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Emmys 2013 Fashion: Who Wore What
Sure, you see some big-screen leading ladies every year at the Emmys — especially now that TV is more de rigueur than romantic comedies. But even the sight of radiant Claire Danes, or Nicole Kidman at last year’s show, doesn’t draw the European fashion houses like ants to a picnic. The bottom line is this: Movie stars are global personalities; TV actresses get mobbed Stateside. When it comes to award shows, the Emmys provide a chance for American designers who don’t go by one name to shine.
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This year, we saw a strong showing from LA native Monique Lhuillier — on Anna Farris in a canary yellow chiffon dress that clashed a bit with her complexion and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ rose gold strapless column dress. Tina Feylooked electric in a body-con cobalt blue halter gown that Narcisco Rodriguez made specifically for her. In fact, a few lucky ladies got A-list treatment with custom-made gowns. Newcomer Taylor Schilling (Orange Is The New Black) wore a dress designed for her by Thakoon — no small feat for a great actress who wouldn’t get recognized in Orange County.
It was wicked fun to see January Jones act all nonchalant about her one-off dusty rose Givenchy confection: “They made it for me,” she said without an ounce of glee when Ryan Seacrest asked her why she chose that particular dress. The color didn’t wow on the red carpet.
Some of the actresses who didn’t get handmade frocks plundered the Resort 2014 collections, which showed in June in New York. Mad Men’s Kiernan Shipka wore a colorful though slightly distracting Delpozo dress while Zosia Mamet of Girls selected a mixed-media organza gown by Honor. The black leather bustier felt more like an “edgy girl” accessory than an organic piece of the dress, but it definitely strayed miles from the wardrobe of her less-than-alternative character. Elisabeth Moss gleaned her black-and-white strapless Andrew Gn gown from his resort line too.
Blue was the new red. Or at least, it popped on the carpet. Allison Williams — who looks to me like she grew up with a stable of horses and a closetful of preppy Polo cable knits — opted for Ralph Lauren’s simple, clean take on a debutante’s ball gown in cobalt blue. Edie Falco went with a bright blue Escada, while Jessica Pare wore a vibrant turquoise Oscar de la Renta
gown with pockets taken from the designer’s Spring 2014 collection. And then, there was Lena. The multi-hyphenated pixie picked a teal Prada festooned with red roses. The dress itself was stunning, but the bodice gapped around Dunham’s midriff and that caused the overblown silhouette to look blowsy. It’s a shame because a few nips and tucks would have made yards of difference.
I have always thought of the Emmys as an opportunity for small-screen talent to act like glamorous movie stars. (For fun, take a peek on WireImage at Joan Collins and Linda Evans at the 1986 Emmys. They both dressed in over-the-top gold lame that screamed, “Cast me, damn it!”) For many female TV stars relegated to playing frazzled housewives or dragon caretakers, the Emmy red carpet could be a launching pad to major film work. Look at Jennifer Aniston, who wore the hell out of a gorgeous Chanel column gown in 2004 and never ever looked back.
Best dressed? Sarah Paulson in red Carolina Herrera, Rose Byrne in Calvin Klein Collection, Kerry Washington in Marchesa and Linda Cardellini in Donna Karan Atelier. Worst? Vera Farmiga in Calvin Klein and Dunham in Prada.