Ever since I declared 2026 my year of putting the passion back in fashion, I’ve been thinking about what that looks like at the highest level: the red carpets where every sequin, hair flip, and hemline gets zoomed in on by the entire internet. The Golden Globes have always been the most unfiltered of the major ceremonies, a little unruly at times, but consistently the place where the most revealing and authentic looks appear first. Tonight’s carpet feels perfectly aligned with that energy. Instead of quiet luxury and simple dresses, I’m forecasting the exact opposite of my old, play it safe style rules: shine, drama, movement, and clothes that refuse to blend into the beige backdrop.

I’ve been obsessed with this new era of loud glamour that editors are calling everything from “Glamoratti” to “Power dressing 2.0,” and it feels like the Globes will be its official rollout party. Early 2026 trend reports are all pointing in the same direction: saturated color, visible opulence, and silhouettes that say “I’m here to win,” even if the trophy goes to someone else. On other red carpets this week, you can already see the shift away from soft, slinky minimalism into gowns that look like they were poured on or sculpted in a studio. Think liquid metallics, corseted bodices, and skirts that actually move when you walk, basically the Hollywood version of what I meant when I said I want my sidewalk outfits to feel like a personal runway.

My Golden Globes Style Predictions

If I had to build a mood board for tonight’s red carpet, here’s what I’d pin, and what I’ll be looking for while I shamelessly take screenshots.

Molten metal gowns

Expect to see “poured gold” dresses, the kind that catch every flashbulb and look almost wet, like someone dipped the wearer in metal and sent her directly to the Beverly Hilton. This is gold not as an accent, but as a full body commitment to being the shiniest thing in the room, which feels very Fire Horse coded. 

Saturated jewel tones instead of beige

Forecasts for 2026 are all about powerful colors: lilac, cobalt, deep reds, and rich greens instead of the safe, neutral palette we’ve seen on so many carpets. I’m expecting at least a few actresses to show up looking like a walking gemstone, maybe even in head to toe monochrome that turns them into one bold, emotional brushstroke against the step and repeat.

Sculptural silhouettes with actual drama

The classic nice slip dress era isn’t over, but it has some serious competition from gowns with structure, strong shoulders, nipped waists, bubble hems, and trailing trains that require a handler. This move toward architecture over simplicity feels like the red carpet version of what I’ve been craving in my own closet: pieces that don’t just skim the body, they tell a story about it.

Sheer, lace, and the new “naked” dress

The naked dress has grown up into something a bit more intentional: sheer panels, lace overlays, and corsetry that feels sensual without looking like a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. I’m thinking high end lingerie energy meets old school screen siren, a balance I’ve been leaning into every time I’m seeking a sheer moment.

Rosettes, ruffles, and things that move

The rosette trend is definitely not done yet, expect at least a few necklines, waists, or shoulders to be crowned with one dramatic flower. Add in ruffled hems and full skirts that catch the air, and you essentially get a red carpet where half the gowns are built to move like the fringe and tiered dresses on my own 2026 fashion board.

Power suiting with undone edges

Tailoring is going to be a big character tonight, on every gender, sharp tuxedos, cropped jackets, and sculpted suits that lean more “fashion editor at midnight” than “corporate gala.” I’m predicting at least one look that mirrors my favorite styling trick: something structured up top with just enough undone, an open button, a hint of bra, or bare skin, to keep it feeling alive and a little rebellious.

Accessories That Don’t Whisper

The jewelry conversation this year is very simple: gold is back at the center of the universe. Yellow gold cuffs, vintage leaning earrings, and stacked chains will probably be the supporting cast for all that molten fabric and high impact color, and it mirrors exactly how I’ve been treating my own accessories, less quiet detail, more small but mighty. 

Bags and shoes, on the other hand, are likely to stay sleek and minimal so the dresses and suits can keep the spotlight. Think simple pumps, petite clutches, and the occasional if you know, you know designer detail, which feels like the red carpet equivalent of my rule that an outfit isn’t done until at least one accessory is screaming, in a good way.

A New Red Carpet Language

What excites me most about tonight’s Globes carpet is that it mirrors the exact shift I’ve been writing about here on Mads on Madison: away from dressing to be accepted, and toward dressing to feel alive. Whether it shows up as a liquid gold gown, a sculpted tux, or a lace and sheer moment that makes someone’s publicist nervous, the through line is the same, clothes with a pulse. 

I’ll be watching the red carpet like I always watch my own reflection before I leave the house: not asking “Is this flattering?” but “Does this tell the truth about how I want to feel tonight?” If my forecasts are right, a lot of Hollywood is finally asking itself the same question.