For the average TV critic, the Emmy Awards are all about rewarding the sitcoms and actors for their work, but for the fashion conscious viewer, the night’s true highlights take place when the stars walk down that famous red carpet.
While there weren’t any dominate trends of the evening, the stars showed up dressed to impress in clean, sophisticated looks.
Taking a risk and proving to be a success, “Gossip Girl” starlet Blake Lively walked down the carpet in a head turning red number. Her red Versace gown included a plunging neckline with light sequined trim around the halter straps. A slit accompanied the gown, showing off Lively’s gazelle-like legs. Maintaining a coiffed, put together look, Lively’s long blond hair was slicked back into a braided ponytail. While she incorporated a couple of trends into her one look, many fashion critics thought it was a hit.
Fans were taken aback by Drew Barrymore’s winning Emmy look. The actress, known for her childlike appearances and red carpet fashion surprises, walked the red carpet in a glamorous number. Her pale, pristine skin set off her pink blush Monique Lhuillier gown. The strapless fitted dress was tight around the bodice and flowed out into a lightly feathered skirt. To complete the look, Barrymore’s hair was swept back into a loose bun accompanied with trendy red lips.
Going against the tides of Emmy fashions for the evening, actress Kristin Chenoweth stepped on to the red carpet in a short sparkling number. The flesh colored Zuhair Murad dress could be seen from yards away with its adorning flashy beads and crystals. While Chenoweth looked a bit underdressed next to her acting colleagues, she didn’t show up over blown. Rocking dark cat eyes, her hair was nicely swept back in a well matted ponytail.
Always willing to combine multiple trends into one look, “Samantha Who” actress Christina Applegate did just that. Choosing a deep blue gown to go against her skin tone and blonde hair was a hit, but fashion critics deemed the rest of the look too busy. The dress had a drape neckline with a thick beaded trim around it. The beaded trim went down the dress and created a wide sheer midriff before forming a flowing beaded train going off the side of the gown.
Seemingly never having a fashion blunder, Debra Messing again went unscathed for the 2009 Emmys. Her simple one-shoulder, fitted red Michael Kors gown was just the ticket. The dress hugged Messing’s toned curves in all the right places. Her fierce red hair didn’t overtake her look as it was pulled into a low side bun. “Heroes” actress Hayden Panettiere was the second star to wear a red one-shoulder gown. Unlike Messing’s simple look, Panettiere coupled bright red lips with a chiffon-material J. Mendel gown and a gaudy necklace. The two actresses were perfect examples of red dress hits and misses.
Another head turning red head actress of the evening was “Private Practice” star Kate Walsh. Her beaming smile was set off by a strapless sliver J. Mendel gown. Under the bust, the dress flowed out into two soft tulles creating for an unmatchable silhouette. Walsh kept her shoulder length hair down, straight and parted to the side.
Another actress who dared to combine trends was “Gossip Girl” actress Leighton Meister. Once fans could get around her strikingly dominate red lips, they were met with a couture white gown with protruding shoulders. The Bottega Veneta chiffon gown looked like a Grecian robe complete with a white belt at the waist and two tulles. Meister’s pale skin and dark hair gave off more of a goth-like vibe rather than a sophisticated one.
Celebrities are never afraid to test drive a trend, but some need to stop at just one. Fashion critics agree that the last award season of 2009 did not cease to amaze in more ways than one.
