Since it combines the star power of both movies and TV, the Golden Globes are one of the best red carpet opps of the year (partially because the stars use the awards ceremony as a chance to let loose a little before the main stage at the Oscars). After a complete halt during the pandemic and a meek and mellow restart afterward, 2024 marks the return of high-octane red carpet glamour (The 2023 Gotham Awards certainly served as a foretelling omen of the good that's to come). So, before things kick off, let's get a quick refresher on the Globes' biggest red carpet highlights to date.
Ahead, the best Golden Globes dress ever, from Charlize Theron in blush Dior Couture high-low number to Marilyn Monroe circa 1962 in a sequined Norman Norell gown.
Who: Elizabeth Taylor
What: A floral ball gown
When: 19257
Why: She accessorized her sweeping flower motif gown with a tiara—a tiara—and the most beautiful set of earrings I've ever seen.
Who: Marilyn Monroe
What: Norman Norell
When: 1962
Why: Marilyn showcased her bonafide bombshell style in this stunning sequined gown done in emerald green.
Who: Andie MacDowell
What: A silver scoop-back mini dress
When: 1991
Why: Andie MacDowell was a striking high-shine vision in a silver embellished mini dress that featured an ultra-sultry, plunging back.
Who: Julia Roberts
What: A pin-striped blazer dress
When: 1991
Why: Julia Roberts took home the globe for her role in Pretty Woman at the 1991 cermonies—while wearing a corporate-approved, pin-striped blazer dress no less!
Who: Kate Moss
What: A high-neck sequin dress
When: 1995
Why: Moss' high-neck, full-coverage gown can be considered as the anthithesis to her iconic sheer slip dress, which really helped put 'naked' dresses on the map.
Who: Jennifer Lopez
What: A color-blocked cutout gown
When: 1998
Why: Jennifer Lopez has a style file filled with historic red carpet moments as thick as can be. This colorful gown she wore to the '98 ceremony, where she was up for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) for her role in Selena, deserves to be at the top of her list.
Who: Kate Hudson
What: Vera Wang
When: 2001
Why: Consider that Kate Hudson was only 21 years old when she nabbed the Best Actress Award for her role as the iconic Penny Lane in Almost Famous. And showing up in this slinky Vera Wang boudoir slip dress, to boot? It's checking off all our comfort and style goals in one look.
Who: Salma Hayek
What: Narciso Rodriguez
When: 2003
Why: This is why more people should wear Narciso. While he can't turn you into Salma Hayek, he's going to make you look as Salma Hayek-y as possible.
Who: Sarah Jessica Parker
What: Chanel
When: 2004
Why: Carrie Bradshaw—I mean, Sarah Jessica Parker—looked like a regal ballerina in this miniature ball gown in sequined gray lace.
Who: Jennifer Aniston
What: Valentino
When: 2004
Why: The plunging-V done right makes this a black-but-not-boring "all eyes on me" look. It's just one of many Valentino knockouts at the Golden Globes red carpet.
Who: Cate Blanchett
What: Donna Karan
When: 2004
Why: If Cate Blanchett were a fruit, she would be a raspberry right before the Jolly Green Giant people come to pick her at the peak of freshness. That is to say, everything about the actress' look is luscious.
Who: Jennifer Garner
What: Valentino
When: 2005
Why: Jennifer Garner knows she looks good, which makes her feel good, which subsequently makes her look even better.
Who: Cate Blanchett
What: Jean Paul Gaultier
When: 2005
Why: Cate Blanchett is powdery but steely like the movie stars of days past. And she does modern Old Hollywood better than anyone.
Who: Keira Knightley
What: Valentino
When: 2006
Why: Clean, tassel-y, Valentino—what's not to love?
Who: Scarlett Johansson
What: Valentino
When: 2006
Why: This is the archetypical Scarlett Johansson va-va-voom look.
Who: Reese Witherspoon
What: Nina Ricci
When: 2007
Why: Here, Witherspoon demonstrates the impact of the revenge red-carpet appearance™. What better way to get back at an ex than having Olivier Theyskens make you a dress the world ooooh-ed over? Nothing, really.
Who: Sienna Miller
What: Marchesa
When: 2007
Why: Witness the simultaneous births of Marchesa as a red-carpet staple and the milkmaid braid.
Who: Cameron Diaz
What: Chanel
When: 2009
Why: Has there ever been anything like this candy pink satin gown whose draping is utter perfection?
Who: Anne Hathaway
What: Armani Privé
When: 2011
Why: Les Mis was yet to come, but her styling here was already befitting that of an Oscar winner. It's also sparkly and backless.
Who: Angelina Jolie
What: Atelier Versace
When: 2011
Why: It's the, like, one time she's worn color.
Who: January Jones
What: Versace
When: 2011
Why: A smoking, rifle-toting Betty Draper or January Jones in a plunging cherry red gown? Pretty iconic either way.
Who: Tilda Swinton
What: Jil Sander
When: 2011
Why: You don't necessarily go to Tilda for everyday, throwaway fashion. You go to Tilda for her unique POV and her ability to wear flowy, shiny clothes.
Who: Charlize Theron
What: Dior Couture
When: 2012
Why: Queen. (She's got the diamond and platinum Cartier headband to prove it.)
Who: Natalie Portman
What: Lanvin
When: 2012
Why: Natalie + Alber forever. Natalie + pink forever.
Who: Thandie Newton
What: Giles
When: 2013
Why: Here, Thandie Newton rebukes the concept that short dresses equals casual.
Who: Lucy Liu
What: Carolina Herrera
When: 2013
Why: My one request from this world: Please bury me in this garden gown.
Who: Emma Watson
What: Dior
When: 2014
Why: At first, you wonder, "What are you hiding under there, Hermione?"
"Ah. Gotcha."
Who: Lupita Nyong'o
What: Ralph Lauren
When: 2014
Why: Do you remember where you were when Lupita wore this cape gown? I do. (On the couch.)
Who: Emma Stone
What: Lanvin
When: 2015
Why: Any woman who defies the convention of skirts on the red carpet should be commended, especially when her pants also feature a swishy tail.
Who: Julianne Moore
What: Givenchy
When: 2015
Why: She somehow manages to make tinsel-y disco ball ombre look utterly chic.
Who: JLo
What: Giambattista Valli
When: 2016
Why: In which JLo wasn't even up for any noms and slayed in a high-slit canary yellow cape dress.
Who: Zendaya
What: Marchesa
When: 2016
Why: Tiered dresses can be hit-or-miss but Zendaya takes the cake (literally) with a subtle deep red take on the look.
Who: Rooney Mara
What: Alexander McQueen
When: 2016
Why: Even when she's completely toned down in a flesh-colored Alexander McQueen, Rooney Mara kills it with the details, from the tiny top knot to the deep red lip.
Who: Natalie Portman
What: Prada
When: 2017
Why: This lemon meringue color has been *big* at the Golden Globes (calling JLo and Reese), but in 2017 Portman went all-classic in a year where side-boob and low backs were the move. The long-sleeved floor-length gown was very much the picture of Jackie O.'s sophisticated style, whose role she's nominated for this year.
Who: Ruth Negga
What: Custom Louis Vuitton
When: 2017
Why: Loving's Ruth Negga looks like she's wearing liquid metallics, a brave move that pays off.
Who: Lily Collins
What: Zuhair Murad
When: 2017
Why: No one did the princess dress better than Lily Collins last year, in a dreamy pink confection of filmy lace.
Who: Tracee Ellis Ross
What: Marc Jacobs
When: 2018
Why: Leave it to Tracee, the daughter of the one and only Diana Ross and forever the adventurous dresser, to hit the red carpet in a statement look.
Who: Zoë Kravitz
What: Saint Laurent
When: 2018
Why: A bonafide, through-and-through minimalist, Zoë Kravitz's black strapless column gown exemplifies a 'less is more' philosophy.
Who: Lady Gaga
What: Valentino Couture
When: 2019
Why: Because she's Lady Gaga! And because she's wearing a baby blue custom Valentino Couture gown with a mile-long train and ultra-puffy sleeves.
Who: Regina King
What: Custom Alberta Ferretti
When: 2019
Why: Regina King, who won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in If Beale Street Could Talk, resembled a rose gold disco ball.
Who: Cynthia Erivo
What: Custom Thom Browne
When: 2020
Why: Righhhhht before the world shut down, Cynthia Erivo wowed on the red carpet in this custom-made, sequined gown that played on the concept of tailored separates.
Who: Michelle Yeoh
What: Armani Privé
When: 2023
Why: Before going on to win for her sensational work in Everything Everywhere All at Once, acting legend Michelle Yeoh walked the red carpet in a shimmering midnight blue Armani Privé gown with statement peplum detailing.
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