2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards Red Carpet Review

Once again, I missed the actual awards ceremony last night but I caught up with the red carpet looks this morning. Interestingly, the color palette of the gowns was limited to mainly black, white, red, and metallics, with only a handful of looks venturing out into other colors. So that's how I've categorized them here!

Black

Many of the looks were traditional all-black ensembles, accented with beading or structural elements; a handful had a pop of color in a lining, a ruffle, a shoulder accent or some embroidery; some were technically not quite black but rather a deep midnight blue or plum. Here are the looks that at least started off with basic black. 

Margot Robbie continued her Barbie-themed red carpet looks by pairing a black micromini tube dress with a voluminous bubblegum-pink - or, rather, Barbie pink - over-the-shoulder ruffle that fell to form a train, cinched in with a matching pink sash. Although I liked the way Robbie's soft blonde waves over one shoulder paralleled the ruffle, the overall look was too disproportionate and cutesy for my taste. But Robbie pulled it off well, and I did love her diamond anklet. 

Taraji P. Henson went much more traditional in a fitted black strapless column with a broad and deep v-neckline, with a wrapped waist detail that formed a short loop at the hip before falling into a narrow train. Her gorgeous diamond jewelry included a wide cuff bracelet, several large rings, a low choker with a dangling pendant, and a studded ear cuff. Very elegant.

Danielle Brooks wore a "half-and-half" look, with the right side being a tux jacket top that fell to the floor as a straight skirt, and the left side being a sleeveless black gown with a narrow angled strap and a deep purple satin skirt layered with frothy ombre ruffles in various shades of lavender. The concept was interesting, but the visual balance was off for me. Having the palest color at the bottom of the voluminous skirt draws the viewers eye to the ground and adds too much visual weight to both the bottom and the side. If there were no train, and if the palest ruffle were a few shades darker, this look would have been much more effective. 

Penelope Cruz wore a midnight blue gown with a shiny, fitted off-the-shoulder bodice trimmed with a pleated tulle ruffle that echoed the tulle A-line skirt. The top of the bodice was studded with pearl beading, and I loved that she opted for only earrings and rings rather than a necklace, which allowed the gown to (literally) shine.  

Quinta Brunson, on the other hand, chose a Y-shaped diamond necklace that perfectly set off the deep narrow plunge of her black column. The fabric was gathered in to the center of the bodice, creating graceful radiating lines, and also forming soft draping at the sides of the bodice.  A lovely and elegant look. 

Jessica Chastain wore a simple black lace A-line gown with a v-neckline. A very simple cut, but lovely and flattering, and it really set off the beauty of the lace. A terrific example of letting the fabric be the star. 

America Ferrerra wore a pretty, if slightly boring, black sleeveless gown with a slightly curved neckline and white chiffon shoulder drapes. It was pretty enough, but not particularly memorable. I would have loved a pop of color in the shoulder drapes or in a statement necklace to give it a bit more pizazz.

Tracee Ellis Ross looked fantastic in a black-and-gold column skirt topped with an impeccably tailored short-sleeved black velvet jacket with large gold buttons. Tres chic! 

Ali Wong opted for true haute couture in her black column with a sheer yoke studded with crystals and topped with a structurally impressive fountain of glistening white diamonds. I loved the look, although her center-parted, pulled-back hair and clear glasses frames gave an old-fashioned librarian vibe that didn't quite work with the dress.  

Sheryl Lee Ralph wore a midnight blue satin strapless ballgown with an asymmetrical bodice and a wrapped skirt that opened into a deep slit. Her hair and makeup were as amazingly perfect as her gown. This was one of my favorite looks of the night. 

Alex Borstein always looks vaguely uncomfortable in red carpet wear, but I really liked this gown on her. The sheer black top was overlain with appliqued black flowers that wrapped around one sleeve and the bodice, leaving the other arm and shoulder sheer, which was just gorgeous, and the simple black skirt had a flatteringly high waist and a gorgeous pop of dusty blue chiffon along both edges of the thigh-high slit. This is probably my favorite red carpet look of hers, ever.  

Storm Reid also made great use of pops of color in the beaded roses running up the front of her black velvet kimono-inspired gown. I loved the band of green beading all along the edges of the front opening and the band holding the front closed, tying in with the flower stems. And although I would have chosen bright shoes in a color that matched the beaded roses, somehow the pointy red pumps totally work. 

Laverne Cox wore a gown accented with metallic gold cording rather than color. Her look paired a sheer black, high necked top over a black bra, topped by a vintage bolero jacket with military-style gold trim and a slightly flared skirt with a gold-trimmed panel at one hip. One of the few things I didn't love about this look was the stacked black necklaces and one long necklace that fall past Cox's waist. The latter made it look like a large visible seam down the front of the sheer blouse, and the former reached so high up to Cox's chin that it looks stiff and uncomfortable. But other than that, this was a great look. 

Nischelle Turner

White

White, along with shades of ivory and pale blush hues, are generally less common on the red carpet, but we saw a number of lovely (and a few...not so lovely) white gowns at the SAG Awards. 

Kathryn Hahn wore an ivory satin gown with a fitted bodice and a slightly full skirt that had a beautiful silhouette, but the bodice was then covered with a strange black wrap just above her elbows. I loved her sheer black opera gloves, but the wrap was just oddly placed and broke up the line of the dress in a very disproportionate way. 

Da'Vine Joy Randolph wore another of my favorite looks of the night in a (forgive me) divine off-white (with just a hint of golden undertones) satin gown that wrapped diagonally from bust to hip, with slightly asymmetrical ruffle details at each shoulder. The accents were large but perfectly proportioned, and the way the wrapped fabric hugged her curves then the skirt flared into a train was absolutely chef's kiss*.

Selena Gomez wore a very simple white sequin sheath with a shallow scoop neckline, narrow straps, and a hint of flare just above the knee. It was lovely and impeccably tailored but perhaps a little too simple for the red carpet. A statement necklace with a pop of color or an elaborate updo might have added the little extra touch needed to make a good but bland look great. 

Issa Rae wore a clingy, blush pink halter gown that was also a very simple cut, but that worked much better due to the interesting lines created by the criss-cross halter straps. The wide diamond cuff bracelet was also a lovely accessory. This is a good example of how just one or two small details can make a world of difference in the success of a look. 

Greta Lee, on the other hand, is a good (bad?) example of how the wrong accessories can detract from an otherwise good look. The fabric of her off-the-shoulder, loosely fitted gown has an interesting texture, with small 3D petals, but the heaviness of the black, apparently leather, elbow-length gloves look out of place. Sheer black gloves would have been more in keeping with the dress; even better, flecked with white to be the reverse of the dress fabric. 

Maddie Zeigler wore a single strap ivory gown  that was wrapped with strangely tattered-looking fringe, with a ragged hem trailing tatters to the floor. The overall silhouette wasn't bad, but the tatters made her look like a refugee from a low-budget zombie movie. Just awful. 

Elizabeth McLaughlin wore a pure white long-sleeved jacket dress with oversized shoulder pads, a bodice that plunged to the waist, and a slight angle front slit. McLaughlin has the right type of figure for a broadly plunging neckline: curvy enough to be flattered but slight enough to be contained. And the pure white was fantastic with her gorgeous red hair. 

Red

Of all the colors we see on the red carpet, red itself is the most classic. And there were plenty of shades of red last night, from vivid scarlets through deep, rich brick reds.

Reese Witherspoon set the tone in a lovely true red wrapped strapless sheath with a curved neckline and a side front slit that showed off matching satin mules. Witherspoon eschewed any showy jewelry and wore a simple, soft hairstyle and natural makeup, resulting in effortless-looking glamour. 

Emily Blunt, who is generally one of my favorites on the red carpet, did not do it for me at the SAG awards. She is slender but not curvy, and the way the front opening of her gown flared at the waist negated her curves inside of accentuating them. I also hated her pale lips and overdone eye makeup, which made her look tired and grumpy. A rare misstep for a gorgeous and usually fashionable celeb.

Fran Drescher opted for a darker burgundy shade of red in a spangled wrap gown with square shoulders and a sheer overlay. I loved the peekaboo effect of the deep slit in the underdress covered by the sheer overlay, which both showed a lot of leg and covered up. And her diamond necklace is gorgeous. 

Halle Bailey also wore a burgundy gown, in her case a strapless mermaid style with ruching across the bust and forming a graceful wrapped pattern to just above the knee, where the gown flared out into a swirly skirt. Her fabulous diamond necklace and glowing smile were the perfect accessories to a perfect look.   

Hannah Waddingham wore a clinging metallic cranberry red off-the-shoulder gown with  just a hint of wrapping forming diagonal lines, with a thigh-high slit and a short train. It was fabulous for her figure, a great color on her, and it looked remarkably comfortable. Winner!

Hannah Waddingham

Lily Gladstone wore a fringed halter column in vivid red that evoked her indigenous heritage with rows of fringe that angled up at the front, and her stunning beaded earrings which echoes the same gracefully angled lines. A wonderfully unified look that was both traditional and contemporary. 

Ariana Greenblatt wore a deep cranberry velvet ballgown with a basic, full skirt and a scoop-front bodice with high points. The simple, unfussy design allowed the gorgeous fabric to take center stage.  I might have added a little more sparkle in a simple necklace or glittery cuff bracelet, but it was still a terrific look. 

Metallics

Somehow, competition for a sparkly metal statue always brings out sparkly metallic gowns, and the SAGs were no exception. Silver and gold were both well represented. 

 

Emma Stone looked positively radiant in a silver embroidered gown with a barely flared skirt and a short train, with just a hint of soft blue at the hem. The elaborate swirls of the embroidery and the shimmer of the fabric is all the sparkle needed, so minimal jewelry was the right choice, as was her simple chignon and bright red lips. Sheer perfection.   

Jennifer Aniston also wore a shimmery silver gown, with a plunging front, a thigh-high slit, and just a little hint of a train. The tiny detail of a single angled seam from waist to hip and the sparkly textured fabric itself provided plenty of visual interest, and Aniston's plain black clutch and vivid blue eyes were the perfect pops of contrast. 

Carey Mulligan wore an impossibly smooth gold strapless column that twisted in slightly at the waist and featured a structured drape at the hips that was perfectly proportioned to avoid looking bulky. I don't know what kind of witchcraft was involved to avoid a single wrinkle - perhaps Mulligan levitated onto the red carpet instead of riding in the back seat of a limousine - but color me impressed. Her sleek, chin-length bob and heavy diamond choker are the perfect finishing touches. 

Melissa McCarthy also wore a smooth gold lame gown, but hers was less well-proportioned. The body of the dress was fine; I like that it skimmed her figure instead of being overly tight or tailored, but the voluminous sleeves dragged the viewer's eye down and away from her face, which was an especial shame since her hair and makeup were fabulous. Swap those yards of baggy sleeve for sheer, fitted sleeves and this look would have been a winner. 

Elizabeth Debicki looked ethereal and willowy in a sleek silver backless column. I loved her long, straight, sideswept hair and neutral-toned makeup. If I had one quibble, it would be that the sheer lace at the top of the bodice vanishes into her skin tone, making the bodice look like it's sitting too low on her body, but that is truly a minor quibble on a really nice look. 

Miscellaneous

Although there are trends on the red carpet, there are always exceptions. Here are some of the notable looks that bucked the evening's trends. 

Ann Hathaway's vivid blue gown had an off-the-shoulder sweetheart neckline with a horizontal slit over a super-wide self belt with a giant buckle, and a flared skirt with a short train. Although I didn't love the combination of the front slit and the belt, either one would have worked. What I did love, however, was the beautiful seaming on the front of the bodice, the silver clutch, and the beautiful Y-shaped diamond choker. Fantastic. 

Brie Larson showed off her impressive abs in a two-piece taffeta gown with a long-sleeved jewel neck crop top and a super-full skirt with a twist of fabric at the waist that echoed the twist front of the bodice. The color worked surprisingly well on her, and although the skirt was a little wrinkly, it still looked graceful and feminine. 

Ciara wore a chocolate brown shiny vinyl ensemble consisting of a strapless bodice with a wrapped skirt with a thigh-high slit topped with a long-sleeved, high-necked shrug with super square shoulders. I loved her huge stacks of bangle bracelets, super-long earrings, and long natural hair, but the overly shiny fabric looked hot and uncomfortable, and the super-square shoulders gave a 1970s space alien vibe that didn't work for me. 

Ayo Edibiri wore a bias-cut black-and-white check dress with draped sleeves and long side panels. I found the combination of the busy pattern and the voluminous side panels to be a bit overwhelming, but it wasn't terrible. Lose just a little of the volume and make the checkered print a little larger, or even soften the black to a charcoal gray, and this look would have worked.  

Joey King looked very '90s in a column dress with a black velvet bandeau top and a tan sheer chiffon skirt with flower print over a shorter underskirt, paired with sheer black gloves, a diamond and black necklace, a zigzag headband, and washed-out makeup. It looked dated without being retro, and it felt like a bunch of pieces thrown together that didn't really work as a whole. 

Meryl Streep wore a deep brown dress with a silver swirl pattern, which a high round neck and long cuffed sleeves, with a gathered skirt and a short train. Considering some of the looks Streep has worn on recent red carpets, this is a very nice look, if not exactly memorable.  

Zuri Hall wore a striking teal satin off-the-shoulder trumpet gown with a deeply notched bodice and gorgeously angled seaming at the waist. This gown was impeccably tailored, skimming Hall's body without being tight, and creating a beautiful silhouette. Hall's hair and makeup were also impeccable. Simply lovely. 

Overall, it was a good night for fashion, with only a few missteps and plenty of fantastic looks!