Name Is Kanem

The first week of Award Season has flown by and celebrities, stars, and icons alike have stormed the carpets in their best gowns, most crisp suits and awe inspiring fashions. The Golden Globes & Critics choice Awards allowed for major fashion moments while other noted ceremonies such as the Governors Awards and BAFTA Tea Party saw a smaller ensemble of stylish stars strut their stuff as well. 

Though some have seasoned the first few days with pops of color and unconventional creations, others have decided on the “simple but sweet” direction, opting more for beautifully basic craftsmanship and timeless couture. The shades of black & white still permeated throughout most of the week, with hues of deep reds, soft metallics, and blush pinks making appearances on some of Hollywood’s most coveted bodies. Citrines and greens also served as notable palette options. Florals and roses were seen in applique form more than print (thank god), lace and mesh continued to be the fabrication of choice for many luxury designers, and enjoyable tailoring that contoured the physiques’ of the wearers were all on the menu. Speaking of tailoring, many of the looks that graced the paparazzi also played with suit techniques, suit closures, embellishments and silhouettes. Capes and arm adornments were fully on display as well, truly falling in line with the grandiose atmosphere surrounding the numerous shows and ceremonies. What was noticeably lacking from the carpet looks more than anything though was necklaces. Bare necks were everywhere and though for some looks the piece was unneeded, for others it was a glaring issue. Even still many beloved faces turned up for a good time, flashed toothy grins, and stunned for camera clicks and social media pics. The women came to show out and the men came to play, and I love every bit of it. With all that being said though, let’s get into some of my favorite looks from the past week.

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The cast of Abbott Elementary were in attendance at the Golden Globes as well! Sheryl Lee Ralph coordinated with black & citrus green gowns made by Monsoori and Safiyaa respectively. My favorite look from the bunch that night however was Tyler James Williams in a tan Dolce & Gabbana pinstripe suit. What truly captured my attention more than anything about the ensemble was the large floral lapel pin and the fit of the suit itself; cinched waist, padded shoulders and wide, oversized pants. Now the pants could have been shortened a bit to fall on the leg better, but for the most part it was a look! 

Natasha Lyonne was all the rage in what could only be described as a “TRUE” column gown, as the off-white Schiaparelli dress that was made of beads of sorts was stiff and structured against her frame. The short, glistening beads of the dress create layers of texture that travel up throughout the entirety of the look. The show stopping detail was the two prongs that stuck out where the neckline of the dress was, creating a huge “U” shape, that in a way, framed her chest and face. The usage of the bead work and material of the dress, as well as the structure of the neckline was nothing less than art, and Lyonne pulled the look off effortlessly!

Erika Alexander looked effervescent as always in a Claude Kamenipurple printed gown, equipped with a corset and mermaid skirt right at the knees. The print and vibrant colors were lovely and the styling with the multi-colored hair strands that crowned her head were joyous and complementary to her style and personality. If anything she looked to be having the most fun out of everyone there! 

Actor & social media mogul Rickey Thompson was spied at the Golden Globes and dazzled in a double breasted Ferragamo suit as well. The lustrous silver number, equipped with short notch lapels and wide leg pants, was simplistically breathtaking. Looking further at the details you can see that the button closures for the suit was hidden under what looks to be the sharkskin material of the ensemble, and the neckline of the two-piece was much more closer to the neck than that of a traditional suit. An absolutely sharp & clean look.

The cast of the most recently released The Color Purple were all in attendance at the Golden Globes with Oprah in tow as well. Fantasia Barrino opted for a strapless Dolce & Gabbana gown that nipped in the waist and donned a nice curved neckline. It was nice from the knee up but the blue skirt that jutted out at the bottom wasn’t my favorite. It feelt to be the rare miss in Ms. Barrino’s recent offerings. Her Critics Choice Awards look, however, was absolutely sublime. The fit was perfect and the styling with the cape and jewels were the last touches to complete a stunning and showstopping look. 

Of all the cast though Danielle Brooks was the most playful and fun in a lively and sweet Monsoori gown. The gown was simple but unique in that it is, for the most part, made of swaths of baby pink tulle that are layered over a base garment. The look is complete also with a black bow and matching spaghetti straps. However, the long tails of fabric extended almost like tentacles from the dress, and the movement from Brooks showed just how lovely it looked both in motion and in still pictures. Its truly an extraordinary dress and exudes “black girl magic”.

Christina Ricci donned a gorgeous Atsuko Kudo black latex dress, complete with a clutch and simple jewels. The fit of the dress was immaculate as the latex material looked like it was painted on her skin, and the scallop detail that went along the hem of the “V” cut neckline and the hem of the dress created a nice contradiction with the sleek and bold nature of the latex material. It was deliciously charming and both sensual and sweet. 10s across the board for me! 

Of all the white looks that I’ve seen over the past week, the one that stands out to me is Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor’s custom Jovana Louis dress for the Critics Choice Awards. The bottom was a simple mermaid gown, however once you reached the top half it becomes much more sartorial, seamlessly turning into a white tailored jacket, shirt and tie. The sleeves also added a bit of interest and opulence to the look with medium sized puffs that came out right around the middle of the forearm. Overall it’s a lovely presentation and Ms. Taylor is glowing in it!

See below for other favorites of mine from the first week of the 2024 Award Season and let me know who you thought ate up the red carpet. And be sure to catch my quick recap of the 2024 Emmys as well!