Emmy Couture

AP:Kerry Washington is the fashion 'It Girl' right now, and she has the straight-from-the-runway dress to prove it.

The Scandal star showed her style savvy at the Emmy Awards Sunday in a fantasy gown in a blush colour with gold embroidery that was at the Marchesa runway show just earlier this month.

"This was their final look, and the moment I saw it, I asked them to send it to me," Washington said.

The Emmys red carpet stepped it up with modern catwalk trends, interesting colours and some risks. There were romantic lace overlays, graphic black-and-white combinations, strategic skin-baring slashes, and tough-girl harnesses.

Sofia Vergara wore the body-hugging gown and mermaid hem that's she's known for, but anything less than this sort of bright red Vera Wang gown and oversize emerald Lorraine Schwartz jewels would disappoint the crowd.

The Modern Family star also had a plug for her retail partner Kmart, saying she had on underwear from there. "But you can't see that unless you rip the dress."

Tina Fey wore a royal-blue gown by Narciso Rodriguez that had a very open neckline but otherwise had the designer's minimalist touch. Allison Williams wore a similar colour. Her gown by Ralph Lauren, strapless and an utterly clean silhouette, showed confidence.

Heidi Klum turned up in a hard-edge halter gown by Versace, while Top Chef host, Padma Lakshmi, another seasoned poser, turned some heads in her sleek, white KaufmanFranco with an illusion halter neckline and a just-right flash of skin at her hip.

Perhaps more important than the established style stars looking picture perfect were the new names -and the up-and-coming designers they chose to wear. They all added a jolt of excitement that's been missing from what largely over the past few awards seasons have been a sea of perfect, classic black dresses.