Last night’s red carpet fashion at the Golden Globes was as entertaining as ever. Nude, peach, pink, red and black with a smattering of ink blue and emerald green were all the rage. Here are my favourite and least favourite looks of the night. This is extremely subjective of course, but that’s what makes it so interesting!

Favourite:

1. January Jones: I don’t usually like dresses that reveal too much skin, nor am I enamoured by frocks that are remotely Grecian. But this dress defies it all and January’s hair is a killer accessory. I absolutely loved this Versace gown and the colour sends me into orbit. My best for the night. A word of warning: this gown looks MUCH better in motion than it does in the posed photograph.
2. Heidi Klum: I adore the pattern of the dress and the 70’s vibe is fun.
3. Eva Longoria Parker: This was a lot of dress for petite Eva, but the tailoring and drape was just so that it looked in proportion. I am all over the waist adornment.
4. Catherine Zeta Jones: Catherine is classically beautiful and the emerald green colour of the gown glowed against her skin. She is a regal sight to behold.
5. Helen Mirren: This exceptional lady can do no wrong in my world. Helen manages to strike the perfect balance of looking both covered and alluring. She dazzles no matter what.

Helena Bonham Carter was quite the talk of the evening, sporting a tea length Vivienne Westwood dress with two different coloured shoes, one red and one green. Annette Bening bravely rocked a pair of black geek chic specs with a long black frock and totally pulled it off, as did avant-garde Tilda Swinton in her ghostly Golden Globes ensemble. Gutsy ladies!

I was lukewarm about the ensembles from Nathalie Portman, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, and Olivia Wilde. Didn’t love them or loathe them.

Least Favourite:

1. Scarlet Johansson: Scarlet is a stunning woman, but the overly glitzy nude gown did little to showcase her beauty.
2. Sandra Bullock: I couldn’t see past her fringe to look at the dress. What a  shame.
3. Jennifer Love Hewitt: Too poufy and too white.
4. Halle Berry: This frock is too short in the front.
5. Angelina Jolie: Although I really like the colour of this dress, broad shouldered and slim hipped Angelina looks like she’s going to topple over in the sharp shouldered silhouette.

Take a look at what the stars wore to the Golden Globes and let us know who you thought was a fashion hit and miss for the evening.

Seventies inspired blouses have started to hit stores and although it’s far too cold for me to wear them right now, I can’t wait to sport some of those “new” shapes. Since we’ve been starved of fabulous blouses for a while, I’ll be making up for lost time while it’s a blouse season.

Obviously, what makes a blouse 70’s inspired is the design detailing. Here are some of the looks that we can look forward to this year.

1. Elastic Waistband and Batwing: Don’t have a allergic reaction to this silhouette. Try one on with a pencil skirt, slim cut trousers, boot cuts or flares first before you say no thank you. It’s a very comfortable and breezy style for hot days, and great at camouflaging mid section extra bits.
2. Smocking and Embroidery: I wore so much smocking and embroidery as a child in the 70’s it was ridiculous. Off the shoulder smocked blouses are very 70’s, as are smocked and embroidered panels down the centre front.
3. Peasant:  Billowing sheer blouses with dainty pintucks, gathered sleeves and shoe-string neck ties might ring a bell.
4. Ruffled Empire Cuts: This mixes up peasant looks with bohemian flair. I’m still friends with ruffles but not at all thick with the bohemian vibe. Yet I’m in love with this blouse. Not my fashion persona at all, so I must be mesmerized by the colour.
5. Stripes: Jailbird stripes in soft sheer fabrications are so pretty.
6. Lace Insets: This detailing is kind of vintage looking too, especially in white and cream.
7. Halter Neck: We see this silhouette every season and it’s particularly pretty on those with dainty shoulders and a small bust line.
8. Pussy Bow Blouse: We talked about this style recently so remember that the neck tie needn’t sit high on the neck. V-neck pussy bow blouses do exist.
9. Bell Sleeves: This type of sleeve flares out like a bell at the hem. Sometimes a bell sleeve flares out and is hemmed just like what you see in the photo. But bell sleeves can also be gathered back in on the wrist for a “poufed” effect.

The examples below are just one visual for each of the looks I’ve described. We’ll see many, many interpretations of 70’s design detailing as the season unfolds. I have a hunch that there is a lot to look forward to. Also, armed with a discerning eye you’ll probably be able to thrift quite a few of these 70’s looks.

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Today’s post is written by the incomparable Brenda Kinsel, an award winning Image Consultant and successful author. I had the pleasure of speaking to Brenda last month and it was delightful! She is charming, wise, very friendly and fun to talk to. We both agreed that anyone can buy fashion, but style you have to own. It’s not just about the individual items in an outfit, but HOW you put them together in your own special way that makes the difference.

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I recently walked into a store that just opened on the Square in my hometown. The woman behind the counter was dressed in such an inspiring way, I tried my best not to stare at her. I pretended to check out the merchandise but what I was really checking out was her whole look.

What was so compelling about her? Everything she had on flattered her natural coloring. She looked like the fairy tale character of Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – only this Snow White was all grownup and in her 50s. She had shiny, nearly black hair pulled back smoothly into a low ponytail. She’d added black hairclips in the front which created more texture and interest to this great feature of hers. Her lips were a shade of scarlet red. Her pale skin had a hint of blush at her cheekbones – or was it from the cold winter air?

There was plenty to enjoy about her clothes. She wore a gathered black skirt that came just below her knees. The fabric had a luxurious sheen to it. She wore patterned hosiery with chunky heeled oxfords that had ribbon laces. She wore a white blouse with tucks. The high contrast of her clothing colors mirrored that of her porcelain skin and dark hair and eyes. She didn’t look trendy. She looked like she clearly enjoyed fashion and dressing to express herself. I lingered as long as I could and then vowed to come back soon for my next hit of fashion inspiration!

I know we’ve all had the opposite experience where instead of being drawn in to enjoy someone’s style, we felt compelled to look away. We’ve been around someone whose clothes created a dissonance with their god-given gifts of color, texture and design that comes from the color, texture and pattern of their skin, hair, eyes, and lips. When that happens, it’s as if that dissonance pushes us backward out the door we came in. Nothing about that person’s presence makes us want to be around her or linger.

I didn’t want to wear the pieces this sales associate was wearing and I certainly don’t have her coloring so what she was wearing wouldn’t have looked the same on me. Her selections were just right for her. But I was inspired to make my expression of style more pleasing to myself and more intentional. I know that when I wear my sparkly silver earrings that have a soft organic shape and I add my unusual knotted necklace that seems to have glistening nuggets captured in the center of it, and I add my thin metal bracelets that make a lovely sound when they make contact with each other, I feel alive and present. This jewelry “beauty bundle” added to even just skinny jeans, a cashmere sweater and boots makes me feel happy. My jewelry glistens and my spirit does too. I feel open to the gift of life. Isn’t it remarkable how just getting dressed – with intention – can be so pleasing to ourselves and others? Isn’t it a gift you want to give yourself every day?

I feel so grateful to everyone who pays attention to what pleases them and has the courage to share those pleasures in public places. This year I vow to do a better job of saying those few words that sound so good: “Gosh, you look great!”

Never give up on yourself! You can look great at any age when you focus on style. Visit my website www.brendakinsel.com and receive your free e-Book, Brenda’s Fashion Essentials: Look Fantastic in Your 40s, 50s and Beyond.

The Dansko Veda combines traditional preppy sneaker styling with its signature clog platform. So this shoe feels like the Dansko Professional (ample arch support, a cushioning footbed, a non-slip grip and very roomy toe box) but looks more like a Converse All Star sneaker.

Quite a few of my Dansko-loving clients have fallen hard for this shoe because it’s sporty, extremely comfortable and a fresh look for Spring.

I vote yay and nay. Nay for me because Danskos do not work for my feet and the style is too chunky for my tastes. I prefer to wear streamlined Chuck Taylors with the addition of a soft insole. But I do vote yay for my clients because their feet are happy and underneath wider boot cuts and flared jeans, the Dansko Veda looks quite sweet.

These pictures link to Zappos.com, but the reviews on Nordstrom’s site are also worth a look.

Note that this post contains affiliate links.