dresses (or cape pantsuits, for that matter!) until I saw Mandy Moore in this navy blue Naeem Khan gown. The various design elements — the fluidity of the delicately pleated skirt, the audaciousness of the plunging neckline, and the sheerness of the cape — all worked together harmoniously so that, while dramatic, there was a sense of ease to this look.

Amy Adams

It must be nice to be Tom Ford’s friend! Amy Adams, who starred in Ford’s film Nocturnal Animals, donned a black sequined column gown by the venerated fashion designer. From the waist down, the figure-flaunting number may seem like just a run-of-the-mill sequined gown, but it’s the structured bodice that makes it so modern and fresh. The carefully constructed bodice has a rather high neckline with a linear quality that feels almost architectural, and the way the sides swoop ever so dramatically around the arms adds to that sense of structure and the emphasis on precision.