"Grey's" the word in Emmy fashion

The Desperate Housewives were noticeably absent from the red carpet last night and we missed them. Tim Gunn was there, however, and in his spirit we tried valiantly to carry on.

"Normally, I'd be saying, 'Ooh, Marcia Cross!' or 'Teri Hatcher made a mistake,' " said Katrina Szish, style director for US Weekly, in a phone interview from outside the Emmys in Los Angeles. "But the people you almost look to to be at the top of the best-dressed list didn't show up."

Rude. And how very Linda Evangelista of them, not getting out of bed for anything less than an Emmy nomination. Whatever: "Desperate Housewives" is sooo last season.

Instead, this year's It Girls were our favorite interns at Seattle Grace, who clean up nice once you get them out of those hospital scrubs. Katherine Heigl channeled Charlize Theron in vintage Escada, very old Hollywood glamourpuss with her finger-waved updo and fitted, art-deco-style gown. Denny would approve. May he rest in peace.

Kate Walsh outshone Ellen Pompeo in an elegant metallic dress with sparkly detailing and butterfly sleeves, made by a little-known designer. Pompeo went with John Galliano for Dior, but really, velvet on a sweltering late-August day in Los Angeles is curious and ill-advised, even if it is strapless.

"I thought the dress was wrong. The color was right," Szish said of Pompeo's eggplant-colored gown. "I think wearing a dress in the wrong season is one of the biggest fashion missteps."

Speaking of missteps: We love you, but Sandra Oh-what-were-you-thinking? That frilly blue Vera Wang number had "bad bridesmaid" stamped all over it, and the excessive piled-on necklaces are best left to Ashley and Mary-Kate. Come stand over here by Debra Messing, who has an updo and a boring, white strapless gown. Now someone cue the wedding march.

Unusual necklines emerged as a fashion-forward trend, perhaps started by Michelle Williams' memorable mustard-colored chiffon confection at this year's Oscars. Virginia Madsen showed off her décolletage in a plunging black lace number, Portia de Rossi had a pleated bodice and Kyra Sedgwick's strapless gown was made more interesting by the ruffled detail across the bust. We won't mention the monstrosity of tulle that was attached to the skirt.

It was a good night for Jeremy Piven, who not only won the Emmy for supporting actor in the comedy category for "Entourage," but did so while wearing a polka-dotted ascot. And pulled it off, in winning style. Several male nominees, including Sean Hayes and Steve Carell, went with metallic ties, but the fire-engine red on Denis Leary was a bit much.

Paula Abdul was, typically, a train wreck — a true who-shot-the-couch moment, made worse by childish accessories and the most garish pearl necklace imaginable — as was our favorite D-Lister, Kathy Griffin. US Weekly's Katrina was not impressed; we see the Celebrity Worst Dressed list in Griffin's future. Again.

Pamela Sitt: 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com