The Critic’s Choice Awards totally snuck up on us this year, coming a full month earlier than they did in years’ past (click here for the 2015 style recap), but boy, are we glad they did: Most of the red blue carpet looks were simply too good to wait for. While there were, to be sure, a few misses to boot, the sheer level of star power seen here tonight more than made up for them: We’re talking J. Biel and Justin, Emma Stone and Nicole Kidman, people! Cozy up and grab a cup a cup of hot cocoa, cause we’re walking you through all this year’s looks, from the good and the bad to even, yes, the ugly. Check out best and worst picks below.
1. Constance Wu: We love, love, LOVE not only the pops of color the floral print on this white gown afford, but its structural, draped sides that flow down in a fishtail train, as well. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
2. Evan Rachel Wood: Now THIS is a pantsuit done right. So well-tailored it might as well be custom fit for the Westworld star’s lithe frame (which it very well may be), the slimming black Altuzarra suit works just WORKS for Evan. (Photo via Christopher Polk/Getty)
3. Mandy Moore: The This Is Us star looked hot, hot, hot despite a shade of navy winter blue, thanks to a few well-place side cutouts and a deeeeep plunging neckline on her curve-hugging gown. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
4. Cynthia Nixon: While we’re not entirely sold on this color combo for Cynthia in particular (there are some who say that reds and pinks are the least flattering shades a redhead can wear), the dress itself is absolutely gorgeous, and could easily double as Valentine’s Day date-wear. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
5. Hailee Steinfeld: Hailee Steinfeld is quickly becoming one of our favorite fashion icons to watch. After NAILING it on the American Music Awards red carpet, girl does it again with ease at the Critic’s Choice Awads, owning the carpet in one of the night’s more colorful looks and keeping right on trend with its hint of sheer. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
6. Michelle Williams: Though not as flashy as some of the carpet’s other looks, Michelle always manages to look elegant and pulled together with her own, quiet and simplistic style. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
7. Sarah Hyland: While this Vera Wang look might have looked a bit too casual on anyone else, Sarah Hyland has some sort of effortless coolness about her that just makes it work. Perhaps it’s that killer choker pendant? (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
8. Lily Collins: In her winter gray Elie Saab lace with pale, pale skin, deep plum lips and super dark hair, Lily Collins is our personal snow queen. We’re bowing down Wayne’s World style, Lily: We’re not worthy! (Photo via )
9. Felicity Huffman & William H. Macy: Felicity Huffman may be 54 years old, but she appeared more full of life than women half her age on the red carpet, and for that alone, she makes our best dressed list (never mind the fact that she does, in fact, look fabulous, to boot): Happiness looks great on everyone! (Photo via Frazer Harrrison/Getty)
10. Janelle Monae: Janelle stepped out of her usual pantsuit box for this year’s Critics Choice Awards — we almost didn’t recognize her without her pompadour! — but boy, are we SO glad she did. Still keeping true to her quirky nature with a funky houndstooth frock, but girly-ing things up a bit from her typical digs, we think Janelle looks fierce AF. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
11. Jessica Biel: Motherhood (or eating in the shower) must be seriously agreeing with Jessica Biel, because in our opinion, this was the absolute BEST she’s ever looked on a red carpet. Maybe it’s the green of her Elie Saab gown that brings out her eyes or maybe it’s the plunging neckline, but whatever it was, girl looks AMAZE. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
12. Kate Beckinsale: Kate looks like a beautiful queen of a faraway ice land in her sheer-and-sequined flared Reem Acra gown. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
13. Nicole Kidman: We love the daring details of Nicole Kidman’s bow-top Brandon Maxwell gown, and the black hue really offsets her glowing winter complexion (the red lips don’t hurt at all, either). (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
14. Sarah Paulson: The AHS actress was one classy dame in this pearl-adorned peplum dress with a chic and tousled little side bob. It’s different, but that might be exactly what we like about it. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
15. Viola Davis: Simple though it may be, Viola Davis looked pretty as a picture thanks to the GORGEOUS hue of this mint bodycon Michael Kors collection gown that sets off her skin tone beyond beautifully. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
16. Emma Stone: Emma has been slaying her La La Land premiere looks all season, so we’re not surprised to see her slaying here too. Taking a cue from Nicole Kidman with her contrasting black gown and milky white skin/red lip combo, Emma adds interest with a uniquely twisted top and a bit of sequined shine. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
17. Kaley Cuoco: Kaley looked sweet-as-can-be in a fitted pair of pink cropped Noon by Noon pants and a strapless frilly lace top from the same designer with a flowing train. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
THE WORST
1. Bella Thorne: Bella’s brand of style typically comes off as crazysexycool, but this one, in our humble opinion, just comes off as crazy. Between the bold red hair, the wayyyyy too sheer side cutouts and the pageant style silver glitz, it’s making us a bit dizzy, TBH. (Photo via Christopher Polk/Getty)
2. Carly Chaikin: We’re all for a break from the parade of gowns that tend to take over the carpet, but this is a bit…much. The non-flattering cut of this top gives off a lax maternity-wear look that we’re just not digging. (Photo via Christopher Polk/Getty)
3. Bryce Dallas Howard: We can’t put our finger on exactly what it is we dislike about this Grecian-style getup (other than perhaps the color, which isn’t doing her skin tone ANY favors), but this Topshop number just may be our least favorite look of the night. (Photo via Christopher Polk/Getty)
4. Allison Williams: While we can certainly appreciate a unique pattern or pop of color, Allison Williams missed the mark by quite a bit with the uber-loud print of this Balmain design. (Photo via Jonathan Leibson/Getty)
5. Ariel Winter: It’s largely the fit of this dress that lands Ariel on our worst dress list. It looks slightly either too big or lopsided, hanging in all the wrong spots and hugging none of the right ones. Girl has a bangin’ body, so we would’ve loved to see her in something more akin to Mandy Moore’s ensemble. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
6. Busy Phillips: This dress needs SOMETHING. Lace is nice and all, but without a flattering neckline or cutout or any type of leg slit, this comes off as being a bit… frumpy. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
7. Judith Light: Judith is far too dignified a lady for this latex-looking fabric that is giving us majorly (ill-fitting) Hefty vibes. (Photo via Jonathan Leibson/Getty)
8. Tracee Ellis Ross: Mayyyybeee Tracee didn’t the memo that winter is more or less knocking on our doors, but this look is totally out of season. We know Santa Monica is warmer than say, Chicago, and all, but this crochet Zuhair Murad with its spaghetti straps is a look far better suited for summer days. (Photo via Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty)
9. Lili Taylor: We typically love us a pantsuit — when it’s done right (see: Evan Rachel Wood). This one needed a trip to the tailor to shorten the ill-fitting bottoms before ever making it’s public debut. What could have been great just ends up looking like a too-big man’s ensemble, all courtesy of the poor fit. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
10. Amanda Peete: While Amanda’s dress would have been PERFECT for stomping divots at the racetrack a la Pretty Woman, it’s a wee bit too casual for a red (or, in this case, blue) carpet. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)
11. Robin Tunney: Robin will forever live in our hearts as our favorite ‘90s witch, so it pains us to say this, but we’re just not feeling this black capelet dress or the red ankle-strap pumps that would be better suited for the office. (Photo via Christopher Polk/Getty)
(Photo via Christopher Polk/Getty)