This Week's Wow: Red Carpet Season Kicks Off. Will It Be As Exciting As We Hope?

Pictured: Sandra Bullock in Peter Pilotto; Jessica Alba in Jason Wu; Allison Williams in David Koma; Bérénice Béjo in Maxime Simeons

In this weekly feature, InStyle’s Fashion News Director Eric Wilson shares his favorite fashion moment of the week, and explains how it could shape styles to come. Look for it on What’s Right Now every Friday.

The Moment: “Cross your fingers, let’s hope!” said the hot young Paris designer Maxime Simoens during a showroom visit on Wednesday, expressing a sentiment that is common at just about every fashion house this time of year. With the red carpet sweeps officially in season, designers are angling to dress their favorite stars for the Golden Globes on Sunday and beyond.

There does seem to be a bit more excitement and anticipation for the fashion this year, doesn’t there? Of course, at the beginning of every awards circuit, it’s probably naïve to be so hopeful that this will be the year when Hollywood forgets the red carpet politics and goes back to taking chances.

Anyway, there is reason to dream, now that strapless princess gowns are starting to fall out of favor, and long sleeves and unusual jewelry treatments are just beginning to have a moment. (Remember the backward dangling necklaces on Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway at last year's Oscars?) We’ll also be watching for more delightful extravagance from Dior’s artistic director, Raf Simons, who has been shaking up red carpets everywhere, and hopefully a few more surprises and breakthrough fashion stars along the way.

Why It’s a Wow: What else can you possibly be thinking about right now? Traffic in Fort Lee?

Besides, early events this week have shown promise for many of the smaller, independent designers; those rising stars who were largely shut out in 2013, when scarcely a non-famous name was even heard at the Oscars. Bérénice Béjo has already appeared in a casual but smart Maxime Simeons ensemble at the National Board of Review Gala. And at the People’s Choice Awards Wednesday, there were many inspired choices: Jessica Alba in a surgically fitted Jason Wu dress, Sandra Bullock in a garden-motif from Peter Pilotto, and Allison Williams in a dazzling blue dress by newcomer David Koma from London. That’s a promising start!

Learn more: Follow Eric Wilson (@EricWilsonSays) and InStyle (@InStyle) on Twitter for commentary during Sunday's Golden Globes red carpet, and come back to InStyle.com Monday to see his picks for the 10 best-dressed stars that night.

MORE: • See Some Risky Golden Globes Gowns • Everything You Need to Prep for This Year's Globes •Relive the Best Looks and Trends of 2013