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Winter Women at the Golden Globes

1/21/2011

Color-wise, Winter celebs at the 2011 Golden Globes weren't winners. Most of the beautiful Wintry women I saw failed to embrace the full drama and elegance that is their season's gift, and ended up looking bo-ring.

Consider Lea Michele. Here she is, at last year's Golden Globes, in colors that bring her to life.

And here she is this year, in wimpy pink that drains her spirit.

The intensity in the eyes hints at what she's capable of, but everything else looks lifeless.

The next big disappointment is the usually stunning Megan Fox. Here she is embracing her Winter colors in 2009:

...but at this year's GGs, she was barely recognizable.

What the heck? Woman, why would you do this to yourself? You're entitled to the colors everyone else wants, and you steal from Summer?

Like Lea, Megan has disappeared here.

Next is Gabourey Sidibe. She may not be a size 4, but in her best colors she radiates undeniable charisma and power.

So who convinced her that this wishy-washy palette flattered her?

I'm not sure that dress would suit any season.

Finally, Anne Hathaway - a woman who embodies a kind of delicate, exquisite beauty only found in Winter. At her best, she's almost unearthly:

And here - incredible:

So what was she thinking on the 2011 GG red carpet? Many fashionistas praised the gown, but notice how Anne's rare beauty is completely absent:

Now, instead of looking like a moon goddess gracing mere mortals with her presence, she's just another pretty actress. Sure, the gown is elegant. But it belongs on Angelina.

For me, the lesson is this: even women with more money than most of us will ever see, and access to the best stylists and the best clothes, may still lack either the information or the self-awareness needed to know what their own authentic beauty looks like.

Next: Autumnal Errors.

12 Comments

KarenT

1/22/2011 03:45:11 am

I'm going to venture that these ladies just wanted a change from the intense richness of the Winter colors. I'm not saying they made the right choices, but they are experimenting with a different look. They are actresses who are used to wearing costumes of all colors to suit their characters. I myself was once told I was a Winter in college, although I was never draped. I tried wearing the "right" colors for a while but they seemed so heavy.

Rachel

1/22/2011 11:47:50 am

I think you're right to mention costumes, Karen - I suspect these women understand red carpet appearances as performances, and choose what they wear in part based on what character they will be playing. Too bad for us in the viewing public, who want to see these women look their best, that their choices sometimes don't achieve this.

If you were uncomfortable with Winter's intensity, perhaps you're a Summer? Many Summers - especially those with dark hair or eyes - are miscategorized as Winters.

sasha

1/4/2019 01:36:52 am

I feel the same way, i like bright and happy colors...people seem to love me in intense/cool colors...but then i feel like these fellow women, do we always have to be so intense?? i am a flamboyant natural (short)...and in nature if you are already intense, life is already intense..sometimes you want softness in your wardrobe, especially if it's missing in your own life. Noticed this post was in 2011, but still applies in 2019

Nana

1/23/2011 11:49:19 pm

Cant wait for the autumns. Did anyone wear crisp pure white? Or a saturated, cool toned purple?

1/24/2011 03:29:19 am

Crisp white - I'm still looking for a Winter in it, but haven't spotted it yet. I *did* see Autumn Jennifer Lopez in pure white. That, of course, was a miss - she's just too golden and the color seemed totally disconnected from her.

1/24/2011 05:43:15 am

I think pure white is a good indicator for those who are not certain weather they are a dark winter or a dark autumn- if your skin gets that grayish-green overcast when you wear pure white, you are most likely an autumn.

Tora

2/6/2011 07:49:39 am

I have to say I disagree about Megan Fox. While that photo looks terribly lit overall, what I saw on tv was cool, icy colors, the lightest that Winter can do and it looked great. It may not have been as high contrast as Winter requires but they definitely seemed like Winter colors nonetheless. Maybe a better pic here http://raindropsofsapphire.com/2011/01/17/looks-i-love-at-the-golden-globes-2011/megan-fox-golden-globes-2011-2/

Rachel link

2/6/2011 10:12:54 am

Wow, Tora. That pic does make it a tougher call, IMO. In this light, instead of looking flesh-toned, the hue looks distinctly pink. It's a more flattering shot of the look, for sure. I do think it would be more effective as an icy if it were more saturated and a bit deeper. Winter's icy lights are light, for Winter, but still very distinctly colored. More importantly, the necessary element of contrast is missing here - don't you think? Her eyes and hair make no impact because they're not anchored to anything below the neck.

Melissa

4/8/2016 01:34:09 am

Lea Michele and Anne Hathaway may have just been trying to find dresses that would go with their new lighter hair colors. Their winter colors would have seemed like too much with their new lighter hair. The sad thing is that so many beautiful women fall prey to hair stylists who are out to convince everyone they need highlights or a different hair color. Once the hair is off from what nature intended there isn't any color dress that will make it ok.

Kels

2/26/2018 09:19:45 pm

What type is Anne Hathaway? This post is probably too old for this to warrant a response, but I can't figure her out.

Jennifer

12/3/2023 06:30:15 pm

Anne Hathaway looks more like a deep autumn than a winter. The stunning colors above are in the deep autumn palette, and I think she also looked good in that golden dress, it was just missing saturation, not coolness.

12/3/2023 06:30:54 pm

To me that is :)

Truth is Beauty

Winter Women at the Golden Globes

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