“And the award goes to…”: Award Season 2025
By Jane Gleeson, Fashion Editor
The beginning of any new year is always marked with reflection upon the past year, which is what makes the timing of award season so perfect. What better way to commemorate the best of film, TV, and music than rounding up every A-list and B-list celebrity, while we watch from the comfort of our couches in admiration. It wouldn’t be a real Hollywood gathering without a showcase of iconic gowns, suits, and surprises. So, what does one wear when going to an event where everyone in your industry is in attendance? If you thought choosing a dress for your college ball was hard, think again. These celebrities work closely with their stylists to curate an ensemble outfit worthy of walking on any colour carpet. The pressure of serving up a look that will impress attendees and the audience at home, all the while looking impressive to the paparazzi from every angle, is no mean feat - and that’s without even mentioning the dreaded glambot. The stars that pull all of this off are worthy of recognition, which is why I want to delve into some of my favourite looks from the 2025 Golden Globes and give some future predictions for what we should expect to see for the rest of this year’s award season.
Wearing & Winning Gold
Signature metallic hues were one of the most prominent trends to grace the carpet of the Golden Globes, with a particular influx of gold this year. This method of manifestation has become popular in recent years and the trick seemed to work wonders for Demi Moore, who secured the award for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy for her stellar role in The Substance. The actress’ recognition has been a long time coming in her career and she accepted the prestigious award in a floor length gold gown by Giorgio Armani Privé, looking quite like the very award she was holding. Other celebrities also chose to bring the Golden Globes to life, such as Cate Blanchett and Mindi Kaling who both shone like statues worthy of a place on the shelf of their accomplishments. The act of dressing as an award in human form is a subtle nod to method dressing where nominees dress as if they have already won their category, so it might be fair to say that winners really do wear gold.
Old Hollywood Glamour
Many actors chose to pay tribute to the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood through their hairstyles, gowns, and accessories. Celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Margaret Qualley, and Elle Fanning were influenced by iconic looks of the past and paid homage to these designs with their timeless beaded gowns. Selena Gomez took inspiration from Jackie Kennedy’s classic bob as her swooping hairstyle married perfectly with the elegance of her custom Prada gown, giving her a true Cinderella moment. These vintage inspired looks caught the attention of the masses, but particular attention was placed on the hand of a certain star. Zendaya adorned a burnt orange Louis Vuitton gown paired with a classic curly bob. The look took inspiration from the style of performer and civil rights activist Joyce Bryant, which was an elegant nod to the pioneers of the Black entertainment industry. While she rarely misses an opportunity to shine on the carpet, the press were paying more attention to her jewellery than what she was wearing. The talking point of her outfit was solely focused on the rock placed intentionally on her left ring finger. The Challengers actress is an ambassador for Bulgari jewellery yet when a list of her accessories was revealed in a press release, there was no mention of the eye-catching ring. While speculations still remain on the potential engagement to Spider-Man co-star, Tom Holland, the piece complimented her Hollywood glamour perfectly and added to the extravagance of award season.
Is full glam a thing of the past?
A certain Hollywood icon has taken a step back from extravagance in recent years and the world is applauding her for it. Pamala Anderson is most well known for her role in Baywatch and she often says that her career has been based on her sex appeal. In a turn of events going against the grain of her career, she has made the executive decision to pare back the glam of her past and embrace her natural beauty. The star was nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Motion Picture for her performance in The Last Showgirl, her first Golden Globe nomination. Anderson revealed that she styled herself for the occasion and landed on an all-black Oscar de la Renta gown, emphasising understated elegance. She has famously ditched makeup in the past couple of years in order to challenge unrealistic beauty expectations for women and has become a role model for women all over the world to embrace your natural beauty. She has transitioned from full glam to timeless beauty over the past five years in an effort to feel her best and let her personality shine through her clothes.
What did the men wear?
The men that walk the carpet are often judged less harshly than their female co-stars, as they get acknowledged for wearing anything other than the classic black tuxedo. However, men’s red carpet fashion has improved in recent years and credit should be given to those who dare to challenge the norms on these occasions. Andrew Garfield, Adam Brody, and Jeremy Strong all chose a green hue for the event and all pulled it off along with varying degrees of embellishment. Chris Perfetti stood out to me amongst all the men in attendance, which isn’t surprising, as sequins will always catch my attention. Perfetti arrived in a glitzy Tanner Fletcher blazer fit for the occasion. Tyler James Williams opted for a simple outfit, showed us that the cut of the suit is as important as the suit itself. His Dolce & Gabbana number fit him like a glove and was beautifully complimented by simple jewellery and a classic loafer. His ensemble showcased that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel in order to rock the red carpet.
Looking forward to the rest of the 2025 award season, I ask myself several questions about the fashion statements to be made on these carpets: will more celebrities use these events to make personal or political statements? Will more men step forward as fashion trailblazers in the industry? Will these A-listers take inspiration from Anderson and begin to treat these carpets as a more pared back affair? Only time will tell what trends will be displayed as we continue to wait with bated breath on the statement that excites even the biggest Hollywood stars: and the award goes to…
