Merle Ginsberg Weighs in on the Emmys’ Red Carpet Fashion

But that’s the bad—and the good—news. While there was little fun and frivolity, there weren’t really any serious missteps, either. Some opted for dresses that were a touch too revealing, but generally, it was a night of classic silhouettes, ruffles, strong colors like bright yellows, greens, and reds; cut-outs, ruffles, lobs, bobs—and high ponytails.

The yellow moment lightened up the night and freshened it up too. There were all different hues of the color: Ellie Kemper’s Jenny Packham had a gold brocade pattern on the slim column cut. Taraji P. Henson’s Vera Wang was the color of the sun. Angela Bassett did a full kimono gown in soft yellow by Christian Siriano. Mandy Moore’s marigold Prabal Gurung was a combo of chiffon sheer and pretty ruffles. Minnie Driver rocked her killer figure in a yellow Versace tea-length with cut-outs. And Amanda Peet’s Altuzarra black combo gown had a yellow bodice inset that caught the eye and spiced up the black dress.

The greens were mostly emerald: Tina Fey’s Oscar de la Renta (styled by Cristina Ehrlich, who had a big night: Julia Louis Dreyfus, Priyanka Chopra, and Padma Lakshmi) was pleated and Grecian, and Sarah Paulson’s killer green Prada, the evening’s best look, had long hanging languorous bugle beads. Amy Poehler’s Pamella Roland was a beaded cape gown in a sort of celery/chartreuse color. It wasn’t exactly flattering to her body—but the color worked well with her now dark auburn hair, at least.

Red is a red carpet staple and eye grabber, of course, and we saw it on Regina King, Portia Doubleday, Kate McKinnon, Julianne Hough, Connie Britton—but Priyanka Chopra’s Jason Wu was the night’s best red dress. Belted and tight-waisted, its pleated chiffon swung perfectly when twirled by co-presenter Tom Hiddleston. Winner Tatiana Maslany’s custom Alexander Wang was perfectly subtle—not to mention, how cool to wear Wang?

White—stark, cut close—is also a red carpet stable, but it rarely feels tired. Emmy Rossum in Wes Gordon, Tracee Ellis Ross in Ralph Lauren and Julie Bowen in Lela Rose all proved why it’s so classic. Michelle Dockery’s strapless Oscar white gown was all ruffle tiers – but with black piping, it was charming and feminine.

Heidi Klum and Padma Lakshmi opted for full-on shine in Michael Kors and Naeem Khan, respectively. Emilia Clarke’s beaded Atelier Versace corset gown was a quiet understated stunner. Robin Wright’s Reem Acra metallic chunky slip dress was a mix of silver, bronze and gold toned metallics. And Claire Danes’ gold Schiaparelli would have been great minus the Trump-esque spray tan she was sporting.

Cut-outs were a big trend of the night. Kerry Washington looked fabulous in her Brandon Maxwell black gown. Minnie Driver opted for a cocktail dress by Versace with subtle cut-outs that also showed off her incredible figure and the cut-outs on Tracee Ellis Ross’s Ralph Lauren were also chic. Sofia Vergara certainly wasn’t going for subtle, but her Versace gown was definitely highlighting her most famous assets.

There will never be an awards show without ubiquitous black gowns—but this year’s Emmy’s played with black in a textural way. Sophie Turner’s Valentino gown had illusion details, as did Kirsten Dunst’s beaded Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci haute couture column gown. Dunst once again went for a plunging and very revealing deep V. Her stylists, Nina and Claire Hallworth, told People, “The dress is weighty, completely beaded with intricate hand-sewn jet beads—but it has the ease and comfort of a t-shirt.” Julia Louis Dreyfus’s Carolina Herrera black illusion gown, her stylist Cristina Ehrlich tells The Daily, “was one I discovered in their resort 16 collection. Considering that last year, Julia wore a very sleek streamlined black dress that was all about the jewelry, we wanted to see her in something that felt a bit more nuanced and intricate. Overall, the dress is something that represents a really classically beautiful and fun moment for Julia at The Emmy’s.”

Soft ruffles floated down the carpet on Michelle Dockery (Oscar de la Renta), Mandy Moore (Prabal Gurung), and Game of Thrones’ Hannah Murray (Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini). Murray was styled by Ilaria Urbinati, who had eight clients in one night (mostly men)—and seven at the Toronto Film Festival. Not only that, she’s a newish mom with a brand new house. “You could stay I’m tired,” she laughed at the end of the night.  By Merle Ginsberg