Goddess gowns, Old Hollywood glam and pink rule Emmy carpet

Hannah Waddingham wore Dolce & Gabbana with bedazzled high top sneakers on her feet while Elle Fanning went Old Hollywood in a gown designed by Sharon Long of her show The Great, as glamour returned to the Emmys in sticky Los Angeles humidity.

Waddingham, from Ted Lasso, showed off her comfy white shoes beneath her corseted strapless pink look. Fanning, her hair in a pinned-back bob, said she wanted to honour the creatives on her show that provided her with her first Emmy nod. Fanning's look was black and pink, embellished at the chest.

"I've always been inspired by the Old Hollywood glam of the '50s," Fanning said on Monday.

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Sheryl Lee Ralph of Abbott Elementary had a fashion faux pas before arriving at the Emmys. "A designer gave my co-star and me the same sketch for the same gown," she said, having discovered it on set when Lisa Ann Walter showed Ralph what she was wearing to the awards.

"Up until five days ago I had no gown so Brandon Blackwood stepped up. He was in Japan and started rendering the gown on his Pacific flight," Ralph said.

Ralph was resplendent in a black velvet strapless gown with an orange underside and a slit to her upper thigh. She carried a tiny orange purse.

The stars went all out.

Zendaya, working with her stylist Law Roach, was in a classic black strapless corset look with a full skirt and dainty bow at the waist. It was Valentino, and she was dripping in Bulgari jewels, including a fresh, young white diamond choker with a centre, 4.45-carat stone at the centre. She, too, had pockets.

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Connie Britton was in a goddess gown by Monique Lhuillier in a soft pink, a cape like effect at the back.

Britt Lower, from Severance, donned a Venetian beaded gown in gold with matching elbow-length gloves. There were cut outs up top and thin embellished straps.

"It felt like I wanted to wear outer space. I have an appreciation for fabrics, my mom was a home economics teacher. I feel great in it," Lower told The Associated Press.

People's style and beauty director Andrea Lavinthal, said pink carried the night, though lots of other colours brightened up the carpet.

"Pink seems to be continuing its dominance as the red carpet color of choice. There's just a lot of stars who are gravitating towards different shades of pink," she said.

Not Rachel Brosnahan. She stood out in a plunging Pamella Roland column gown in beautiful violet. It was adorned with tulle and pearl floral bow appliques from the designer's fall 2022 collection.

Laverne Cox and Himesh Patel helped kick off the parade of fashion, she in a bold black armour-esque Jean Paul Gaultier Couture mini and he in a white print tuxedo jacket, eschewing the usual evening black.

Royal blue on Sarah Thompson (a Yellowjackets writer), marigold yellow and more — colour took the night.

"I'm quite warm, I'm in a three-piece suit. I love this suit, but I wasn't expecting the heat," Patel said.

Natasha Rothwell of The White Lotus chose red for a gown with balloon short sleeves and a hot commodity on fashion carpets — pockets! It was custom silk taffeta from Safiyaa.

Megan Stalter also went for red in a sheer dress that celebrated her curves. Jen Tullock of Severance was in the red zone, a thigh high slit and structured sleeve number by Thierry Mugler, worn with drop pearl earrings.

"I'm such a fan of his line. It's elegant but still has a sense of humour," Tullock said.

Stalter, from Hacks, was in burned out velvet by Norma Kamali. She had a faux red rose pinned between her breasts.

"It took my breath away and my words. It's kind of a sexy dress. It's wild like me," she said.

Jung Ho-yeon, the it girl and Louis Vuitton ambassador from Squid Game, wore an all-around, multi-coloured figure-hugging look from the brand. It was custom in a tweed design with all-around sequins. Her jewels were Vuitton, too.

"I still can't believe it. It hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm just going to enjoy the day and cherish the moment," she said of her nomination.

Reese Witherspoon went for blue and sunglass-worthy bling in blue sequins. Around her neck was a knockout aquamarine, blue zircon and diamond choker from Tiffany & Co.

Amanda Seyfried wore a body hugger in pink from Armani Prive, paired with Cartier drop diamond earrings in platinum. "I'm a mermaid tonight," Seyfried said.

Another refreshing surprise for Lavinthal? The men who dismissed black for all-white tuxedos, including Nicholas Braun from Succession in a double-breasted tux from Christian Dior. Andrew Garfield also went for white, along with Seth Rogan.

Speaking of white, Jean Smart decided on it, too, with an elegant collar that fell off one shoulder. Ellie Saab designed Kerry Washington's short draped dress with a long overskirt and a riot of organza lilies on one shoulder.

Washington's black tights had some scratching their heads. So did Kaley Cuoco's high-low Dolce & Gabbana tutu style and Julia Garner's Gucci bellybutton cutout on her dark brown velvet look with silver crystals.

"I thought we'd seen every kind of cutout on the red carpet, but a bellybutton cutout was something new," Lavinthal said.

Among Lavinthal's highlights was Lily James in coppery Versace.

"It was very much 2022, but it could have come right off a '90s runway with the chainmail and the sculpted cups," she said.

Smart's gown was made by Christian Siriano, as was the white look of Laura Linney.