The Golden Globes (and not just the ones Mariah Carey was showing off)

I really love looking at the fashion commentary during awards season. The awards shows are generally big fat jokes, but ah . . . the fashion is always a high risk game. What’s the big color trend? Ruffles, yes or no? Glossy lip, red lip or no lip? Is Sharon Stone back on her meds (Love her, but I swear you can tell whether you should by Glaxo stock based on how kuku her outfits get – she’s wearing dominatrix boots and a Bo Peep outfit – get the hypodermic)? And honestly, there are only 2 reasons why you should be commenting in print or on TV about the red carpet: either you know your rags or your able to make with the zingers. Both are fun. Luckily, there’s no such requirement for chatting on your blog about this stuff. So whatever. I say what I want!

One thing I’ve really noticed is that fashion seems to be going through a little bit of an upheaval. For a several years, most people were singing the same song. This dress is a delight, that one’s a fright. If Cameron Diaz made a sartorial whoopsie, everyone was calling out who dealt it with one voice. The past several awards shows, it’s like nobody knows what’s good any more. The dress loved by one critic is loathed by another, and meh’ed by a third. The purple frock that Sandy Bullock wore to the Globes has been listed as a best and a worst in several places. Personally, I loved it. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t resist. It looks like something out of my nieces’ dress up box. And dress up boxes make me smile. No apologies.

And another thing I noticed, you know who had the best accessories of the night? That gal from Precious. Glowing skin and a glowing smile. And she didn’t have to borrow them from Henri Bendel. She’s about as far as possible from Hollywood’s fake-ass standards of beauty, but a big smile that shows that you’re having a kick is nice to see for once among all the too-cool-for-school grimaces. Think how much prettier Angelina Jolie would be if she cracked a smile on that sourpuss she’s been wearing for years. Yes, honey, we know that the world is a grim place these days. But you’re doing something about it. You can take a break. Lighten up. Even Mother Theresa smiled every once in awhile. Take a lesson, St. Angie. And that Chloe Sevigny? She was nominated and won. Why so pissy?

And lastly, speaking of her, could we just call a moratorium on the slouching? Why would you put on a dress worth several thousand dollars, then stand there shlumped over like the first girl in the fifth grade to get boobs? It looks ridiculous. No dress looks nicer when you look like you have a severe case of osteoporosis. Nobody wants to worry if you’re going to break a hip on the red carpet.