Anything worthwhile requires a little bit of a warmup, and the Golden Globes are no different. Before that red carpet rolls out, we have the Art of Elysium's annual Heaven Gala to provide us with glamorous gowns, sexy frocks, and even one very sharp menswear-inspired suit.
Bold orange looked brilliant on Nina Dobrev, who picked the strong shade for a solid strapless Emilio Pucci Spring 2014 dress. Sparkling starbursts on the bust added something special, as did the hint of her gunmetal Rupert Sanderson sandals.
Fanned pleats and florals combined for a marvelous effect on Kate Bosworth's icy-blue Dior dress. While she didn't allow any accessories to compete, donning simple black Dior pumps and carrying a tiny clutch, she still got some sparkle by way of a black diamond Ana Khouri ring.
Houndstooth, is that you? The trippy print of Ashley Madekwe's black-and-white gown is actually the preppy print, subverted.
Still looking for proof that an LBD isn't boring? Look no further than Anna Kendrick's silk J. Mendel dress, which featured eyelet accents at the bust and a cropped shrug that sat lightly on her shoulders. Her accessories? Playful Christian Louboutin pumps and Sethi Couture jewels.
A formal silhouette from the Ralph Lauren Collection Spring 2014 lineup felt playful in cornflower blue on Camilla Belle. Rather than skimping on the accessories, she picked a hefty jeweled necklace that added plenty of sparkle.
Sequins made Amber Heard's black tank dress evening-appropriate. She finished the monochromatic look with peep-toe pumps and a cuff bracelet.
It was the ultimate menswear inspiration for Evan Rachel Wood, who did a sharp red blazer and skinny black pants instead of a cocktail dress. She skipped heels, too, wearing Christian Louboutin oxfords.
The would-be simple shape of this Holmes & Yang gown, belted at the waist, felt special on Amy Smart, thanks to a sparkly fabric (and those statement earrings didn't hurt, either).
Floaty fabric on the voluminous bottom half of Jamie-Lynn Sigler's Memeka by Gustavo Cadile dress felt romantic and airy (though the floral print didn't hurt, either). For maximum flattery, the style featured a sweetheart neckline and ruching on the bodice.
Odette Annable was sleek and shimmery in this short-sleeved, Champagne-hued Pamella Roland number. Gold piping at the waist and neckline kept the color scheme going, as did her metallic clutch.
Kelly Osbourne went for one of the evening's more dramatic looks, wearing a floor-length gown that had sheer, lace-edged sleeves that belled out and an eye-catching Demarco diamond ring.
A velvety dress by Elisabetta Franchi felt straight out of disco's heyday on Jennifer Morrison, thanks to a plummeting neckline and a front slit. She went with a more uncommon red carpet neutral, too, opting for a cream color instead of anything dark.
A slinky, silky slip dress was all Rose McGowan needed to make an impression on the red carpet. She also reminded us that blue and black make good bedfellows, finishing off her look with shoes and a clutch in the dark hue.
A seafoam column gown on Ali Larter looked most arresting when viewed from the side, thanks to a cascading train. She let the showstopping gown get all the attention, accessorizing it only with a simple clutch.
A little bit of embellishment wasn't enough for Michelle Trachtenberg, who picked a dress with a wide V covered in crystals.
There was a welcome feel of Summer in the beaded, lacy Naeem Khan dress Paz Vega chose. She kept the warm vibe going by picking a pink clutch and nude, leg-elongating Christian Louboutin heels.