2012 Golden Globes Fashion Trends

There are three major events every year that give celebrities the chance to impress the public even more than usual with their style and fashion expertise: the Oscars, the Grammys, and the Golden Globes.

The latter of which were celebrated this weekend, and although some may say that the evening was a little underwhelming compared to past years, what stood out as usual was the red carpet event - perhaps the most anticipated part of all for all women. As celebrity after celebrity appeared on the red carpet, didn't we all dream of having one Cinderella night of our own to wear expensive gowns and lavish jewelry?

Well, 2012 is still young and at least some of us will have a prom, graduation or ball to attend. So why not take some of the current Golden Globes looks as inspiration for our own (maybe less spectacular, but nevertheless) glamorous events?

Here is a short recap of this year's award show fashion trends:

Slim silhouettes: Big and pouffy is a thing of the past! To show off their super-petite bodies, celebrities like Kelly MacDonald, Nicole Richie and Michelle Williams chose to go with a much simpler, slim silhouette this year. This accentuates their shape and makes them appear a little taller. The extra sheen and glitz adds elegance to the outfit and makes them shine!

Nudes: Nude tones made a comeback this weekend. Diane Lane, Mary J. Blidge and Sarah Hyland know that nudes, furnished with a little shine, texture or contrast, are much more flattering, but no less elegant than black, and make them stand out from the crowd.

Extravagant details: Zooey Deschanel, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore resorted to another tried-and-true trick. The lavish detailing turns their otherwise understated dresses into red carpet eye catchers.

Mermaids: What was interesting to see was the small crowd of mermaids floating through the masses. All aquatic in color and shape, celebs like Rachel Evan Woods, Sofia Vergara and Kelly Osbourne chose mermaid-style gowns in watery blues and greens for their big entrance.

As young as you feel: Andie MacDowell, Helen Mirren and Jodie Foster are regulars at the Golden Globes and have showcased many trends over the years. One thing they all have in common is that they agree that age is not a handicap and that women in their 40s, 50s and 60s can still look as beautiful, elegant and radiant as the young'uns.

Classic elegance: Men have much fewer options to look red carpet appropriate than women. That is why George Clooney, Leonardo di Caprio and Mark Wahlberg stuck to classic, elegant tuxedos and bow-ties. To add a little visual interest (as if their faces weren't enough to cover this point), they added some subtle sheen to their lapels.