Emmys 2014: The red carpet is just that, with an easy, modern twist
Maybe the Emmys should always be held on a Monday night.
The red carpet was one of the best in recent Hollywood history. Nontraditional was the new normal. The looks were modern and fashion-y, but not fashion victim-y (save for poor Sarah Paulson’s polka-dot mosquito netting).
In fact, the word to describe the night’s overriding feeling might just be “effortless.” These actresses wore the clothes; the clothes didn’t wear them.
Red was the hot color of the evening, worn by at least half a dozen high-profile attendees in what seemed like a crazy fashion coincidence. The best red dresses had unusual details: whimsical red crystal butterflies at the neckline of Claire Danes’ Givenchy stunner, for example, and sexy burgundy patent leather strap details on Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Carolina Herrera gown.
Among the evening’s modern looks was Kerry Washington’s orange-is-the-new-black Prada column gown with a high slit, sparkly underskirt and multicolored micro-beaded edge details.
Michelle Dockery also chose an unusual look by up-and-coming New York designer Rosie Assoulin, a color-blocked blush pink, blue and green column with overlapping folds. And Allison Williams looked like a 21st century princess in a pink and white tulle Giambattista Valli couture gown with a bright yellow belt and off-kilter bow.
PHOTOS: Emmys 2014 Top nominees and winners | Show highlights | Red carpet arrivals | Quotes from the stars | Best and worst | Winners room
Lizzy Caplan’s black-and-white Donna Karan ball gown with a dramatic crisscross back had modern flair, as did Jessica Paré’s anything-but-basic-black Lanvin dress in a chic shorter length, paired with a killer 1950s swirl diamond Fred Leighton necklace.
Even Zac Posen, best known for his vintage-inspired couture looks, struck a modern note, dressing Heidi Klum in a gorgeous coral column gown with wing-like details.
Arguably, Dior designer Raf Simons is the one who kicked off the new mood in red carpet dressing, with his daring couture designs worn to such spectacular effect at past awards shows by Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence and Marion Cotillard. Call it the Raf effect. But alas, Dior didn’t dress anyone for the Emmys.
Simons didn’t need to — everyone followed the lead anyway.
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