Gina Rodriguez kicked off the Golden Globes red carpet Sunday in a deep blue princess gown from Zac Posen and America Ferrera lit up in a Jenny Packham canary yellow look with jewels cascading down her open back.
Rodriguez brought along her smiling father as she showed off her off-the-shoulder dress paired with Neil Lane diamonds, her hair down and wavy. Bonus: Posen built-in pockets.
Ferrera was a standout on the color front at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, with others choosing deep greens and whites. She carried off a large bow at the back of the halter style with the ends loose and long. Ferrera opted for a ballerina back-do as she clowned and waved for the cameras.
This carpet was "anything goes" for color, but it was Regina King who took fierce to another level in huge, full-on gold sequins with a flowing cape. She was joined on the metallic wow-factor front by Kate Bosworth in sparkly red and silver tones from Dolce & Gabbana.
Brie Larson, an up-and-coming fashionista, killed in a gold sparkler, a custom gown from Calvin Klein Collection by Francisco Costa. It had cutouts at the waist and a sexy rope-style halter. The shade, which sparkled in hand-embroidered crystals, matched her hair color perfectly, which could be why she wore it loose.
"I feel like I'm kind of in a hug," she said of the fit, "like I have Joan of Arc armor on."
Count Laverne Cox among those in white, looking elegant in a custom Elizabeth Kennedy sleeveless-and-backless look with a long train. She wore sexy, soft-pinned curls.
Alicia Vikander, another fresh face on the red carpet rise, rocked custom Louis Vuitton in a delicately embellished apron gown with a hint of ruffle at the neck. It crossed at the back and was pleated throughout.
"You couldn't put that dress on a better person. There were teeny, teeny tiny sequins done in strips that go all the way down the dress. She has captured the fashion industry's attention and represents the future," said Eric Wilson, fashion news director for InStyle magazine. "It's slightly ahead of the curve. It's completely different."
Presenter Jennifer Lopez showed off her bob in a busy, bulky bright mustard yellow from Giambattista Valli, a favorite. It was sharply capped at the shoulders and sported a high side slit and a long wide train. Why? "I just really like it," she explained.
Rooney Mara wore a huge thick braid worthy of "Star Wars" with a blush pink gown that had her looking other-worldly.
Taraji P. Henson went for white — and 107 carats of Kimberly McDonald-designer emeralds in her ears — as she struck a pose or three on the red carpet. She kept it simple and classic this time around.
The best part of Jennifer Lawrence's Dior Haute Couture red column gown with side cutouts was her 156.77-carat diamond necklace in white gold from Chopard. It fit like a collar and brought the dress to life.
"The cutouts made it fun and sassy, but the necklace was the stunning part," said Sarah Tam, senior vice president of merchandising for RentTheRunway.com. "I liked how it draped over the neckline."
Another of the evening's standouts: Jenna Dewan Tatum in a midnight blue ball gown with a plunging neckline and a pattern of embellishment evoking a starry sky. It was Zuhair Murad Couture. Viola Davis also looked starry in a Marchesa tulle ball gown with a plunging illusion neckline and fluttery full sleeves.
Kate Hudson donned slinky Michael Kors Collection custom in a bandeau, belly-baring style in beaded, blush pink crepe.
Among the red carpet winners for Connie Wang, the fashion features director at the lifestyle site Refinery29.com, was Cate Blanchett in an ombre pink mashup from Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci.
"It was bizarre and a little subversive," Wang said.
There was fringe. There were sheer panels and there was a cape effect at the top, a trend for the evening.
"It was like cowgirl rodeo meets Great Gatsby meets My Little Pony," Wang said. "It was wild but she looked like a princess in it."
Tam loved all the cape effects, an especially flattering silhouette for the varied body types that shop Rent the Runway.
"It was a trend for fall that we saw continuing for spring. Capes kind of cover the arms without being overbearing and that detailing gives movement to the backs," she said.
So who wore the cape best? Hands down for Wilson was Jane Fonda in ruffly white.
"It was incredible. It was a full cape shrug combination," he said. "I was fascinated."
Wilson was impressed but the social media crowd had some fun with Fonda's ruffles, comparing them to swirls of frosting worthy of a wedding cake.