Our Top 10 Picks for Best Dressed at the 2013 Emmy Awards

The fashions seen on the red carpet at the 2013 Emmy Awards were fascinating in that, despite some coincidental commonalities, there were no tedious themes — colors ranged from fiery reds to snowy whites and icy blues; silhouettes ranged from mermaid tale gowns to strapless column dresses; and even necklines varied dramatically, from deep Vs to demure halters. Sure, there were some misses (Connie Britton and Lena Dunham among them), but overall, the red carpet gods were smiling last night. Below, check out our picks for the best dressed of the evening (in no particular order!).

SOFIA VERGARA

Modern Family‘s Sofia Vergara looked like the embodiment of sex in her red Vera Wang dress — and yet she did so while also looking classy and sophisticated (a hard feat when you’re this much of a bombshell). Vergara was showing more cleavage than she usually does on the red carpet, and I personally applauded her since, as they say, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it!). The gown’s bodice, meanwhile, does wonders to accentuate Vergara’s curves while also defining her waist. And we all know how much Vergara loves a mermaid tale, so the gown’s hem was hardly a shocker! I do wish she hadn’t picked earrings that had emeralds on them (or a mammoth emerald ring, for that matter) since the red-and-green contrast feels a bit Christmas-y, but I’ll give her a pass on that one.

KERRY WASHINGTON

Just when you think you have Kerry Washington‘s style figured out, she throws you a curveball. It’s one of the qualities I personally admire so much about her fashion sense: it’s versatile and eclectic, moving from modern to classic and back again. For the 2013 Emmy Awards, Kerry chose a Marchesa gown that was absolutely magical, an enchanted garden with an ethereal, delicate air.The gold lace peeking through along the décolletage added a sensual quality to the gown that I found even more alluring.

MICHELLE DOCKERY

The Downton Abbey star’s look for the 2013 Emmy Awards was anything but dated. Even though Michelle Dockery‘s look proved divisive (some truly loathed it), I personally found the Prada gown to be adventurous and modern. First, it’s color-blocked in a lovely way, with two contrasting shades of red and two different fabrics: ruby red duchesse satin along the bodice and burgundy silk radzmire for the skirt. Second, the high-low cut of the skirt makes it feel lighter along the front and helps to show a bit of leg, while the back cascades dramatically, creating a majestic train. And then there’s the halter neckline, which really makes the design youthful and works to balance the rather heavy feel of the skirt.   

ZOOEY DESCHANEL

Zooey Deschanel rarely ever takes a misstep on the red carpet — in large part because she gravitates towards dresses that are sweet and feminine and which feel a bit retro. This J. Mendel satin gown suits her perfectly — from its classic column silhouette to its vintage-feeling icy blue hue and its dramatic bow embellishment along the hip. A side slit and peek-a-boo cut-out along the center of the bodice, meanwhile, keep the design feeling current.

ROBIN WRIGHT

I’d beg, plead, and grovel to wear the Ralph Lauren Collection dress that House of Cards star Robin Wright donned on the red carpet at the 2013 Emmys. Crafted using black silk, the gown features a column silhouette, perfectly hugging the figure along the hips, a high neck and short, fitted sleeves. Along the décolletage area, there’s a downward-facing, sheer triangular panel that extends to right above the waistline. This sheer panel is then accentuated with staggered black piping to create a strong geometric pattern and a cheeky peek-a-boo effect. This same pattern is repeated along the shoulders, giving the gown a dominatrix-meets-warrior feel that’s simply stunning.

TAYLOR SCHILLING

If you’re aiming for a minimalist red carpet look, this is the way to go. The Orange Is the New Black star was channeling Gwyneth Paltrow in a white Thakoon dress with a thigh-high slit along the center and a sparkling Amanda Pearl octagonal clutch.

CLAIRE DANES

Claire Dane‘s chic bob was a highlight of the evening — as was her vintage-feeling Armani Privé gown. The shimmering eggshell color of the gown made it feel like a nod to a bygone era, and the beaded lace trim along the skirt reinforced this feel, while the paillettes along the bodice gave the design a playful, flapper-y vibe.

JULIE BOWEN

Though there are elements of this dress that don’t thrill me, its positives far outweigh its negatives.The peachy pink shade of this Zac Posen gown makes Julie Bowen look radiant and the angled, Gaultier-inspired pleats and folds along the hips have a slimming effect, while the molded cups accentuate Bowen’s bust. My main issue with the gown: the overworked shoulders feel like overkill when paired with the origami-like, sculptural folds of the tail. Had the gown been strapless, it would’ve been perfection.

ELISABETH MOSS

Thank goodness that, when it comes to her own fashion tastes, Elisabeth Moss is nothing like her Mad Men character Peggy. The charming actress — who told Giulianna Rancic how she chopped her hair way before Miley Cyrus did — looked darling in a simple Andrew Gn strapless gown with a black bodice and a full white skirt. The textured dress had a princess quality to it that was enchanting, while the dual-toned color scheme modernized the otherwise dainty silhouette.

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS

The Veep star is like a fine wine because she’s looking better and better with every coming year.This time around, Julia Louis-Dreyfus kept her look simple and age appropriate — and still outshone all the misguided young’uns! The petite starlet looked like a statue herself in this intricately beaded Monique Lhuiller strapless gown.