2019 Golden Globes Red Carpet - Crazy Chic Asians!

Yesssss Queens! As an Asian-American fashion fan and occasional (background) actress, the 2019 Golden Globes Awards was a glorious parade of achievement and style. I cried when Crazy Rich Asians were released and were ready to squee again when the beautiful cast came down the red carpet. The fact that this wasn't a first time walk for many of these artists was also gratifying. One of my favorite models of the 1990s, Gemma Chan, was stunning in the voluminous blue Valentino gown. Badass Michelle Yeoh wore green to symbolize life and prosperity, but really, I think it was so she could wear that epic emerald ring from the movie on the carpet (which was from her personal collection!)
Constance Wu, previously nominated for television role in Fresh Off the Boat, wore Asian-American designer Vera Wang for her first nomination for the leading role in a film. Family matriarch Lisa Lu wore traditional embroidered garb, looking regal and glowing. Nico Santos, the stylish relative of the clan, looked dapper.

Now for the big winners! Sandra Oh hosted and won as the first Asian to be nominated for leading actress in a drama series since 1974. She killed the red carpet in a sculptural Versace gown. As ground-breaking as this was, this was not her first Golden Globe, she previously won the trophy for her work on TV's Grey's Anatomy. Darren Criss won for his role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace but wore a Dior Suit with Asian-motif cherry blossoms.
A bit of trivia about me: I auditioned for the same role as Sandra Oh wayyyy back in 1993 in what would be her Canadian star-making role in the Diary of Evelyn Lau. If I had any bit of talent at the time, that could be me on the red carpet... NOT. Hahaha. Clearly, the talented, more deserving person won the role, and I ended up in fashion.
Congratulations to all of the amazing, beautiful, talented, inspiring, crazy chic Asians out on the 2019 Golden Globes tonight!
Photos from Daniele Venturelli, Frazer Harrison, Todd Williamson

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Golden Globes Red Carpet - Beyond Sample Size

Happy 2017 awards season! I am dishing on my favorite Golden Globes red carpet looks based on how well fashion designers accepted the challenge of fitting a celebrity outside of their comfort zone.

It is easy for a designer to knock out a gown in their sample runway size with no extra curves, made for a size 0 of a 5'8" body frame. Many (gorgeous) celebrities who don't fit this exact proportion have told their tale of rejection and frustration of designers who are unable to accommodate them.

Christian Siriano has been a vocal champion of celebrities outside of the typical sample size, coming to Leslie Jones' rescue and featuring varied body types as models at his last NYFW fashion show. Several actresses were dressed by him for this awards show, including Rachel Bloom in the embroidered black gown up top. Bloom's viral song from her show, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was called "Heavy Boobs," a body type generally not well accommodated in red carpet fashion.

Octavia Spencer made a star out of under-the-radar designer Tadashi Shoji, choosing him to dress her when she was on an awards sweep for her performance in "The Help," choosing him specifically because he was one of the few designers at the time to work with all body types as a regular practice. This season, she chose a tailored suit by Laura Basci, leading the pack for one of the best trends of the 2017 Globes. A constructed suit is hard to pull off when your body has a lot of curves, she slew it.

Wonder Woman Gal Gadot was flaunted a baby bump in a slinky sequined gown from Thierry Mugler that highlighted her maternal curves perfectly. Gwendoline Christie's 6'3" frame (not including heels) make it a challenge for many designers but Vivienne Westwood's team created a beautiful, soft georgette gown that made her look like a classic Hollywood pinup.

Award winner Tracy Ellis Ross has a strong pear-shaped silhouette that was illustrated with stunning beading on a semi-sheer column from Zuhair Murad. While most designers love to dress a stick figure, many others appreciated the Murad-clad, 44-year-old Ross from every angle tonight.

First-time Globes nominee Chrissie Metz wore an elegant velvet dress with an intricately beaded waist cinch by Nathan Paul. If she didn't choose this gown, Christian Siriano had also made two others for her as alternatives. While the fashion industry needs to progress a lot further, I am glad to hear that multiple designers worked hard to give a first-time nominee so many choices.

Seeing how the fortunes of a fashion label can turn by dressing the right celebrity, I hope the diverse silhouettes of the Golden Globes Red Carpet are a start of what is to come. A designer who can excel at dressing beyond sample size is in-demand and in vogue.

Photos by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

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Top Golden Globes Trends From the Red Carpet

The Golden Globes are the first BIG red carpet awards show for fashionphiles to geek out over. I loved seeing many new faces doing their dress twirl for the first time in a year where they will be doing it again and again.

There were distinct red carpet trends that could play out throughout 2016:

Metallic Mirrored Trophies

If looking like a shiny statuette isn't a hint to the awards voters, I don't know what is. There were several gown on the red carpet that where embroidered with stunning metallic textures. They could be mirrored like Mr. Robot's Portia Doubleday's dress from Naeem Khan or Jane Wu's figure-hugging dress from THEIA. Room's Brie Larson was the golden girl in Calvin Klein. All new faces (to me) on the awards show circuit. 

Starry Night
If you read this blog, you already know of my background and passion for gorgeous embroidery. There were several gowns in dark blue hues that sparkled like the actress was enveloped in stars. Viola Davis took my breath away in her Marchesa gown. Mr. Robot's Carly Chaikin smoldered in designer Juan Carlos Obando's gown. Jenna Dewan-Tatum sashayed in Zuhair Murad. Ana de la Reguera was in Carolina Herrera while Julianne Moore was sexy as hell in sparkling Tom Ford.

Bananas:
At one point, I saw yellow gown after yellow gown. Was this a Tarzan promo? This is an incredibly tough color to wear, what commentators call "risky". Alas, for those who love a good red carpet disasters, they were disappointed. Each woman here looked gorgeous in the banana peel hue. Jennifer Lopez defying science in her Giambattista Valli dress, America Ferrara (not Gina Rodriguez as she corrected) wore Jenny Packham and Lola Kirke wore Monique Lhuillier.

White Nights:

Celebrities used to shy away from wearing white on the red carpet because they feared it would look bridal. In 2016, white hot chic was the way to go. The bright, clean shade is striking in whatever silhouette the dress is cut in. It works in a tailored silhouette like Taraji P. Henson's Stella McCartney gown and Laverne Cox's Elizabeth Kennedy dress. White is equally dramatic in soft, draped looks. Saoirse Ronan wore a Goddess-like Couture gown from Yves Saint-Laurent. Lily James wore a dreamy Marchesa dress that actually had hints of pastel hues in the layers. 

So there you have it. If you have an awards show to attend, you have the top red carpet trends of the Golden Globes. Which one did you like best?

Photos by Jason Meritt/Getty, Jason Strauss/Getty

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Golden Globes Red Carpet - Best Embroidery 2015

Ah, I love the Golden Globes fashion on the red carpet. Celebrities are a little more relaxed (or tipsy) and not as precisely styled as they are at the Academy Awards. As with all major awards shows, I am choosing my favorites of beautiful embroidery.

Lupita Nyong’o has been ruling the red carpet for well over a year now. She is a designer favorite and fan favorite because she can carry off the most daring colors and styles. I loved her purple Giambattista Valli Couture gown here for the fabric appliqued bodice. Using several shades of the violet hue, layers of organza were layered in a highly dimensional embroidery technique. 

Into the Woods’ Anna Kendrick wore a beautiful Monique Lhuillier gown from the upcoming pre-fall 2015 collection. The designer favors delicate embroidery (I have designed some for her myself) Varying the density of the sequins on her dress helps emphasize the handmade nature of the embellishment. It also helps to flatter the lines of the body.

Anna Faris was half of the most adorable couple at the Golden Globes (with hubby Chris Pratt). She looked lovely in a Reem Acra gown. The beading built up texture with irregular lines of sequins and beads then stacked into larger dimensional flowers. This looks great with sleek, body hugging silhouettes that you want to look rich without adding bulk. 

Emma Stone looked stunning in a jeweled bodice and pant combination from Lanvin. This had an old Hollywood glamour to it that few people can pull off. The embroidery looks opulent with mostly crystal Swarovski jewels with pops of ruby and jet colored jewels to add color. The oversized bow on the side lent a dramatic edge. 

Sienna Miller’s Miu Miu dress bore several different embroidery techniques. Her neckline had a beaded edge; the bodice had overlapping sequin blossoms. The skirt portion of the gown had flowers made more traditional thread embroidery.

The Golden Globes Awards celebrate the best in the art of entertainment. It only seems fitting that the red carpet fashion are works of art worn by the people who work hard at it.

Photos by Jason Merritt/Getty, Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

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Best Embroidery on the Golden Globes Red Carpet

The Golden Globes are considered Hollywood's biggest party.  It's no surprise the biggest party frocks are out on display.  As always, in my love for embroidery, here are my picks for best beading and embellishment on the Golden Globes red carpet. 

 I love the dark bordeaux colors of the J. Mendel dress worn by award winner Elizabeth Moss.  Semi-sheer with the beaded, sequined motifs tracing flattering lines on the body.  American Horror Story's Lily Rabe wore a Georges Hobeika gown with a crystal and bead embroidery that shot out like a sunburst neckline.  This looked great and framed her face beautifully.

The platinum queens came in the pair of Mila Kunis in a soft Emilio Pucci gown.  The bodice was layered with silver sequins topped with crystal flowers and beads leading to a neckline embellished with a large dimensional sequin flower.  Kate Beckinsale was stunning in and art deco crystal beaded fishtail gown by Zuhair Murad.

Graphic black and white is one of spring 2014's best trends.  Jenna Dewan Tatum and Zosia Mamet wore it beautifully with romantic embroidered black motifs on white.  Jenna was in a sweeping mermaid gown by Roberto Cavalli.  Girl's Zosia Mamet wore a dress by Reem Acra.
Photos by Getty/Jason Merritt, JustJared

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Golden Globe Embroidery

Last night's Golden Globe fashions were, sigh, gorgeous. No scandalously tacky or inappropriate looks. In my awards show tradition, this is my shoutout to my favorite embellished gowns as a tribute to the art of embroidery...

Alexander McQueen had two dramatic and super flattering black gowns on the red carpet... Kate Hudson was fierce with a gold encrusted collar and waist motifs. Nicole Kidman had dainty jeweled pieces adorning her neckline and very sexy beaded lines down her sheer midriff.

Isla Fisher wore a very pretty Reem Acra gown that would make a great bridal alternative. I missed her hubby Sacha Baron Cohen on the red carpet to give Ryan Seacrest a style 'upgrade' as he did last year... Carlo Gugino wore a very sexy grey beaded gown from Rami Al Ali, a designer I am just being introduced to.

Jennifer Lopez did yet another naked dress, but I grudgingly admit the actual beading on nude tulle Zuhair Murad was beautiful, even if the final result was like an elaborately frosted wedding cake (plus 2 cupcakes).

What were your favorite looks last night?
photos from Getty Images

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Top Trends of the Golden Globes Red Carpet

It was observed by almost every interviewer...Black was the top color of the evening.  The ladies of E! Network were clad in figure-flattering Zac Posen, as was Eva Longoria.  Halle Berry in a short/long number in Nina Ricci.  Piper Perabo wore a glamorous Oscar de la Renta.

The second most popular color was a deep dark green.  Angelina Jolie in wore a glittering Versace gown, Catherine Zeta-Jones was glowing next to healthy hubby Michael Douglas in her Monique Lhuillier gown.  Elizabeth Moss wore a custom-created Donna Karan gown.  Black Swan's Mila Kunis made other ladies green with envy in her Vera Wang.

For those who wanted to highlight their own "Golden Globes", red was the va-va-voom gown of choice.  Christina Hendricks of Mad Men reminded of the definition of 'hourglass' in a Romana Keveza silk crepe dress.  Castmate January Jones had her assets suspended in anti-gravity in a bandage-like Versace gown.  Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang got the most cat calls from the male foreign press...

For the most eccentric (and taking the pressure off all the insecure starlets) red carpet ensemble, the award went to Helena Bonham Carter.  I was ecstatic that someone was secure enough to wear something truly original.  She wore a sculpted Vivienne Westwood gown of multiple colors and black tulle.  She wore a red shoe and a green shoe in a move that laughed in the face of the fashion police.

Images from Getty, WireImage

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