Awards-wise there were few sure things at the Golden Globes, but on the red carpet at least, there were plenty of winning looks. Penélope Cruz played the femme fatale in Chanel "My friend, Karl, made this for me" Haute Couture. Joining her in black dresses were Best Supporting Actress nominee Cate Blanchett, in lacy Alexander McQueen with a long train, and Best Supporting Actress winner Jennifer Hudson in Vera Wang.

The single-again Cameron Diaz chose white Valentino. It was the color of the evening, with Salma Hayek, Kate Winslet, Ellen Pompeo, and Sarah Paulson following suit in drapey goddess gowns. Strapless numbers and the sculpted shoulders they showed off were another strong theme; Reese Witherspoon chose a yellow silk floral jacquard dress by the new man at Nina Ricci, Olivier Theyskens.

Chloë Sevigny, who arrived with her Big Love cohorts, stood out in one of the evening's few prints, a crescent-patterned one-shoulder style from Yves Saint Laurent. Other TV stars—Sarah Jessica Parker, Tina Fey, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, among them—along with Renée Zellweger, went short.

It was a big night for newcomers—of the actress and designer variety. The Marchesa duo scored a twofer with both Jennifer Lopez and Sienna Miller wearing their creations. And the young New Yorker Brian Reyes dressed the very pretty America Ferrera, of Ugly Betty fame.

See the list of Golden Globes winners >

— Nicole Phelps