The typically more toned-down Critics Choice Awards became a beautiful display of sartorial show-offs last night, as red carpet-starved celebs further embraced their return to the red carpet after the mammoth industry-wide period of strikes. While the Critics Choice Awards weren't one of the awards shows directly postponed by the strikes, the general dearth of red carpet events over the past six months has meant that celebs are coming of their cages this awards season ready to stunt, by any means necessary.
Typically, the biggest looks and boldest garments are reserved for the EGOT events - your Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and Tonys - and the less avant-garde outfits are relegated to the smaller awards ceremonies, such as the SAG or Critics Choice Awards. Not to say they're any less important - the Critics Choice Awards are largely considered to be one of the best indicators of possible success at the Oscars, after all.
And last night, they indicated something else, too. If this red carpet is anything to go by, we are in for one hell of an awards season. Bombshell gowns cascaded across the red carpet, impeccable tailoring was everywhere you turned and a pleasingly small amount of basic black tuxes were in attendance.
Take Orange is the New Black alum Danielle Brookes, for example. Nominated for her supporting role in 2023's The Colour Purple, Brooks' billowing, blush pink, tulle Monsoori gown wouldn't have been out of place at the Oscars or Golden Globes, but the actress decided to dominate this red carpet instead - because why the hell not! This was an overall trend for the night: a relative lack of pressure, combined with months worth of unspent red carpet outfits and energy, made the whole event feel a lot more playful.
It was colourful, too. Pops of red were all over the place, with the humble red rose seeming to provide much of the inspiration. There was Dua Lipa in her textured crimson Prada gown, resembling a bed of crinkled rose petals, Margot Robbie, with her 'Red Rose' Barbie doll inspired Balmain look, her neckline adorned with a bouquet of roses, and Emily Blunt, whose ruby sequined Armani Privé gown was gathered at the shoulder in one massive rosebud.
And in the blue corner was icy-eyed heartthrob Matt Bomer, who arrived wearing a dazzling cobalt blue Berluti suit, complete with blue shoes, a blue cummerbund and some delicate silver jewellery.
Also in blue was the reigning red carpet queen of this awards season, Rosamund Pike, whose Saltburn-esque dressing has transcended fiction and moved firmly into the real world. Pike laughed along with co-star Allison Oliver and fellow actress Angela Bassett as she reflected cerulean blue light in her sequined Rodarte gown, cinched at the waist by - you guessed it - a glittering blue rose.
A further pop of blue was provided by red carpet reliable Colman Domingo, who gave a lesson in layering with his Valentino haute couture ensemble, complete with a mustard-coloured suit, powder-blue shirt, golden boots and gilded, crinkle-cut coat, tied together with a smattering of gold jewellery and his perfectly manicured moustache.
All in all, this Critics Choice Awards was one to remember, and a sign that there's plenty left to come. And with the Emmy awards less than 24 hours away, it looks like we won't have long to wait.
