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September 18, 2016

The Best, Worst, and Yellowest Looks at the 2016 Emmys

By the Cut

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If there was one trend at this year’s Emmys, it was the color yellow. Taraji P. Henson wore spaghetti-strap yellow; Minnie Driver wore cutout yellow. Angela Bassett wore yellow sleeves, Ellie Kemper wore yellow encrusted with crystals and sequins, and Amanda Peet wore yellow-accented Altuzarra. But even on this yellowest of nights, there were highs (Sarah Paulson) and … not-so-highs (Anna Chlumsky) of all colors. We counted about 20 red dresses, 15 or so white column dresses, and a handful of sheer black dresses, most of which were embellished with dots.

Read on for the best and worst looks across the color spectrum.

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1 / 21 Photos
Most Tilda Swinton Worthy: Sarah Paulson The combination of her sparkling green Prada, with its plunging neckline, and her short, sideswept hairc... Most Tilda Swinton Worthy: Sarah Paulson The combination of her sparkling green Prada, with its plunging neckline, and her short, sideswept haircut was giving us major Swinton vibes. Which is pretty much the best award someone on a red carpet could win. Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
Best Children: The Stranger Things crew While Jeremy Maguire did his best to steal the thunder with his (Dracula?) cape, he should know bet... Best Children: The Stranger Things crew While Jeremy Maguire did his best to steal the thunder with his (Dracula?) cape, he should know better than to take on America’s new sci-fi sweethearts, the kids from Hawkins, Indiana. Millie Bobby Brown looked sweet and not at all strange in Red Valentino. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Best With Child: Kerry Washington The sexy cutouts of Washington’s custom Brandon Maxwell dress showed off her belly to great effect. She was pra... Best With Child: Kerry Washington The sexy cutouts of Washington’s custom Brandon Maxwell dress showed off her belly to great effect. She was practically glowing, and her hair natural looked gorgeous. What an improvement over her 2014 Balenciaga from her last pregnant red-carpet moment at the Golden Globes. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Best Shoulder: Tracee Ellis Ross In a night of bare shoulders, her Ralph Lauren Collection gown was a standout: simple yet regal, with a dramatic... Best Shoulder: Tracee Ellis Ross In a night of bare shoulders, her Ralph Lauren Collection gown was a standout: simple yet regal, with a dramatic slash across the midsection. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Best Yellow: Taraji P. Henson Her custom Vera Wang wasn’t showy — just long, lean, and butter-colored. Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
Most Confused Shoulders: Heidi Klum The color and cut of this dress were quite flattering on Klum, but the top felt like one of those paper snowf... Most Confused Shoulders: Heidi Klum The color and cut of this dress were quite flattering on Klum, but the top felt like one of those paper snowflakes you make by folding and cutting randomly until you open it and find you’ve made a shape. Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Worst Use of Arms: Fred Armisen Armisen’s the kind of physical comedian who barely has to do anything to make a good joke. We’re assuming that’s ... Worst Use of Arms: Fred Armisen Armisen’s the kind of physical comedian who barely has to do anything to make a good joke. We’re assuming that’s what he was doing when he held his hands like Frankenstein. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Best Hat Trick: Minnie Driver Yellow? Check. Bare shoulder? Check. Cutouts? Check. Minnie Driver managed to hit three trends at once, and she loo... Best Hat Trick: Minnie Driver Yellow? Check. Bare shoulder? Check. Cutouts? Check. Minnie Driver managed to hit three trends at once, and she looked great doing it. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Best Butterfly Mid Crysallis: Anna Chlumsky We did not know what to make of this pale-pink cocoon-with-a-cape. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ... Best Butterfly Mid Crysallis: Anna Chlumsky We did not know what to make of this pale-pink cocoon-with-a-cape. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Most Kirsten Dunst: Kirsten Dunst Lots of other people wore sheer black, but no one else could pull off Givenchy couture quite so casually. Phot... Most Kirsten Dunst: Kirsten Dunst Lots of other people wore sheer black, but no one else could pull off Givenchy couture quite so casually. Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
Most Pfefferman: Gaby Hoffmann Gaby Hoffmann continued her tradition of wearing to an awards show exactly what her character on Transparent would... Most Pfefferman: Gaby Hoffmann Gaby Hoffmann continued her tradition of wearing to an awards show exactly what her character on Transparent would wear to an awards show: a large puffy shirt and velvet shoes. Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage
Most Golden: Claire Danes Everything about Claire Danes, from her hair to her skin to her Schiaparelli dress, was a shade of gold. She looked a l... Most Golden: Claire Danes Everything about Claire Danes, from her hair to her skin to her Schiaparelli dress, was a shade of gold. She looked a little like an Emmy statuette but didn’t look quite like herself. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Twirliest: Priyanka Chopra, Hari Nef Chopra swirled in Jason Wu on the red carpet; Nef swung around in doll-print Gucci. Both wore red, and both ... Twirliest: Priyanka Chopra, Hari Nef Chopra swirled in Jason Wu on the red carpet; Nef swung around in doll-print Gucci. Both wore red, and both looked like they were having a really good time. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Twirliest: Priyanka Chopra, Hari Nef Chopra swirled in Jason Wu on the red carpet; Nef swung around in doll-print Gucci. Both wore red, and both ... Twirliest: Priyanka Chopra, Hari Nef Chopra swirled in Jason Wu on the red carpet; Nef swung around in doll-print Gucci. Both wore red, and both looked like they were having a really good time. Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
Best Penguin Suit: Aziz Ansari No tie, no problem. Photo: Todd Williamson/Getty Images
Best Subversion of the Penguin Suit: Jill Soloway Wearing a tuxedo would be too obvious. Soloway added red Nike high-tops to her Gucci suit for a... Best Subversion of the Penguin Suit: Jill Soloway Wearing a tuxedo would be too obvious. Soloway added red Nike high-tops to her Gucci suit for a standout look in a sea of black. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Most Versace: Sofia Vergara Sequins, cutouts, snake jewelry, a train — you can never accuse Sofía Vergara (or Versace) of being understate... Most Versace: Sofia Vergara Sequins, cutouts, snake jewelry, a train — you can never accuse Sofía Vergara (or Versace) of being understated. Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage
Best Dates: Liev Schrieber, Alexander Schrieber No telling if Tom Ford made a small version of the tux worn by Liev, but Alexander made a dashing... Best Dates: Liev Schrieber, Alexander Schrieber No telling if Tom Ford made a small version of the tux worn by Liev, but Alexander made a dashing date nonetheless. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Worst Mustache: Jesse Plemons A little bit Hitler, a little bit Wild West, altogether unappealing. Photo: Todd Williamson/Getty Images
Best Mustache: Kit Harington If and when winter comes, we’ll happily sidle up to that extra bit of warmth. Photo: Todd Williamson/Getty Images
Best Use of Double-Sided Tape: Tatiana Maslany Yards and yards of it. Photo: Todd Williamson/Getty Images
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