Not that this is a bad thing, but it was hard to find a totally sour beauty look amidst the slayage that was the 2017 Golden Globes red carpet. (There were no puzzling, Snooki-esque Bumpits this year, thank heavens.) Many stars embraced fashion-forward feminist chops, some fresh accessories, some free-form manes, some barely-there makeup, some smoky eyes and statement lips. The results were, in most cases, phenomenal. In fact, we’d like to take this opportunity to shout out a few runners-up who didn’t make it into the top nine. Zazie Beetz’s beautiful natural tresses deserve an honorable mention, as does Emily Ratajkowski’s glowing, peachy-keen makeup palette.
And while we have ambivalent feelings toward Evan Rachel Wood’s roots-heavy, abbreviated silver side swoop, we can’t take fault with her empowering red carpet proclamation. “I’ve been to the Globes six times. I’ve worn a dress every time. And I love dresses, I’m not trying to protest dresses,” stated the Westworld star, who wore an Altuzarra tux to The Beverly Hilton-based festivities. “But, I want to make sure that young girls and women know they aren’t a requirement and that you don’t have to wear one if you don’t want to. To just be yourself because your worth is more than that.” With that in mind, click through the slideshow above to see the most memorable beauty looks of the night in our humble, subjective opinion. Then go ahead and take your own risks.
Golden Globes 2017 Beauty
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Best: Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel was the picture of classic elegance. Her golden teardrop earrings were the perfect finish to her muted, rose-tone look.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
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Worst: Lola Kirke
Love: Lola Kirke’s decision to shirk convention and rock grown-out armpit hair. Hate: Her awkwardly middle-parted bangs. But at least she won in one hair category.
Image: George Pimentel/WireImage
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Best: Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra paired her light-catching Ralph Lauren dress with vampy, eye-catching lips. Though she attended the awards as a presenter, Chopra's whole look — the bold brows, the impossibly bouncy blowout — was an uncontested win.
Image: George Pimentel/WireImage
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Best: Janelle Monae
Musician-actress-goddess Janelle Monae has hair accessorizing down to an art. Or rather, Nikki Nelms — the self-proclaimed "Hair MacGyver" behind Monae's exquisitely edgy, googly-eyed double bun (as seen on Today and The Tonight Show) — does. It was Nelms who masterminded this glorious pearl-infused updo. The complementary undereye dots came courtesy of makeup artist Jessica P. Smalls. We will definitely be attempting this look in the near future.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
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Worst: Sarah Jessica Parker
Is it just us, or is Sarah Jessica Parker's red carpet formula getting more than a little tired? High-drama updo plus smoky eye and barely-there lip equals total déja vu. When even a fishtail milkmaid crown seems thoughtless (Parker stated that any resemblance to Princess Leia was completely unintentional), you know it's time to shake things up — let your hair down, if you will.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
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Best: Olivia Culpo
Olivia Culpo's disappearing French braids and gargantuan Spanish-inspired chignon — plaited by hairstylist Justine Marjan — played off the texture of her stunning Zuhair Murad gown. Culpo's fiery smoky eye was the perfect finishing touch.
Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Worst: Issa Rae
It pains us to say this (because Insecure was truly one of the best things to happen to TV in 2016), but Issa Rae's sculptural braided updo was one of the few misses on Sunday night's red carpet. It looked, to borrow Issa's word, awkward. The architectural coif was meant to be paired with an exposed clavicle, not a mock neck gown. Once Rae ditched her Christian Siriano maxi for a V-neck trouser suit at the Official HBO afterparty, balance was restored.
Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Best: Ruth Negga
We were Loving (sorry) Ruth Negga's whole Manus x Machina-reminiscent look. The actress' hazy cat eye, understated pink lip and lightly rolling fingerwaves were the perfect classic complements to her futuristic frock.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
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Worst: Kristen Wiig
2017 is set to be the year of the close-crop. Like Michelle Williams, Ruth Negga and Millie Bobby Brown before her, Kristen Wiig took the pixie plunge. Though we love the comedian with short hair, we'd like to see her put some more effort into its styling. Don't just leave it laying there — slick it down, coax it into waves.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
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Best: Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown is an inspiration to all of us who've dealt with the trial that is growing out a buzz (or pixie) cut. The 12-year-old's sleek, dramatic swoop and barely-there makeup struck a sophisticated, feminine (and age-appropriate) chord.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
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Worst: Keri Russell
Keri Russell's sheer J.Mendel dress, lifeless locks and tired choice of accessory did her no favors on the red carpet. To top it off, Russell's makeup artist of a decade, Tina Turnbow, went for a bronzy, overly-lined eye that left the actress looking more waxen than porcelain.
Image: Venturelli/WireImage
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Best: Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington has never met a red carpet she didn't own. The Confirmation star stunned in a canary yellow Dolce & Gabbana gown complemented by pin-straight, gold-flecked hair. Her plum pout was equal parts edgy and elegant.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
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Worst: Milo Ventimiglia
Male facial hair had a serious moment at the 2017 Golden Globes. While some of it was good (Tom Ford, Ryan Reynolds),
JessMilo Ventimiglia's choppy This Is Us stache does not fall into that category.Image: George Pimentel/WireImage
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Best: Lily Collins
Lily Collins looked like a real-life princess in her lacy, Tumblr pink Zuhair Murad gown. Her ethereal updo, matte red lip and always-perfect brows upped the royal vibes.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
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Worst: Tracee Ellis Ross
While we loved her glittering diamond digits and dual-textured pony, Tracee Ellis Ross needed glossier lips and better-matched brow pencil to really slay in the beauty department. But hey, she's the first black woman to win Best Actress in a Comedy Series since Debbie Allen in 1983, so who really gives a damn about her makeup.
Image: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon
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Best: Mandy Moore
2000s fashion may be knocking on our doors, but we are certainly not missing comeback queen Mandy Moore's once saccharine style. Her chic middle part, perfectly contoured cheeks (and chest) are the eye candy we've been waiting for.
Image: George Pimentel/WireImage
