September 22, 2008

Emmys 2008: Red Rug Redux

Wall Street collapse, a security alert, and possibly the lowest ratings in Emmy history—such things were of minor import on the Nokia Theatre's red carpet Sunday, where the sartorial mood was decidedly bright and cheery.
That's not to say that there weren't any depressing hues at the 60th Annual Primetime Emmys—there were plenty (Glenn Close, Debra Messing, Nicolette Sheridan, Hayden Panettiere, America Ferrera and Kate Walsh all opted for drab-fab noir)—but the Black Widows lost out to the Ladies in Red, Emerald, Amethyst, Marigold and Plum, whose Technicolor gowns dazzled and shimmered in the afternoon sun.
(Click here and here to see Variety's photo coverage of the Emmys.)

The Stylephile's Emmy 2008 Style Awards:

Best Green Goddess: Christina Hendricks

"Mad Men's" Joan Holloway, aka 30-year-old actress Christina Hendricks, looked like the Wizard of Oz's concubine queen in this emerald Tadashi Shoji goddess gown, which the designer had created in green, just for her. "It's my perfect dream dress," gushed Hendricks, whose Rubenesque figure and heaving porcelain bosom pick up exactly where Ava Gardners' left off.

Best Princess Bride: Olivia Wilde

"House" star Olivia Wilde, 24, looks like a fairy tale princess bride in her pearly Reem Acra satin and chiffon cap-sleeve gown and Jimmy Choo heels—although she's more alterna than her sparkly red carpet attire would suggest. Wilde is married to boho L.A. filmmaker Tao Ruspoli, who is a member of LAFCO, a film and art collective that travels the country in a converted school bus. On the red carpet, Wilde was more interested in talking about her admiration for Hugh Laurie than her hubby's beatnik lifestyle. Working with Laurie "is a dream come true," she said. Winning the coveted Stylephile Princess Bride Award, Wilde beat off stiff competition from fellow fairy princesses Sandra Oh (named "most improved" by carpet commentator Lisa Rinna, thanks to her ruffled Oscar de la Renta gown), and Marcia Cross (in nude Elie Saab Haute Couture gown, Rene Caovilla heels and Hearts on Fire diamonds).

Best Red Carpet Clash: Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields' fuchsia organza dress by Badgley Mischka was a showstopper when she was on stage presenting, but the dress' impact was muted on the carpet, where the red competed with Shields' pink. Shields, 43, who stars in "Lipstick Jungle" with Mary Tyler Moore playing her mom, said it was the first time she had been to the Emmys.

Best Yellow Fever: Teri Hatcher

Teri Hatcher, 43, and Mariska Hargitay, 44, both went for in-yer-face marigold yellow, a shade which is bound to catch the eye of the paparazzi, but is too loud to be truly stylish. Hatcher's dress was by Monique Lhullier, whom the actress described as "the nicest person, so sweet."

Best in Black: Kate Walsh

"Private Practice" actress Kate Walsh, 40, was East Coast sassy in black Zuhair Murad. "Dont mess with the Zuhair," deadpanned Walsh, who was bedecked with Neil Lane diamond-and platinum jewelry worth $1million. "Private Practice" premieres October 1.

Best Flowerchild-Meets-Xena-in-a-Texan-Whorehouse: Phoebe Price

Professional nobody Phoebe Price, age unclear, understands the value of worst-dressed lists—they're better than no list at all. With that in mind, Price went totally bananas in a lacy red see-through gown (designer unknown—and it's probably better that way), red floral headband and red panties, creating a look better suited to the AVN Porn Awards than the Emmys rug. With this colossal mistake of an ensemble, Pee-Pee—described as a "trainwreck-famewhore" by TMZ—is headed straight for the 2008 Fug pile.

September 22, 2008 in LOS ANGELES | Permalink

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