Best-Dressed List | 01/12/2009 1:15 pm

Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Other 40+ Women Who Shined at the Globes

Photo Essay

Around the fashion world from Los Angeles to Beijing, there was a collective sigh of relief after the Golden Globes aired Sunday night. Going into the awards, retailers and designers were praying red carpet glamour would not become another victim of the Great Recession of 2009. “If it’s restraint and respect, well, hemlines won’t be the only things going down,” warned Vanessa Friedman, fashion correspondent of the Financial Times, prior to the awards. The glam factor, or lack thereof, would impact the fortunes of fashion houses and retailers either positively or negatively for the rest of the year. And happily, sackcloth was out, and long — if somewhat simple — glamour rocked the red carpet, not just on the very young stars like Blake Lively in Nina Ricci, but also on the 40+ set including Sandra Bullock and Kristin Scott Thomas, plus eight more stars whom we selected here for our 2009 Golden Globes Best-Dressed List.

28 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I love it that Meryl Streep bought her dress off the rack at Saks… she is truly an artist first and not a celebrity.

By DeBúrca obj on 01/12/2009 2:40 pm

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Miss De, Meryl Streep is made of the same classy cloth as the “stars” from days gone by. She has class and is one of our “best”. I did not know about the dress but she looked smashing. No doubt all the designers are courting her to get her to wear their work, she does not have to wow us with diamonds and chiffon, we run to see her in all her movies because she is going to give us the entertainment we are looking for. You have a nice week, DB.

By Jeannot Kensinger on 01/12/2009 5:58 pm

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Meryl Streep is so authentic! Wow- did any of you see her FANTASTIC performance in the movie Doubt? I was haunted by her in that movie for days. That movie was also incredibly thought provoking way beyond the Catholic Church scandal - it dealt with the different approaches people take to when they become aware or suspect corruption or bad things are going on- so timely for the world we are dealing with right now. The easy road, denial, turn the other way all easier than to fight it head on. And then the doubt that enters- are you doing the right thing when you do stand up to evil. Awesome movie- a “must see”. Meryl Streep was at her best in my opinion.

By Kay Sara on 01/15/2009 5:47 am

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My daughter and I saw “Doubt” last Friday. It was an excellent movie and Meryl Streep was great in it. That movie was full of phenomenal actors, everyone gave great performances. My daughter is a theater major and she was thrilled with the acting. She had seen the play a few times already and knew the story.

By DeBúrca obj on 01/15/2009 8:46 am

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DeBurca, it is good to get your confirmation from people in the know.

By Kay Sara on 01/15/2009 3:27 pm

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Meryl is almost too big for the screen.

By Alice Alice on 01/16/2009 12:03 pm

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with the exception of Glen Close I loved every single outfit on every single one of these women. But… lately i’ve been feeling a bit odd about all these women over 40 who get all this attention for how amazing and youthful they look. i’m over 40. i’m 45 and just beginning to get to that age where i’m starting to feel misplaced because i’m not young anymore. i think i’m just now at the beginning of that struggle. And all these women who get all this attention… Demi Moore, the desperate housewives women, Sharon Stone, Jane Fonda… etc etc… etc.. These are all women who’ve spent gynormous amounts of time, energy and money on their looks. GYNORMOUS. some of admittedly had surgery and other expensive “upgrades” and others have not admittedly had them. And then of course there’s digital enhancements on photo layouts. I think its becomign just another tool for people to keep women who are aging feeling like shit about themselves. I don’t want to spend all that time, energy and money on looking YOUNG. Why can’t i just look my freaking age for gods sake and have it be OK? why does the focus always have to be on “forty is the new thirty” “she looks 25 and she’s 45”…. blah blah blah okay i’ve vented

By Chrome Toe on 01/12/2009 3:32 pm

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Chrome Toe…… You can look any old way you want to look……….. I think all those statements are being made because we are living longer. I’m almost 77……….people tell me I only look like I’m in my early 60’s. Maybe. My insides feel 77 and older. I try to take good care of my skin, but don’t want any alterations. I love to see age naturally. It really is strange to see women whose’s faces are line free…………then look at the skin on the rest of their sagging bodies. lol Every time I look at my saggy skin I’m just grateful I’m still alive and kicking.

By Dona Howlett on 01/13/2009 1:55 am

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Chrome - I’ve gone through so many things about age this year - turned 60, been told so many times I don’t look that old (but no one does nowadays). I think they just talk about age way too much. There is no way I would have any surgery, having had 2 brain surgeries, anything thing for looks just seems silly. Having been a “baby boomer” all my life - you can’t stop that - I have fit in every trend and now we are hitting the age trend so that is what they are pushing. After reading what I should & shouldn’t wear, eat, drink, think, do and buy I have decided that all of that was what would really age me. Now I’m going to do what ever I feel like and can afford. You seem to have fun and you are still young, enjoy yourself and don’t worry about it. After all, lack of worry is the new botox - lol.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 01/13/2009 8:24 am

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lack of worry is the nwe botox.. love it!!! that’s perfect. I just think women are so pressured in so many ways. I subscribe to this magazine called “MORE” that is for women over 40. at first i really loved it. then when it came is started realizing that every time i read it i felt like i wasn’t doing “enough” to be all that i could be! they always have these women in the mag that went from stay at home mom to milliionaire entrepenuer. they have a readers model search but all the readers they end up choosing for models (40-50-60) still represent maybe 1% of what REAL women look like. Hey i just thought of something. i’m going to start a magazine for women called “REAL” lol!

By Chrome Toe on 01/13/2009 9:52 am

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My daughter gave me a subscription to More for Mother’s Day last year and I had the same reaction, first good and then, sort like I’ll never live up to this. I think your REAL magazine sounds great - what we all really are!!

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 01/13/2009 10:53 am

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Sandbee - that’s interesting that you had the same reaction. i kind of thought it was just me. I mean… I think it’s great that they highlight what women are doing that’s amazing. but MOST women do something amazing every day. We are the caretakers of the world. and it is most often at our own expense. and we usually don’t look like Demi Moore while we’re doing it you know? So I’m canceling my subscription to MORE.

By Chrome Toe on 01/13/2009 10:59 am

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Maybe they should occassionally go for a little LESS.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 01/13/2009 11:08 am

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On other web sites, many of these were listed as “worst dressed”. Fashion opinions are certainly subjective. Meryl Streep gets my vote for looking best. I wish Susan Sarandon would stop wearing such low cut things. She could look much better without that emphasis.

By elaine s on 01/12/2009 4:33 pm

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Elaine, You took the words right out of my mouth, I too am so tired of Susan Sarandon exposing her breasts. I think she’s a pretty lady, but lets face it those are not attractive breasts, big yes, but attractive no.

By Sheryl S on 01/12/2009 7:13 pm