It was a pretty lackluster year for fashion this year at the 2010 Golden Globes — most of the stars played it pretty safe in terms of design, and many opted for the same dull neutrals we’ve been seeing for the past five years on the red carpet. Even the worst gowns of the night tended toward the unflattering as opposed to the truly hideous. Let’s hope this means the stars are saving up the good stuff to wow us all at the Oscars.

Best Dressed Golden Globes ‘10

Gown of the Night: Drew Barrymore

The most stunning gown of the evening belonged to Drew Barrymore, who chose the perfect shade of peach to complement her skin tone. The crystals on the overlay add glamour, while the corset she wears beneath evokes old Hollywood. I’m sure the critics will be divided about the spiky, sparkly ornaments on her shoulder and waist, but without them, in my opinion, this would be just another nice evening gown — they’re daring and blingy enough to take this gown over the top.

Also: pay attention to Barrymore’s sleek updo; you’ll be seeing a lot of it later. Many actresses went for this hairstyle this year, a welcome change from the long messy locks and casual, frizzy updos of previous awards seasons.

Jennifer Garner

The long lines and careful geometry of this dress accentuate Garner’s figure well, and the asymmetrical neckline adds interest without looking forced. In a year where many gowns had ruffles, bows, folds, and other accents-for-the-sake-of-accents randomly stapled onto them, a clean, confident look like this one — where it’s all about the cut — stands out.

Carey Mulligan

The star of An Education, better known to many of us as Kitty from Pride and Prejudice (2005) , wears one of the night’s most interesting dresses. The midnight blue color and classic strapless neckline say ‘glamour,’ while the marbled-looking lace overlay and the ragged hem suggest that this actress has a Gothy streak. (I do want to yank it up a couple of inches, however.) Plus her crystal headband is cute with her pixie cut. Clearly the stylists haven’t been able to shove Mulligan into the ‘generic Hollywood glam’ mold yet, and I hope they never do; her personal style really shows through in this outfit.

Chloe Sevigny

This may well be one of the most divisive looks of the evening: I know many people will say this gown looks like a tornado hit a ruffle factory, but here the ruffles are deployed with purpose. The gown works best when you see it from all sides and notice how the ruffles frame Sevigny both front and back, and how they appear to float about her shoulders without being held up by anything. The lavender shade is also lovely.

Halle Berry

This is definitely a number only Halle Berry could pull off! That low a neckline is usually distracting, but it works on this gown as it’s offset by the tomboyish cap sleeves and almost military-style gold piping. It fits Berry perfectly, and she’s a knockout as always.

Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon had one of the loveliest gowns of the night: beautifully cut, understated, and in a COLOR. The blue shade really brought out her eyes, and the swoop of the one-shoulder, sweetheart-but-not neckline was pleasing (especially on a night when so many straps seemed tacked onto one-shoulder gowns).

Tina Fey

Fun, flouncy, ’50’s: this Zac Posen number is a great fit for Fey, who loves to rock the ’sexy librarian’ look. The corset-like top and full skirt are flattering, while the pattern hints at Fey’s nerdy image. I do find the shoes a bit too twee, though.

Mo’Nique

The golden color of this dress is a great match for Mo’Nique’s skin tone, and the lush pleats and draping transform her into an old Hollywood bombshell.

Meryl Streep

Trust Meryl to show ‘em how it’s done: Streep somehow manages to look both casual and glam at the same time. The belt and the three-quarter-length sleeves say, ‘What, this old thing?,’ while the hint of shoulder and the red lips say ‘I got TWO nominations in one category. Damn, I’m good.”

Honorable Mention: Kate Hudson

There’s too much going on with this dress for it to work 100%, but the white fabric beautifully shows off the sharp folds and the cut of the bodice.  The way the feathered top stands out from Hudson’s body keeps you looking: it’s more than just another white column dress. Definite points for effort here.

Honorable Mention: Cameron Diaz

Wearing a bright red dress with sleeves is enough in and of itself to get you on this list in a bland year like 2010. Diaz was like a chili pepper thrown into a pot of gruel. There’s something weird about the neckline, and Diaz’s lipstick is too bright, but the color alone is gorgeous, and she gets extra points for pulling off shiny satin that well.

Honorable Mention: Rose Byrne

This may not be the most exciting of dresses, but its grape color is downright drinkable, and the rhinestone floral accents are exquisite.