So, if you know me and how I am with the red carpet, I’m always demanding to be entertained with something unexpected, probably unfairly so.  I’m tired of column dresses, I’m tired of solids, I’m tired of black or neutral or white or red (done plainly, I should say), and I’m tired of a lack of risk-taking in the gowns chosen by celebrities for events like the Golden Globes.  I want more drama, I want more volume, and I want more I’m not sure if that’s ugly or amazing.  In short, I kind of want more fashion and less good-looking.

So, the gowns I tend to freak out over are typically not the safest ones.  Granted, they may not always be the most flattering ones, but they’re at least fun to look at.  Like I’ve said before- If you’ve got the world of fashion at your fingertips, why not take advantage of that and go for something a bit weird that perhaps you wouldn’t have access to otherwise?  But hey, I get it.  People want to look good.  It’s when people play it safe at the Met Ball, now that’s when I get really perturbed.  Ya’ll got no excuses at the Met Ball.

Anyhow, I digress.  On to the favorites.

Best Use Of Color – Jaimie Alexander in Genny

I have only seen Jaimie Alexander in Thor: The Dark World as Lady Sif (and future Valkyrie, apparently?), but she is one of those people that is scary beautiful.  The dark hair and hazel-green eyes amount to a terrifying kind of beauty that is very intimidating to me.  However, maybe it’s the stunning shade of emerald that’s making things extra striking today.  I love the metallic texture and the geometric pattern, as well.  It’s all very Metropolis-meets-Picasso-meets-Oz.  Fabulous.

Best Use Of Texture And Construction – Zendaya in Marchesa

I never understand why dresses like this get canned the way they do.  I love this dress.  I just want to twirl in it.  I love the floral pattern and the dramatic three-tiered silhouette.  I love the texture and construction and ambition behind it.  I also love that somehow, even with the plunging neckline (which was super popular this year, by the way), the dress still looks very young on Zendaya, who is still basically a child at 19.  The color is also enchanting; it reminds me of wine and Eastern Europe and opera.  Mmmm.

Best Dress That Transports Me To Another Era – Cate Blanchett in Givenchy

I can’t decide if this amazing dress belongs in the 1900’s, the twenties, or the thirties, but either way, it is heaven.  The color is so lovely (and definitely one of Pantone’s colors of the year, rose quartz), and anything that scratches my nostalgia itch just sends me.  I mean, this has such a deco feel to it with the fringe and the silhouette that just sort of hangs on her, and not to mention the deco design of the bodice.  Delicious.  Put me in this dress, fix me a sidecar, play some Gershwin, and watch me die of happiness.

I always love that Cate really goes for fashion on the red carpet.  She’s never too interested in what’s flattering or what’s sexy- it’s always about fashion, and that makes me always look forward to seeing her.  That and Givenchy is probably my favorite house of fashion for the red carpet.

Best Overall Because It’s Hard To Make This Person Look Bad – Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Versace

You know, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is not ugly.  She’s just not.  Therefore, it’s kind of difficult to make her look that bad.  But you know, when the whole package comes together with the hair, and the makeup, and the skin (I mean, have you ever seen such healthy-looking skin?), and the gown, you kinda have to give credit to the team that’s making it all happen.  This look, as a whole, was great.  The gown is not my absolute favorite because it’s still very safe for me, but the styling makes it all perfect.  Rosie is the picture of glowing beauty here.  And she makes me want to exfoliate and tan and moisturize and do yoga until I glow like Apollo.  And congrats on that engagement to Turkish.

So there they are, my favorites.  I don’t really have any least favorites, just ones that I thought were boring and various other disappointments.  I never think Dior and Jennifer Lawrence have a good relationship, I miss Keira Knightley, Rooney Mara always looks like Rooney Mara, Jennifer Connelly never shows up to anything anymore, J.Lo needs to lose the cape, and hopefully Diane Kruger will show up at one of the after parties.  Speaking of, time to check out all my feeds for after party gowns.  Party on, kids.  xo, MR

** None of the photos featured here in this post belong to me.**