The majority of ladies on the Golden Globes red carpet may have fit into tiny designer sample sizes, but that didn’t stop the more voluptuous women stealing the show. From plus-size divas Gabourey Sidibe and Supporting Actress (Drama) winner Mo’nique (both stars of hotly-tipped flick Precious) to Big Girls Browse’s favourite modern-day bombshell Christina Hendricks with her waspish waist and impossible bosom, I loved the looks the more curvaceous women went for, and picked out a few others that would look just as good on fuller figures as they do on Hollywood stars…

Mo’nique shows just what a good dress can do in her burnished gold Reem Acra frock. On paper, you wouldn’t think a strapless, draped and folded dress in a shiny fabric would work on a plus sized woman. But the draped cut of the skirt, the super-supportive style of the ruched, crossover bodice and the quality fabric mean this drapes beautifully. If you want to try this at home, remember the key is a good strapless bra, smooth skin (exfoliate and moisturise like hell!) and loads of confidence!

Mo’nique’s young co-star went for a tried-and-tested plus size shape from glam designer Kevan Hall. Sheer sleeves cover flabby arms*,a jewelled band around the bust creates shape and adds impact, and the soft folds of sheer fabric are pleated towards the band to pull everything in. The green colour is perfect too – kudos to these women for avoiding boring black just because they’re bigger!

*I’ve been chastised for mentioning ‘flabby arms’ here – I was referring more to what the dress shape can do, rather than attacking Gaby herself. Many women identify their upper arms as their least favourite body part, and this dress shape is flattering if that’s an areas of your body that you’re self-conscious about.

On the slimmer side, our curvy girl goddess Christina Hendricks was dressed by Project Runway alumni Christian Siriano. And boy, what a dress! Ruffles on the hip and a sweetheart strapless neckline just served to draw even more attention to that amazingly tiny waist, turning Christina into a real life Jessica Rabbit. If you’ve got wider hips and bust and think you can’t wear fussy shapes, let Christina show you that you can – if you’ve got the guts! I absolutely adore this look…now to work on that waistline!

Christina’s co-star, Elisabeth Moss, wasn’t quite so successful. She’s tiny, but the dress makes her look like she’s hiding away. While I love her choppy little haircut and the baby blue colour of her dress, I just don’t feel like the cut does anything for her. In Mad Men we’ve seen that Peggy has a gorgeous hourglass figure, but petite, curvy Elisabeth is drowned in this heavy bedsheet! Like the Fug Girls, my first thought was “is she pregnant?” as this dress is so maternity-like. Ladies, let this be a lesson to you. Just because you’re not a size zero, it doesn’t mean you should hide yourself away under big pouffy dresses – they just make you look bigger!

One curvy girl who’s not afraid of flaunting what God gave her is Mariah Carey! And while I applaud her for showing that Herve Leger bandage dresses aren’t just for size zero women (it’s fab from the waist down, These really do suck you in!) all that boobage is just a bit too overtly sexy for me. I wonder if Nick Cannon had the job of applying all that bronzer to her cleavage?

Sigourney Weaver, meanwhile, showed how to dress with class if you’re larger up top. Her body’s actually more sporty than curvy, and she’s definitely far from plus size, but her broad shoulders give the impression of her having a bigger chest than she probably has. Her super-slimming dress by Herve L. Leroux (the man who created the Herve Leger brand) is the perfect frock for making the most of your body which is why I had to feature it here. I wish Mariah had worn this instead as it’d be amazing on a fuller figured woman.

Top photos via HPFA.