Black, white and red all over: The Golden Globes red carpet top trends

Beneath the wool pile surface, this year’s Golden Globes red carpet was about more than letting Margot Robbie loose in her Barbie dress-up box.

It was the first opportunity since the Hollywood actors’ strike ended in November for many stars to fulfil lucrative fashion deals.

Margot Robbie and Rosamund Pike on the Golden Globes red carpet.Credit: Getty

Ambassadors for luxury labels Dior (Elizabeth Debicki), Valentino (Florence Pugh) and Louis Vuitton (Emma Stone), answered the call of dress duty, drawing nods rather than gasps of admiration.

A spirit of fun was replaced by polished professionalism, aside from Robbie in a strobing pink tribute from Giorgio Armani to the 1977 Super Star Barbie and Saltburn star Rosamund Pike camping up a classic Christian Dior dress with a dramatic veil that could strain bathwater. (Princess Beatrice finally has a rival in the interesting hat stakes for the Philip Treacy headpiece she wore to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 2011 wedding.)

A penguin-like procession of black and white outfits challenged viewers to reach for their remote control and adjust the colour setting, until a gentle flow of blood-red gowns trickled down the carpet.

Few outfits quickened the pulse beyond pleasing impressions of chic, but key trends emerged that offered hope for those eager to add more drama to their wardrobes.

1. Greater Gatsby

Fashion’s fixation with styles from the ’80s and ‘90s might be over, as silhouettes from the ‘20s and ’30s turned the red carpet into a history lesson.

Julia Garner, Greta Lee, Chris Perfetti and Tyler James Williams on the Golden Globes red carpet, 2024.Credit: Getty

In a silver sequinned Gucci dress with wide straps standing in for a bodice, Inventing Anna and Ozark actor Julia Garner was the epitome of a Prohibition-era party girl. Abbott Elementary actors Chris Perfetti and Tyler James Williams joined the quick step back in time wearing pin-stripe Dolce & Gabbana suits with significantly padded shoulders.

In a pale banana yellow Loewe gown with a dramatically gathered back, Past Lives star Greta Lee joined the 1930s spirit, although her refined styling suggested champagne rather than bathtub gin.

2. Black in, not out

Black dresses blotted the red carpet, with stars turning to details rather than colour for drama.

Sarah Snook, Allison Williams, Dua Lipa and Jennifer Aniston on the Golden Globes red carpet, 2024.Credit: Getty, AP

Award-winner and Succession star Sarah Snook was a textbook example with a semi-sheer top and full tulle skirt enlivening her black lace Prabal Gurung gown.

Allison Williams, from Girls and Fellow Travellers, chose all the added extras with sequins, tulle and voluminous peplums pushing her strapless black Giambattista Valli haute couture gown beyond basic.

Pop star Dua Lipa’s fit and flare Schiaparelli gown relied on gold embellishments but red carpet veteran Jennifer Aniston understood the power of restraint in a simple, strapless Dolce & Gabbana dress with a subtly beaded skirt.

3. The white stuff

Ignoring shades of grey, the black-adverse turned to crisp white to make a statement at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Award-winner Ali Wong offered wedding inspiration in a Christian Dior column dress, with a single braided strap dangling without purpose, like a surplus bridesmaid.

The Diplomat actor Keri Russell was also aisle-ready in a fringed, fitted dress from Jil Sander’s co creative directors Luke and Lucie Meier.

Ali Wong, Keri Russell, Andrew Scott and Jonathan Bailey on the Golden Globes red carpet.Credit: Getty

Potential pale grooms offered an opportunity for marriage equality with Andrew Scott and Jonathan Bailey in top-to-trouser hem white suits.

4. Better red

Margot Robbie aside, the pink trend has deepened into a more mature red for many Golden Globe guests this year.

Florence Pugh, Selena Gomez, Julianne Moore and Barry Keoghan on the red carpet at the Golden Globes.Credit: Getty

Oppenheimer actor Florence Pugh led the colour evolution in a custom spaghetti strap gown from Valentino with floral appliques.

Singer and Only Murders In The Building actor Selena Gomez could be issued with a red alert following her unusual dress from Armani Privé with a criss-crossing bodice and heavy black rosettes. The asymmetric skirt hemline hopefully won’t start a side-on mullet dress trend.

May December nominee Julianne Moore stuck to a classic silhouette from Bottega Veneta for her strapless red gown, with pockets in the full skirt, handy for holding acceptance speech notes.

And Saltburn star Barry Keoghan covered up after his notorious nude dance scene at the end of the movie, in a red suit from Louis Vuitton in clashing shades.

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