The annual Golden Globes, which took place this past Sunday, may be an award show dedicated to television and cinema, but at the same time it is unequivocally a fashion show. The arrival of the nominees and presenters receives its own live television coverage so that the night’s getups can be put on display for the cameras. The reporters’ reprise of “Who are you wearing?” practically competes with the line “And the Golden Globe goes to…” The walk down the red carpet is critical publicity in the fashion world. Not only will the celebrities be judged on how they themselves look in their clothing, but they also serve as their brand’s ambassador to the public. Thus, with award shows like these, actors and TV per­sonalities are rendered models while the layperson is made a fashion critic. And indeed, the opinions fly. Even amidst fash­ion insiders, bloggers and maga­zine staffers, the verdicts are var­ied. Some tout a gown’s beauty while others trash it. So instead of doing a trite best and worst dressed review, we should look at a few trends that surfaced at the Golden Globes, as well as a couple simply wonderful looks.

One piece that seemed to dominate on the red carpet was the long-sleeved gown. Sure, there was a time not too long ago when strap­less reigned supreme, but it seems that era has passed. Long sleeves were the style of choice for a number of A-listers whose gowns managed to create the perfect balance between coverage and a hint of sexiness for a sophisticated look. On Sunday night Angelina Jolie wore a beautiful long-sleeved Versace gown with a delicately cinched waist and light fabric that clung to her curves. Anne Hathaway donned an Armani Privé dress with bold puffed shoulders and a fitted silhouette (one of my personal favorites of the night). Leighton Meester arrived in a Victorian-inspired Burberry gown with a full-length thigh slit.

Interestingly, there also seemed to be two competing but equally enjoyable trends gracing the red carpet. On the one hand, several celebs sported gowns that had a real glam factor. Looking again to Anne Hathaway’s outfit, the dress was fully embellished with paillettes and Swarovski crystal. January Jones of Mad Men wore a risqué, fringed cutout Versace dress that she saw on the runway in blue and had custom-made for her in a fi­ery red. These gowns were eye-catching to say the least, and they were not the only ones. Draping, ruffles, appliqués and embel­lishments abounded. Meanwhile, it was also a big night for mini­malistic simplicity à la Calvin Klein. Klein, who dressed both Claire Danes in her sleek halter and Emma Stone in her clean, backless short-sleeved number (also a favorite of mine), received all-around rave reviews

While black is usually predominant at formal events, several different colors rose to the forefront on the red carpet. Green was one color of the night. Angelina’s long-sleeved ensemble was a bold green. Mila Kunis wore a one-shouldered emerald Vera Wang gown. Catherine Zeta-Jones’ textured Monique Lhuillier dress and Elizabeth Moss’ Donna Karan bodice gown were also members of the green team. Pretty pink hues were likewise quite popular. Danes and Stone were dressed in rose tones. Lea Michele appeared in a ruffled Oscar de la Renta piece, Meghan Fox in a banded Armani Privé gown and Julianne Moore in an asymmetrical Lan­vin number; all distinct cuts, but all pink. Finally, sandy shades stole the spotlight as well. Anne Hathaway’s head-turning gown was neutral-toned, perfect to counterbalance all of its glitz, as was Leighton Meester’s long-sleeved piece. Diana Arragon’s elegant, tan J. Mendel gown was a hit amongst critics. Carrie Underwood, Scarlett Johansson and Vanessa Williams were just a few more to hop on the tan bandwagon.

In the end, part of what makes the fashion element of the Golden Globes and all awards shows like it so interesting is that these runway looks and couture pieces are dressing real women for a change, not professional models. I think this idea excites the designers just as much as it does the public.