Emmy Madness

André Leon Talley thought the dresses at the Golden Globes were "sad." The dresses at the SAG awards, meanwhile, were "bad." Both he and Times critic Cathy Horyn found many instances of overdressing at the Oscars after that, though actresses were starting to look better. But any improvements that were made at that award show were in large part reversed at the Emmys. Horyn wrote that though some looks were startling, "this was not a risk-taking red carpet or a particularly fashionable one." Indeed most starlets looked either overdressed or misguided. January Jones looked downright uncomfortable in her frock, which had such a mind of its own we half expected it to turn into a glowing hover craft and carry the actress to an Elvis impersonator's stage in Vegas. Cathy Horyn blogs:

January Jones, in a blue Versace Atelier dress, sounds a bit flustered during her NBC fashion interview. “Yeah, it’s a definite look, I guess,” she said, tossing her head. “It’s like a piece of art. I feel like a peacock.” She then said it would be a good idea if she didn’t have to walk too far.

What's the point in getting dressed if you can't walk around? And why, when the entire world is watching you, would you wear something that makes you so nervous about just being able to stand upright and take steps without looking drunk? But she wasn't the only actress who looked like she was trying too hard. Whether Anna Paquin's Alexander McQueen gown falls into this category has been controversial, but Cathy Horyn liked it.

Horyn also liked Julianna Margulies in her navy, beaded, nicely cut L'Wren Scott gown. She wore her own shoes for comfort — that thing fashion people forget exists — and didn't weigh herself down with borrowed diamonds, which Horyn also appreciated.

I also loved Claire Danes in Armani Privé, Elisabeth Moss, and Heather Morris, all of whom seemed to understand better than most carpet walkers last night that less is more. And the so gorgeous and so stunning Christina Hendricks — who so famously wore a Christian Siriano dress that André Leon Talley compared to "roadside diner peach melba" — didn't fare much better last night. We would have liked her gown more without the lavender chicken-wing sleeves, which only helped it look like the sad cousin to her colleague January Jones's dress. But these women need not bother looking like birds when they're not pop stars and are praised for looking like women. In case they've forgotten, Vegas is a couple of towns over.