LOS ANGELES — The Emmy Awards telecast, which took place at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles Monday night, might have been pushed a night from its usual Sunday time slot, but the looks that came across the gold-colored carpet made it well worth the wait, thanks to the attendees who deftly channeled Old Hollywood glamour, enthusiastically embraced sequins and shimmering mesh or both — as Quinta Brunson and Amada Seyfried did.
In addition to the two multiple nominees (Brunson with three nods, one each for producing, acting and writing for "Abbott Elementary," Seyfried garnered a producing and an acting nomination for "The Dropout"), those on trend included Elle Fanning (a first-time nominee for "The Great") who specifically invoked Hollywood gone by, she told E! Entertainment's Laverne Cox (on "Live from the Red Carpet") that she'd tapped her show's costume designer Sharon Long to design the strapless black gown with pale pink accents, a callback to the way legendary costume designers of old like Edith Head did under the studio system.
The ranks of the evening's glimmer-and-glamour contingent also included "Pam & Tommy" star Lily James (in an Atelier Versace gown crafted from bronze metal mesh) and "The Morning Show" star Reese Witherspoon in a sequin- and crystal-embroidered Armani Prive bustier gown.
Not all of the night's focus-pulling looks needed shiny things to get heads turning and tongues wagging, though. Case in point supporting actress nominee Hannah Einbinder ("Hacks") in a sleek, strapless custom Rodarte gown and Zendaya whose Valentino ballgown take on "black tie" was as simple as it was stunning.
It wouldn’t be an awards show arrivals telecast without at least a few fashion missteps, and this year’s could’ve-done-better award goes to supporting actor nominee Nicholas Braun (“Succession”), whose single-button double-breasted Christian Dior showed how not to attempt an all-white outfit (compared with Andrew Garfield’s peak-lapel Zegna tuxedo, which was all-white done right — especially when paired with a pair of sunnies). And “Live From the Red Carpet” co-host Laverne Cox, usually stellar on any color carpet anywhere, came off more cartoonish than couture in a Jean Paul Gaultier X Olivier Rousteing look.
Laverne Cox: Laverne Cox in a sculptural Jean Paul Gaultier fall and winter 2022 is a rare misstep.
Sheryl Lee Ralph: Sequins, sparkle everywhere (Sheryl Lee Ralph’s hair, Natalie Zea’s eyelids for starters) seem to be an early tickle of a trend.
Elle Fanning: First-time nominee Elle Fanning (“The Great”) told Laverne Cox on the Emmy Awards gold carpet that she was paying homage to Old Hollywood glamour — “When costume designers ... would create gowns for the red carpet.” She explained that she’d tapped “The Great” costume designer Sharon Long (who recently took home an Emmy for her work on the show) to design her outfit. The result was a serious Grace Kelly vibe that was an early standout look.
Hannah Waddingham: “Ted Lasso” actress Hannah Waddingham told E!’s Laverne Cox on the Emmys arrival carpet that the best part of wearing her voluminous Dolce & Gabbana gown was that “nobody knows that you’re not wearing heels!” After which she promptly hiked up the hem to reveal her sequin-festooned sneakers she was sporting.
Lily James: Is “Pam & Tommy” nominee Lily James paying homage to the real-life actress she played in the limited series by choosing an Atelier Versace bronze metal mesh dress? I’m not sure — but the gown is one of my favorites of the evening so far. A stunner.
Quinta Brunson: “Abbott Elementary” winner Quinta Brunson seems to be at least three times as stylish as anyone else on the gold carpet thanks to her custom Dolce & Gabbana gown with one of the evening’s most daring leg slits. On the arrivals carpet she told Laverne Cox she was aiming for something that would make her feel “va-va-voom but respectful” since she was there as a producer, writer and actor. We say “mission accomplished” on the look Brunson said made her feel like “a teeny tiny Jessica Rabbit.”
Zendaya: Zendaya in black tie? It works—especially if that means a super-simple — but drop-dead gorgeous—strapless Valentino gown with a bow tie-as-belt-buckle detail that cinched a tiny top to acres of voluminous skirt.
Amanda Seyfried: “I’m a mermaid tonight,” Amanda Seyfried (best lead actress in a limted series winner for “The Dropout”) told E!’s Loni Love on the Emmy’s arrival gold carpet, referring to her outfit. That might be the understatement of the evening, thanks to an Armani Privé blush pink strapless gown embroidered with crystal mesh that brought her closer to Venus on the half shell.
Julia Garner: I’m as much of a fan of Gucci as I am of Julia Garner (best supporting actress in a drama series winner for “Ozark”), but her Emmy outfit was evidence that diamonds aren’t always a girl’s best friend — in this case, the unfortunate, focus-pulling diamond-shaped cutout at her belly button.
Reese Witherspoon: Lead actress nominee Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show”) turned heads in a navy blue, sequin-and crystal-embroidered Armani Prive bustier gown.
Nicholas Braun: Supporting actor nominee Nicholas Braun (“Succession”) made a statement in a double-breasted, single-button, Christian Dior look with some serious white gold DeBeers shirt-collar bling.
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