The annual G’Day USA Gala, a kitschy intersection of Hollywood and clichéd Australiana, took place at Los Angeles’ JW Marriott Hotel over the weekend.
Commemorating the work of our shiniest stars, the 11-year-old event was just one of many held the weekend before the Golden Globes. As such, you wouldn’t be blamed for not following the wine and prawn-fuelled stream of “shrimp on the Barbie” jokes, polite banter, and Geoffrey Rush giving lessons on the perfect twangy pronunciation of “G’Day USA.” But the red carpet looks are definitely worth a refresher.
Already on a high after taking out the best international lead actress AACTA award for Blue Jasmine, Australia’s silver screen darling Cate Blanchett absolutely killed it in a look from Prabal Gurung’s Pre-Fall 2014 collection. From afar it looks like a belted dress, but is actually a strapless satin gown with a beaded embroidery bodice, worn with a matching crop top.
The combination of hem length and its wearer appearing 11 feet tall suggests Cate might have styled the look with a pair of Helen Mirren’s stripper heels, but she’s actually just wearing normal-height Christian Louboutin d’Orsay pumps. The earrings are blue sapphire clusters by Chopard.
Coming a close second in the sartorial stakes is borrowed-from-the-Brits Australian Naomi Watts. The equally ethereal actress wore an ice-blue dress from Marchesa’s Spring 2014 collection. It’s a daring look that skews boudoir, especially with the teased bed hair, but Watts pulls it off with ease. Bonus points for the blood red clutch and matching-but-not lipstick.
images: WENN
