Lights, Brights, & Burgundy! It's the 2012 Emmys!

It's the biggest night for prime time TV and all the biggest stars of the small screen came out in their Sunday best to celebrate all of television, even the programs that require no mental activity whatsoever.

It was a colorful red carpet this year with TV's leading ladies stepping out in bright yellow, red, green, and blue. Complimenting those ensembles was a resurgence in statement jewelry; most impressive were the earrings.

Earrings are truly one size fits all so its the best go to jewelry piece, but in the past couple of years the red carpet has been pretty bare of unique and sculptural earrings. This time, nothing was held back.


When in doubt, go dangle. Earrings, that is. Big drop earrings have always been great for red carpet events. Remember Busy Phillips wearing Irene Neuwirth? Almost every ear was adorned and not simply either. Gone were the simple gem drops or diamond studs, in came the intricate beading and large gems.

Heidi Klum was at the top of the heap with gigantic sea creature drops from Lorraine Schwartz that matched the pale blue strips of gown she was wearing. Take that Angelina! A leg and a half!

This year, you can add statement studs to that category. By far the more interesting earring trends were the enlarged post earrings. 

Leslie Mann contrasted her sunny Naeem Kahn with turquoise Lorraine Schwartz. Julianne Hough went classic with diamond sparklers by Norman Silverman. Ginnifer Goodwin has built a steady reputation of making interesting red carpet choices, and her Monique Lhuillier brocade dress was no exception. Her almost vintage style earrings from Rona Pfeiffer completed her look. It was as if she pulled a Scarlet O'Hara and turned a turn of the century drawing room into a dress.

Jewelry is all across the board in statements with many actresses sporting stacked or thick bangles.

As for the dresses... Look who's on trend! Drama leading ladies Julianna Marguilis and Elisabeth Moss bring their flower power in floral gowns. This trend will last into next spring so better jump on the bandwagon now. 

Blue, the color that looks good on everyone, was around as usual. The great thing about these blue dresses is that despite sharing the same color base, they are all so incredibly different in cut and personality.

The sea foam color is always pretty. Another trend people saw was the mermaid style dress. What they fail to realize is that Sofia Vergara ALWAYS wears a mermaid style gown. It's her thing. Also, Georges Chakra ALWAYS designs mermaid style gowns which Julianne Hough chose. 

Yellow, the new red carpet favorite. Just instantly makes you happy doesn't it?

Hannah Simone from the last season's break out show, New Girl, looks lovely in a bright yellow Emilio Pucci that also matches Heidi Klum in sheer slits. She also is rocking another recent trend: the statement ring. Cocktail rings were abundant as well, but the larger, almost finger length rings are what's being spotted these days. Claire Danes, consistent as ever and preggers in Lanvin. Kaley Cuoco from the Big Bang Theory also consistent, however, not as exciting for some reason. Julianne Moore's Dior looked a little Disney Princess but it's Julianne Moore so you just go with it.

Since we are officially in the Fall season, plum, wine red and burgundy made its expected appearance.

Despite the great color choices, one of these is not like the other. A unique dress can be great, but if it is an unflattering cut and fit then it defeats the purpose entirely. Jena Malone is drowning in that dress. Just because it comes off the runway, does not guarantee impressed reactions.

The latest trend out of this past fashion week, was Metallics.

After defending Studio 54 from the Romans, Lucy Liu was a bright spot in Versace on the red carpet. Everyone raved about Kerry Washington's Kaufmann Franco, but did anyone else feel her hair wasn't finished? No one seemed to like Christine Branski's mini dress, but I'd take her mini dress over Lena Dunham's Prada frump frock any day.

Pale pastels and nude colors are hard to make work depending on skin tone and materials. Gray can be pretty but the wrong shade in the wrong material and the results can be unfortunately drab.

Sarah Paulson wore blue-gray well with an embroidered Reem Acra. Emily Vancamp was probably going for ethereal in J. Mendel, but I always find dresses like this unflattering. The material and the color is bordering shabby. The intricate design on her bodice would have been better served in a bolder color. Morena Baccarin is also in the same boat. Such beautiful women under served by drab colored dresses.

Other Thoughts:

Emilia Clarke. The Game of Thrones actress chose a very interesting and not bad at all Chanel frock. The same could not be said about her costar Lena Heady. Wearing layer upon layer of sheer black does not protect you from flash bulbs.

Mindy Kaling. Everything is looking up for this girl. A new show and a flattering dress.

Martha Plimpton. You looked amazing last year. What went wrong?

Kate Mara. I know you and your sister played psychos last year, but it wouldn't hurt to smile.

Hayden Panetierre. I never understood why people like dresses with random reams of cloth hanging off them.

Kristen Wiig. We know you're shy but the plain nude color every time is driving me crazy. You would look great in red or just as equally on trend emerald green.

Kelly Osbourne. Everything looked great from the neck down. Now we're just waiting for you to get over the purple/gray hair thing someone told you looked good. That dress and your complexion would have really benefited from your previous blond color.

January Jones. You looked lovely and your dress was once again an asymmetrical, angular confection; however, its very similar your other asymmetrical angular dress.

Julie Bowen. Neon. At least it fit well. I didn't hate it or love it. Indifference is the feeling that comes to mind.

Now that the awards season has started, this red carpet was a nice eclectic start. There were quite a few misses, but a lot of new trends to watch out for overall.