Hollywood Returns to Glam With Globes

Jan. 21 -- The 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards were more secure than a White House state dinner.

A full staff of LAPD officers, private security teams and undercover agents put so many restrictions in place they made the CIA seem a more lenient bunch. For the first time, journalists and the like were not allowed to park at the venue, and instead were shuttled there, thumb-printed, scanned and poked.

And for all these efforts, the show went off without a hitch.

Of course, we could talk about the winners, and we will, but truth be told, the fashion is the topic of conversation at any hip water cooler. And so it was all about elegance, with most women in long gowns and men in tuxedos or formal suits.

It seemed the celebs on hand were happy to get back to dressing up after the last big awards event, the Emmys, made them appear in "business casual" attire. Although there were many women who looked lovely in basic black, the ladies that dared to be different stood out.

Kim Cattral kicked it up a notch in an orange/peach gown with beaded halter around her neck. Jessica Alba and Annette Bening were daring and seductive in white satin tuxedos. Ladies in red included Julia Louis Dreyfuss, Juliana Marguiles, Jennifer Garner and Sela Ward, who not only revealed a flair for her color choice, but also for showing a torso full of flesh.

The Duds

Of course, there were a few "Hello... did you get that at a fire sale?" numbers.

Sarah Jessica Parker had one of them, only it was Lagerfeld for Chanel and probably anything BUT on sale. A black fitted sequined gown made up the bodice, surrounded by an oversized wrap around skirt-like bottom that was big enough to hide fellow Sex and the City cast members.

She also had a kooky flower in her newly cut coiffure.

Others skating close to the edge included Rachel Griffiths, who wore a pink gown with beads and feathers hanging about the neck. I guess the polite thing to say would be, "Well, it certainly was different."

She also had hair extensions.