When it was announced that this year’s Golden Globes affair would be conducted virtually over Zoom, with celebs choosing to accept their awards at home, two things came to mind: tuxedoes over boxers, and why Zoom?
If there’s one thing we have learnt over a year of video-conferencing and organising webinars of our own, it is to never host an international award ceremony on Zoom. It simply doesn’t have the technical capabilities to support hybrid events — online affairs that blend the physical with the virtual. What you’ll end up with is plenty of audio lag, frozen screens, fuzzy video, inconsistent lighting … it goes on.
Nevertheless, the 78th Golden Globe Awards took place in two different locations, coast to coast. The event was hosted split-screen by Tina Fey in New York, live from the Rainbow’s Room, and Amy Poehler in Los Angeles, live from the Beverly Hilton, with a select group of guest presenters on scene with them. Nominees attended remotely from various locations around the world. And those physically seated in the audience were made up of well-heeled frontliners (a nice gesture), all masked up of course.
Why NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association never considered using a more sophisticated livestream platform (eg. Demio, Hopin, ON24), we will never understand. But it’s only through this costly experiment that others will be able to take notes and produce better quality shows to suit our new way of life. Oscars, we are expecting great things from you!
To be honest, we had absolutely zero expectation when it came to the style offerings of the 2021 Golden Globes, since most of the stars were on their laptops in their home offices or living rooms. To our surprise, we were treated to a showcase of glam gowns and snazzy suits befitting of a Hollywood red carpet affair.
Of course, as with any Zoom event, there are bound to be rebellious exceptions such as Jodie Foster’s choice to don silk pyjamas by Prada, and Jason Sudeikis who appeared on-screen ungroomed in what looked like hoodie pyjamas. Probably a deliberate attempt to lighten the angsty mood of some not-so tech savvy attendees, namely one Daniel Kaluuya, who wasn’t able to give his acceptance speech as his audio was off.
There were also some other questionable fashion choices such as Michelle Pfeiffer’s pairing of a glitzy Valentino sequinned top with casual khaki trousers — likely due to the fact that no one really looks below the waist in a Zoom call.
Despite being a low-key affair with only a 6.9 million viewership on NBC (compared to 2020’s 18.3 million), we are happy to report that no yoga pants or boxer shots were spotted, just plenty of glammed up celebrities drizzling in diamonds sitting pretty on their couches.
Here were some of the more memorable looks of the night.
Anya Taylor-Joy
The lead actress of The Queen’s Gambit wore two Dior numbers at the Globes, one of which is this emerald green retroinfused couture gown. She dazzled in over $1 million worth of Tiffany & Co. jewels, including a pair of 18-carat diamond earrings, and platinum diamond pendant and ring
Photo: Instagram/@anyataylorjoy
Viola Davis
A definite style winner, Davis takes a leaf from the vibrant hues of African fashion in this multi-coloured gown by Cameroon-born LA-based designer, Claude Kameni
Photo: Instagram/@violadavis
Josh O’Connor
The actor takes a dig at his princely role as Prince Charles in The Crown with this royal-inspired suit by Loewe, sporting a two-button jacket with wide lapels, baggy trousers and a silky cravat
Photo: Instagram/@loewe
Amanda Seyfried
Fun fact: This gorgeous custom silk sorbet gown by Prada, embroidered with taffeta pressed flowers, almost didn’t make it to the actress’ home in Georgia, as it got lost for 36 hours in transit
Photo: Instagram/@prada
Cynthia Erivo
Singer Cynthia Erivo makes lime green look actually wearable in this head-turning structured mesh dress from Valentino’s Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2021 collection
Photo: Instagram/@jasonbolden
Andra Day
The svelte songstress who won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in The United States vs Billie Holiday wore a long grey silk tulle dress with a fully embroidered, sequin macramé bodice from Chanel’s Spring-Summer 2021 Haute Couture collection
Photo: Chanel
Lily Collins
The star of Emily in Paris wore an 80s-inspired one-shoulder dress by Saint Laurent paired with ornate adornments by Cartier High Jewellery — yellow gold diamond earrings with brown and orange diamonds and rose gold diamond bracelet with coral, onyx and black lacquer — as well as Cartier [Sur]naturel rose gold diamond ring with grey mother-of-pearl and coral
Photo: Instagram/@lilyjcollins
Kristen Wiig
The comedienne showed plenty of skin in a mint green mini dress by Prada so that she could flash more than 76 carats of Harry Winston diamonds – she is wearing Fancy Shape platinum diamond necklace; Diamond Straight Line platinum bracelet; Art Deco platinum diamond bracelet; Winston Cluster platinum diamond bracelet; and Pirouette platinum diamond ring
Photo: Instagram/@karawelchstylist
Dan Levy
The Canadian actor of Schitt’s Creek fame rocked a yellow suit from Valentino Haute Couture Code Temporal Spring Summer 2021 collection, paired with a Santos de Cartier steel watch; Cartier Juste un Clou white gold ring and Cartier Love white gold ring
Photo: Instagram/@lewismarrett
