For Your Consideration: The Top Trends from the 2012 Emmy Red Carpet

In the midst of the world’s Fashion Weeks, eyes turn away from the runway for a brief moment for the start of Awards Season. Last night, the 2012 Emmy Awards kicked it off, and there was no shortage of attention-grabbing gowns as television’s brightest stars (in some of the most colorful frocks we’ve seen yet) took to the red carpet to honor their on-screen brethren.

It was refreshing to see more than the safe blacks and nudes. While gowns in saturated hues have been infiltrating the award shows much more over the past few seasons, they made their strongest showing yet last night. And up on stage with them were also frocks of glittering metallics, patterns, textures and more!  We’ve been up to our eyeballs in satin, tulle and organza to deliver our best picks and present (for your consideration) the top 5 trends from the 2012 Emmy Awards Red Carpet.

1. Trend: Spicy Colors Ripped Straight From The Pantry

Claire Danes in Lanvin

Claire Danes in Lanvin

Padma Lakshmi in Monique Lhuillier

Padma Lakshmi in Monique Lhuillier

Julianne Moore in Dior Haute Couture

Julianne Moore in Dior Haute Couture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, many stars eschewed basic black for bright pops of color last night. But the colors weren’t just run of the mill hues known for their flattering effects (jewel tones, we’re looking at you), they were deep, saturated colors that reminded us of spice cabinet staples. Claire Danes wore a mustard gown from Lanvin and Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi rifled through her spice rack for a saffron-colored strapless dress from Monique Lhuillier.  Julianne Moore‘s two-piece lemon yellow gown from Dior Haute Couture, leaned more toward fruit than spice, but we applaud the color choice.

2. Trend: Sheer Madness

January Jones in Zac Posen

January Jones in Zac Posen

Glenn Close in Bibhu Mohapatra

Glenn Close in Bibhu Mohapatra

Hayden Panettiere in Marchesa

Hayden Panettiere in Marchesa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love gowns with visual interest, but these had a bit too much detail for our eyes to take in. Were designers showing feats of sheer genius or just getting out of line with creations that made the eye zig, zag and double back? Sheer panels, geometric draping and more came together on January Jones, who wore a high-low hemmed Zac Posen gown and Glenn Close, who donned a Bibhu Mohapatra long-sleeved dress that left some of us here at FTD cringing, and feeling like it was more damaged than dramatic. (Glenn: We loved the tailored Zac Posen at last year‘s Academy Awards. Stay with us, now!). Hayden Pannettiere had the honor of wearing a Marchesa creation straight from the runway, but the Indian sari-inspired gown was too busy for her petite frame.

3. Trend: Back to the Future

Lucy Liu in Versace

Lucy Liu in Versace

Kiernan Shipka in Zac Posen

Kiernan Shipka in Zac Posen

Nicole Kidman in Antonio Berardi

Nicole Kidman in Antonio Berardi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sci-fi nerds and fans of Battlestar Galactica take heed: This was a good night for futuristic looks. Lucy Liu‘s space-age Versace gown was a Mugler-esque combination of alien queen and vintage Hollywood glam. Another fashion plate that looked to the future was Mad Men‘s Kiernan Shipka, who wore a sleek silver Zac Posen tea dress. Our favorite, however, had to be Nicole Kidman in Antonio Berardi. A simple column dress (a Kidman go-to) got a futuristic edge with intricate beading that looked to be born of the Borg. Leave it to a red carpet veteran to blow her competition out of the water.

4. Trend: The Breast-Dressed List

Sofia Vergara in Zuhair Murad

Sofia Vergara in Zuhair Murad

Christina Hendricks in Christian Siriano

Christina Hendricks in Christian Siriano

Kat Dennings in J. Mendel

Kat Dennings in J. Mendel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They don’t call it the boob tube for nothing. Last night, a few ladies put their ample bosoms on full display, giving a few viewers a sneak peek at their golden globes. Bombshells such as Sofia Vergara (who wore J. Lo favorite Zuhair Murad) and Christina Hendricks, wearing her go-to designer Christian Siriano, are known for their dangerous curves, but what shocked us was Kat Dennings. The hipster and indie-movie favorite turned TV-star is all grown up now. She was showing off her best assets in a plunging J. Mendel gown that made us look twice (OK, maybe three times) as she sauntered on stage. She wasn’t just presenting an award that night, she was showing the world that she might be broke on TV but her cups runneth over in other areas of her life.

5. Trend: No Homeland Security

Tina Fey in Vivienne Westwood

Tina Fey in Vivienne Westwood

Morena Baccarin in Basil Soda

Morena Baccarin in Basil Soda

Jessica Paré in Jason Wu

Jessica Paré in Jason Wu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, big name designers came out in full force at the Emmy Awards, but a few actresses ventured away from the usual suspects and chose more under-the-radar labels for their style statements. Vivienne Westwood, who is making her rounds on the red carpet more regularly, was Tina Fey‘s choice for the evening, and we salute her for steering clear of anything Helena Bonham Carter would opt for — Vivienne is her go-to gal, too. (We love her as Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter, but sometimes her gown choices are just as, well, le strange.) Kerry Washington also opted for a Vivienne creation at this year’s Emmys. And while Jason Wu is best known for his Michelle Obama stamp of approval, he’s not a red-carpet fixture at awards shows. So it came as a surprise when Mad Men star and “Zou Bisou Bisou” chanteuse Jessica Paré wore a custom Wu creation. The way Paré looked, let’s hope Wu becomes as synonymous with red carpets as names such as Zac Posen, Badgley Mischka and more. Another name to watch? Basil Soda, who outfitted Homeland star Morena Baccarin in a plunging slate gown that defied gravity. With these successes, let’s hope that as awards season progresses, starlets and seasoned actresses alike start to venture out and discover new names.

Photos courtesy Style.com

 

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Author:Christopher Luu for Fashion Trends Daily

Christopher Luu is a Fashion Trends Daily Senior Writer and Menswear Editor.