Of all the pre-Globes events and parties in LA for Golden Globes weekend, I think one of the best events must be the annual BAFTA tea party. BAFTA LA hosts an early-evening event for nominees and British actors who happen to be in town, and it genuinely seems like a lovely, somewhat low-key event. No one is expected to show up in a gown or anything – most people were simple cocktail dresses or suits. This year’s BAFTA LA tea party got a decent turnout, although this event has definitely felt more exciting in past years (Cumberbatch has turned up at several in past years, but alas, not this year).
So, let’s get to it! Here’s Alicia Vikander in an Altuzarra Pre-Fall 2016 dress. I’ve complained about Alicia’s red carpet style before –she consistently looks underdone and not “styled” enough for big events. But for this event, it feels right. She looked very pretty and the dress is cute as hell.
What in the world is going on with Cate Blanchett lately? Our one-time Fashion Queen has been trying out some really weird styles lately, and this look was no bueno. The silk skirt is by Vampire’s Wife, apparently made to order. It looks cheap and wrinkled and like she found it at the bottom of a pile at a Salvation Army.
And to continue with the ugly-skirt theme, here’s Brie Larson in a Gabriela Hearst two-piece ensemble. The skirt looks like a reworked tablecloth from the 1970s (I think my parents had it) and the black sheer top looks totally ‘90s.
Speaking of totally ‘90s, check out Emilia Clarke in black leather and a baby cardi stolen from Friends’ season 1.
Rooney Mara in Proenza Schouler Spring 2016. I hate when people tell me to smile or “cheer up,” but seriously, someone needs to tell Rooney that every time she looks grumpy and morose on a red carpet, an angel dies. The dress is twee and awful to me, but I hate Proenza Schouler.
Saoirse Ronan in Lela Rose Pre-Fall 2016. I don’t like this ensemble, yet I love that Saoirse chose it. It’s so antithetical to the normal “young starlet” costume of a sparkly little cocktail dress. And her shoe choice is amazing!
Priyanka Chopra in Alex Perry (and Aussie designer). I think she’s too dressy for the event, but I like that she put some effort into it. Her hair “bow” is sort of cute, and her hourglass figure is #GOALS.
Bonus Sam Heughan!
Photos courtesy of WENN.
They all look so bored especially Alicia. Post holiday blues?
I’m obsessed with Saiorse’s shoe. Love love love them.
Brie Larson’s outfit is beyond bad. She needs to fire the person who picked that out ASAP.
Agreed. But who held a gun to her head and made her wear it?
These folks want fashion and they want it for free. When you get something for free, or you’re a spokesperson for that designer, you don’t get to choose. Honest to God, if I were a celebrity I would NEVER take something for free. I value my freedom of choice too, too much. I’ll pick what I want to wear and I’ll pay for it so that I owe you nothing, thanks very much!
Eh, if someone payed me a lot of money to be a face of a brand ( like JLaw’s 40 million for Dior) I’d wlak around in a paper bag if they asked me.
Agreed! I said something similar on another fashion post. When you make so much money, have some bloody self respect and go buy yourself some beautiful, classic, well fitted/tailored outfits. Minnie Mouse hair? Tablecloth skirts? Limp hair? WTF? And I am sorry but I can’t see the much talked about beauty in Alicia. I keep trying but… No. And that stripey dress going in every direction is giving me a headache. (All the outfits are, they are just hideous.)
For someone on the awards circuit, to dress themselves only in clothing that they specifically buy would be an incredibly expensive proposition. The awards circuit is like a months long job interview, with screenings, events, parties, awards shows, etc. where photos will be taken and posted publicly, and the actors and actresses are trying to build a public profile for themselves. A stylist doesn’t *force* a star to wear something, but it could very well be a question of access – Brie could possibly not be given very good options. Or both she and her stylist have bad taste. One thing’s for sure: she needs to up her game. The clothing isn’t great, but Brie’s styling has been pretty bad too.
I was thinking of when Lupita hit the awards circuit. She has access to some amazing fashion. She has such a flare. But I don’t see that with the women this year. I don’t find much in any of them that is memorable.
Lupita also had a really fabulous stylist.
I like all the piers of saoirse’s outfit, just not together.
Brie larson stole my parent’s curtains from their 1974 BonAire camper trailer. Those curtains were awful then and do not look better as a skirt.
The hideous skirt convention from The Devil Wears Prada really does exist!
Love Saorse’s shoes. Would actually like her whole outfit if it didn’t have that underblouse print thingy going on.
Oh my God!!! You win the Internet today 😀
lol! “hideous skirt convention” is my favorite line in that movie. the way emily blunt delivers that line makes me laugh every time.
Everyone here, without exception, looks terrible. IMHO.
+1
+2
+3 whole lotta mess here.
+4
I like Emilia’s ensemble! And I see a patern between her shoes and Saoirse’s.
Goodness..
Rooney looks good, and I don’t mind the fact that she doesn’t smile. Alicia looks okay, everyone else looks awful.
Alicia and Priyanka look very good IMO.
What in the name of fashion is going on here? I’m confused.
All of Vikander Larson and Ronan needs better stylists if they want to stand out at the Oscars like JLaw in her first Oscar.
I can not see Vikander stand out for Oscars when you see the list of women who will be there…. sorry, but like for others event like met gala or Cannes, she will be boring. And I think it is the style choosen, being low key maybe
She will most probably be double nominated. She will never get this chance again. She has to take this by the balls.
I was just talking with friends about Oscars and all were like “Who is Vikander? ah yes, maybe i remember but not sure”. i have noticed that hers pics and even articles concerning her are not doing the buzz… Even Amber Heard as stole her the spotlight when she was there… She has never been outstanding on red carpets and yes, this chance will happen only once i think
Lets be fair all of Amber Heard’s buzz is because of who she dates and she is the quintessential pretty girl, that is why i did not want to compare Vikander to her. Also i think this thing about people knowing her varies. I do not live in USA or Uk or the Nordics but all my friends have heard of her and some of the boys are in love with her. Though a lot of her buzz outside awards circuit is for Ex Machina.
i agree for amber heard. But for Vikander, maybe but nobody around me knows her…. and i think if you ask in the streets it is still the case…. Maybe after the oscars, she will be more known
I just love how Alicia is the opposite of what we expect from a young rising star: hair down, no boobs/back showing, minimal make up. I’m not a paladine of modesty, I’m just criticizing a hypersexualized trend.
Saoirse is amazing. In looks, outfits, acting, everything.
To be honest, she doesn’t have boobs to show. But I agree, I also think that the natural makeup just looks best on her because she has a very young looking face
She has a very hauntingly beautiful face. It took me some time to realise it.
Oh, she showed a lot nakedness in her films, makes an exception on the red carpet at least…
I love Saoirse the way I love Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightly…..even if they wear something completely wacky, they can still pull it off. Just because. Her shoes are adorable.
If rooney’s dress was long? I’d love it. The length makes it twee.
Rooney often seems to wear shorter dresses that make her look awkward and knock-kneed. I don’t understand why she doesn’t wear full length dresses, they’d suit her.
I love Brie and Saoirse but they look bad here. In fact they all look like they just lost their stylists and had to fend for themselves. Alicia’s dress seems to be too big, Brie’s skirt is bad but the white tank top under the sweater is even worse, Saoirse’s pink ensemble is just odd and Rooney looks like she’s freezing to death in this wispy dress. Cate seems to be.. I don’t know, like all over the place this year. I hated her Palm Springs dress and it’s rare for me to hate something CB wears.
If I have millions dollars and can choose among most famous fashion designers of the world…
I think Alicia is so beautiful. Rooney looks like she’s half-dead and someone rolled her into something hideous and dropped her off. There is no life behind those eyes, none.
That I consider Alicia’s look a positive standout says a lot about how terrible all of the other outfits are.
I genuinely like her look but completely agree it wouldn’t be a standout if everyone else didn’t look so awful.
This collection of outfits is a fashion Dump Cake. Suckage Level is MAJOR. Bring in The (tim)Gunn.
Alicia’s outfit is understated and quite chic. She’s so fresh looking and what I envision an ingenue look like (vs. JLaw for example who looks way calculated and experienced beyond her years).
I just love Alicia’s face. She’s so, so gorgeous.
Alicia’s dress is an actual tea dress, but it fits poorly and looks like something from Talbots SS16. Everything is very hit/miss with her. I love Cate’s skirt, but I agree that she’s wandered a little too deep into my mother’s bohemian past. We’re edging too close to red carpet macramé and I’m frightened. Saoirse’s outfit feels very, “Haute Sally Draper” to me. If she had done something with her hair, it would’ve made it better.
My biggest gripe is the fact that no one does anything with their hair. A loose chignon at the base of the neck? A softer French twist? Hair out of the face, back, brushed, anything? I’m not asking for award show shellac, just a little polish. Little bit.