2025 Golden Globes red carpet celebrity arrivals and best dressed

Award season is back, and the celebrities are upping the ante with opera gloves, sparkle and golden glamour.

Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Strong and Nicole Kidman at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2025. Picture: Supplied

The 82nd Annual Golden Globes signal the end, finally, of the mince pies, and the beginning of award season.

This year’s red carpet, celebrating the year’s best in TV and film, was pleasingly star-studded with the likes of Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Daniel Craig and Zendaya all up for awards.

Billy Crudup and Naomi Watts attend the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills. Picture: Getty Images

Cynthia Erivo looks Wickedly good. Picture: Getty

Two of the past year’s buzziest films - Wicked and Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, the costumes done by super star fashion designer Jonathan Anderson, received nominations. The stars of said films, Wicked’s Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and Challenger’s Zendaya meanwhile transformed the art of the press tour with ‘method dressing’ fashion choices that nodded to their respective films.

Mikey Madison in Bottega Veneta. Picture: Getty

Ariana Grande in a Givenchy Haute Couture gown. Picture: Getty

In 2025 red carpet dressing means many things, including the idea that it’s perfectly fine to take the theme rather literally.

Golden looks were a clear trend on the night. Best worn – always – by Cate Blanchett, whose gleaming golden dress from Louis Vuitton featured a spiked almost breast platelike detail atop the shoulders. Readying for battle has never looked so glamorous. Ariana Grande was another glimmering highlight, opting for a strapless vintage Givenchy with embellished neckline, so too The Substance’s Demi Moore in sculptural Armani Prive and Anora’s Mikey Madison in mermaid tail-like Bottega Veneta.

Nicole Kidman in a custom Balenciaga gown. Picture: Getty

Eddie Redmayne in a black and white plaid Valentino suit. Picture: Getty

Mindy Kaling was another celebrity to opt for molten glamour, with a strapless embellished gown from Ashi Studio, while Rabanne, known for its chain mail was an obvious choice for a golden night, and worn by actor Rachel Smith. Elle Fanning added some animal instinct with a leopard print detail on her Balmain gown and an incredible Cartier panther choker necklace.

Zendaya meanwhile went for a different kind of golden hour, opting for a custom Louis Vuitton burnt orange strapless gown with a curled bob and serious Bvlgari jewels.

Zendaya wears a custom Louis Vuitton strapless gown. Picture: Getty

Emma Stone debuts her new look on the red carpet. Getty

Sequins, that ever-reliable award season element, were truly in full force, with everybody from Angelina Jolie, who embodies the world’s most glamorous woman, opera singer Maria Callas, in the forthcoming biopic Maria to Cynthia Erivo, in custom Louis Vuitton, opting for sparkles. Nicole Kidman was a knockout in a goddess-like bedazzled custom Balenciaga one-shoulder gown.

Dakota Fanning in a sheer red gown by Dolce & Gabbana. Picture: AFP

Elle Fanning adds some animal instinct with a leopard print detail on her Balmain gown Picture: Getty

The drama of red – something suitable to every age demographic, might we add – was another key trend with Dakota Fanning in a striking pleated number and Isabella Rossellini in red lace and a floaty cape. Amy Adams opted for a deeper burgundy take on the hue with her off-the-shoulder gown. Emma Stone meanwhile, showcased the ultimate ‘new year new me’ move, debuting a fresh pixie cut with her strapless red dress.

Another way to add some drama? Elbow-length cocktail gloves. Kerry Washington was every inch the star in hot pink ruched, draped and tailed Balenciaga with a contrasting black pair. It was a look also seen on comedian Ali Wong, albeit in red.

Kerry Washington in a hot pink ruched, draped and tailed Balenciaga with contrasting black gloves. Picture: AFP

Demi Moore in a custom dress by Armani Privé. Picture: AFP

Meanwhile Janelle James matched hers to her black velvet va-va-voom Christian Siriano gown. Diamond cuffs worn over the gloves is an elegant twist to take note of. Zoe Kravitz was another to choose black velvet, with an elegant sleeveless custom look from Saint Laurent with a white sash. Indeed Kravitz perfectly fit into another mode of the night, monochrome looks, with the likes of Keri Russell, in a chic belted-in white coat dress with cape and plenty of moody black looks.

Zoe Kravitz in a custom look from Saint Laurent. Picture: Getty

Keri Russell in a chic belted-in white coat dress with cape. Picture: Getty

When it comes to the men, it was nice to see a little bit of flair amid the usual perfectly fine black tuxedos. How so? In The Bear’s Matty Matheson’s choice of a natty white suit and bolo tie, The Jackal’s Eddie Redmayne in jaunty checks and Andrew Scott’s baby blue everything Vivienne Westwood ensemble.

Andrew Scott’s baby blue everything Vivienne Westwood ensemble. Picture: Getty

Jeremy Strong wears a matching sage green bucket hat and suit from Loro Piana. Picture: Getty

Look, yes, it was a bold choice for Jeremy Strong to wear a matching sage green bucket hat with his suit, but at least it showed some courage. A note on suits however, The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri continues to showcase her unparalleled personal style, channelling Julia Roberts now iconic Golden Globes grey suit moment of 1990 in custom Loewe.