And the red carpet winner is … Taraji P. Henson wows at the Emmys
By Leanne Italie
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Heidi Klum led the yellow charge on the red carpet, but Taraji P. Henson won the night at the 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
Our fashion five from Sunday night:
___
HENSON
Her black custom Alexander Wang did her “Empire” character Cookie Lyon proud.
Eric Wilson, fashion news director for InStyle magazine, called the gown fantastic and said its “transparency through the skirt and a keyhole cutout with tough chain straps sent me over the edge.”
Designer Michael Costello also praised the dress, saying, “She looked beautiful, but I wasn’t so sure about the chains. Other than that, it was spot on. The cut was great for Taraji.”
Matthew Marden, fashion director for Details magazine, called Henson “absolutely stunning,” also choosing Sarah Paulson’s off-the-shoulder custom Prabal Gurung in sparkling black and blue in a tie for best-dressed.
___
KLUM
Her busy, asymmetrical Atelier Versace had some crying “fowl,” Costello included.
It was soft yellow silk chiffon with ruffles and a loose, long sleeve on one side _ and a skinny strap on the other. There were petals, and there were sparkly Swarovski crystals on the sheer skirt.
“She looked like she was wearing Big Bird,” said Costello, who appeared on Season 8 of Klum’s “Project Runway.” ”That was kind of sad.“
Mindy Kaling, Taylor Schilling, Padma Lakshmi and Dascha Polanco also hopped aboard the yellow train.
___
KIERNAN SHIPKA
The “Mad Men” daughter has been a regular at New York Fashion Week and showed up in an embroidered yellow top and black wool cigarette pants, all by Dior Haute Couture.
Some fashion insiders raved. Costello was unimpressed.
“I just don’t understand. I think it’s fun to take fashion risks, but it’s the Emmys. You shouldn’t show up looking like you’re wearing two different outfits. She’s a young, beautiful girl. She could have easily shown up in something else.”
Wilson begs to differ. He called the combination of the delicately embroidered, lavishly gilded top and the skinny trousers a “refreshing take on young Hollywood.”
___
JAIMIE ALEXANDER
The “Blindspot” actress was liquid and lovely in multicolored Armani Prive, her hair superslick and swept off her face. It sparkled in a crosshatch pattern of red, blue and purple.
“That was my absolute fave,” Costello said. “The colour choice was definitely unexpected. She looked perfect.”
Marden made Alexander a runner-up on his best-dressed list _ “for the wow factor,” he said.
Alexander said she loved the high neck and long sleeves because they hid “all the leftover tattoo residual stuff I have on my body right now,” referring to the tats her character sports on NBC.
___
Our last spot is critic’s choice.
Wilson praised Ellie Kemper’s extravagantly striped Naeem Kahn sparkler. It “catches the light in all the right places, a work of modern art that was perfectly framed by her strict centre-part hair,” he said.
Marden named Hugh Dancy in a Ralph Lauren Black Label double-breasted tuxedo and Claire Danes in sparkling, purple Prada with a bit of heavy gold link on the sides as his best-dressed couple.
The tux, he said, was “outstanding and the epitome of modern Hollywood glamour. They nailed it.”
Wilson said Kerry Washington‘s metallic Marc Jacobs was a “daring choice” that was “extravagant, elegant, and endlessly appealing.”
He added: “It’s not that she needed a suit of armour, but her chic version of chain mail is ready for action.”
___
Follow Leanne Italie in Twitter at http://twitter.com/litalie