Blame it on the unseasonably warm night, but the red carpet turned into a hothouse of color at the 2016 Emmys.
The entire spectrum was represented, and at the end of the rainbow, a pot of gold — with a few other metallics thrown in for good measure.
The most winning shade of the evening was leprechaun green. Sarah Paulson, who won for her turn as prosecutor Marcia Clark on “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” was certainly dressed for it — looking more ready for an art opening with her sophisticated spangly Prada dress with a plunging neckline. But Tina Fey looked almost earthy and ready for the patio party in a grass green gown by Oscar de la Renta.
The second most popular color of the evening was yellow. Taraji P. Henson of “Empire” vamped it up in a disco-diva worthy custom Vera Wang spaghetti strap gown, while Angela Bassett slayed in a modern caftan in the sunny hue by Christian Siriano.
“Quantico” star Priyanka Chopra made her first Emmy appearance in a red-hot sequin one-shoulder scene-stealer by Jason Wu. And Kate McKinnon of “Saturday Night Live” picked up her trophy wearing winner’s circle red.
Rounding out the color wheel, Mandy Moore stepped out in a ruffled orange number by Prabal Gurung, Viola Davis — nominated for “How to Get Away With Murder ” — chose a regal lace-trimmed Marchesa gown in fuschia and Jane Krakowski wore a sparkly violet Bibhu Mohapatra gown straight off last week’s New York runway.
The garden party carried over to the florals that kept popping up on the carpet. Kristen Bell went for a full skirt in a pleated Zuhair Murad floor-sweeper. Constance Zimmer of “UnREAL” wore a sweet Monique Lhuillier pink and white embroidered column. The fashion ingénues liked their flowers with more edge, like “Game of Thrones” nominee Maisie Williams, who accessorized hers with heavy blue eyeliner, and Sarah Hyland, who wore a bloom-embroidered bustier with tails over cigarette pants, also by Monique Lhuillier.
Claire Danes chose gold Schiaparelli and a dark tan for what may be her last nomination for “Homeland,” but Laverne Cox of “Orange Is the New Black” had the same idea with her goddess gown.
The only woman on a red carpet who is allowed to wear black is a pregnant woman, especially when she looks as good wearing cut-outs (by Brandon Maxwell) and her hair out as Kerry Washington.
But our hands-down favorites of the night were the trio from “Stranger Things” — Mille Bobby Brown in Red Valentino, Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo — who looked like junior red carpet risk-takers, even if Matarazzo couldn’t remember the name of the designer tux he was wearing.
