Red Carpet: Golden Globes

Every year, the awards season begins with the Golden Globes.  And what a better way to kick them off than with a red carpet?  This year found many fresh faces and fresh styles.  Here were my favorites of the evening.

Indie star turned leading lady Michelle Williams won Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy for her role as Marilyn Monroe.  But she already won Best Dressed in my eyes before the ceremony started.  Here she is in Jason Wu.  I love the fitted velvet gown and adorable headband.  Very old-Hollywood!

This wasn't the first time up for Claire Danes.  Already a dramatic TV actress winner for her days on "My So-Called Life," Danes found herself making another winners speech for her performance in "Homeland."  This time around, she's a bona fide star in J Mendel - gorgeous from front-to-back.

 My favorite kooky actress was just as unique on the carpet as she is in her role as Jess on "New Girl."  Though she didn't win the Golden Globe, she still won on the carpet in her Prada gown.  Few could pull this look off, but on her, it looked just right.

The reviews were mixed on Piper Perabo's Theyskens Theory ball gown.  But I loved it.  Maybe because it was the only one like it on the carpet.  Maybe it was because of the confidence she carried with it.  Or maybe it was because all the usual leading ladies looked their usual selves.  But I'm all for someone taking a chance like she did.  After all, being risque and having fun is what the Globes red carpet is for.

There were home runs - and a few strike outs.  But they all have a chance to redeem themselves at the Academy Awards.  Here's to another exciting showcase in February.  See you on Oscar night!

The Kids Are Alright

Ever since the awards season, all the buzz on the red carpet has been for Hollywood's new up-and-comers.  And with good reason.  After what has seemed like a decade of teen starlets imposing tacky extensions, too much makeup, and overexposed bods, these girls are changing it up and giving something to look up to.

Hailee Steinfeld made her mark in the film "True Grit," and now she's scoring more on the carpet.  Keeping it classy, Steinfeld chooses hemlines to or below the knee with delicate fabrics such as chiffon and lace.  She channels a modern-day Audrey Hepburn with her elegance and charm.

 Elle Fanning, of "Somewhere" and "Super 8," is giving big sister Dakota a run for her money in the fashion world.  She's lighting up the red carpet with her fashion choices - often straight-from-the-runways of designers such as Chanel and Marc Jacobs.

Emma Watson may be a few years older than these girls, but she's kept it classy for years during her "Harry Potter" stints.  Now just at 21, she gives younger actresses something to aspire to.  She seamlessly transformed from a teen star to a woman this past year by chopping off her locks for a chic, short do - but never let her skirt follow.

These actresses are showing their talents without showing too much skin.  They're bringing back both innocence and sophistication to the looks of young Hollywood.  Hopefully, the likes of others will take note and ditch the trashy looks we've seen for far too long (ahem, Miley).