We’ve been reading a bit on the web of amateur’s picks for best and worst at the Emmy’s. Now we’re going to weigh our professional serious opinion – and warning, we disagree with all the punters out there. Maybe that’s because we know high fashion, couture, and see every dress on a runway in NY and Europe. We know Hollywood style, but we also know about style in the world at large – the big picture.

Our Favorites, in No Particular Order:

Lea Michelle in navy Oscar de la Renta – it fit her well, she moved in it well, it didn’t wear her despite the largess of fabric – and kudos for having her hair down with such a fancy dress. Smart move, made it modern.

January Jones in Atelier Versace – sorry, fashion naysayers! We LOVE this dress. Seems many out there did NOT get its couture shape, it’s wide skirt with a stiff underlayer, it’s amazing fabric and color. This is an incredible statement dress – and was a very risky move. But January can afford it. We all know she’s gorgeous. Now we know she’s got fashion bravery as well – and European taste.

Clarie Danes in Armani Prive – all in all, this gold sequin beaded sheath is a pretty traditional dress. But with Claire’s flippy sixties hairstyle and smoky eye makeup, this is absolutely the best she’s ever looked. Having won, she picked a good night to look this good. The color makes her shine, shine, shine.

Julianna Margulies in L’Wren Scott - this midnight beaded tight gown is both sexy and professional – slinky and chunky – trendy and classic – and so so simple that it’s even more amazing. A great combo of woman and dress – and we love that she didn’t pack on the jewelry or makeup with it.

AND BIGGEST FASHION RISKTAKER: Anna Paquin in gold and black Alexander McQueen. She didn’t look pretty or sexy – but she looked damn interesting and high fashion.

Now this is what you call a DRESS. And on the right woman, for sure – not too many tv actresses could pull this off. They have to be as gorgeous as January Jones, have her back, her legs – and most of all, the nerve to wear it. The crazy stiff skirt, shorter in front (big trend of the night), in blue (the color of the night), with such an interesting cut – even in the back. We love that she didn’t muck it up with too much jewelry. But the middle parted oddball straight hair? Granted, it’s weird – looks like 1972 – but it sort of works with the dress. She obviously had a very advanced team working with her.

Yes, they definitely rehearse their speaches for the Emmy Awards. But – the stars do NOT dress up for the cameras when on stage at the Nokia, running their lines. It’s always fun to see them in their weekend wear, actually looking like normal people – no makeup, their own jeans and t-shirts, and in the case of the ladies, without 6 inch heels. It gives you a lot of perspective about what hair, makeup and clothes can do!!! January Jones (with John Krasinski) is almost unrecognlizable – and Anna Paquin is far from glamourous. Juliana Margulies looks like an Irish fisherman!

Tatler in London is that country’s equivalent to our Vanity Fair: a society magazine that is also full of fashion, entertainment, home design, beauty – but all done with famous irreverant wit. Clearly, “Mad Men” – a big contender at this weekend’s Emmy’s – is also a big hit in London, as January Jones – who plays Betty Draper – made the cover, in an amazing fall Prada dress. Interestingly, Jones’ character has had less and less screen time this season, now that she and Don (Jon Hamm) are divorced, and she’s remarried the incredibly boring Henry. But she’s far from leaving the show, she says in the mag. She also confesses that she – and the other actresses on the show – all wear girdles to create more curves, which women definitely had in the sixties. Exercise was not the trend then it is today. But girdles are horribly uncomfortable! This makes them even better actresses in our eyes now!

Not every Emmy nominee, presenter or attendee is in line to get the best gowns and cocktail dresses from designers Europe and New York. In fact, it’s a tough time of year to get gowns: the spring 2011 ones have not been shown yet, a lot of the fall 2010 gowns have already been worn by celebs – and there really isn’t enough pre-spring/resort to go around for the entire Television Academy. And couture? That was shown in Europe in July – but not that many television actresses – outside of Sarah Jessica Parker – can score couture. If someone does wear couture or Armani Prive’, we’ll know they have clout in Europe. By all accounts, the actress with the biggest reach to designers is January Jones. She’s beautiful, thin and on a very hot show. If Blake Lively and Leighton Meester attend (they aren’t on the presenters list right now), they would also be able to score Chanel or Dior or Versace. After that group, it comes down to Tina Fey, Lea Michelle from “Glee,” Diana Argon from “Glee” – the most attractive women on the hottest shows. “Mad Men’s” Christina Hendricks falls in there, too. Not far behind are Eva Longoria Parker and Sofia Vergara – just because they make the clothes look good, and have good connections in the fashion community. We hear January and Tina already have their gowns made, and aren’t going to change their minds. Lucky designers who made clothes for them.

Now that the opening episode of the 4th season of “Mad Men” debuted on AMC this past Sunday night, January Jones is the media’s IT girl of the summer – along with Angelina, of course. Both ladies give great fashion face, but January doesn’t have one specific style, and wears all kinds of designers and colors and looks. And what she wears out and about is NOTHING like what Betty Draper, her character, would wear – Betty is VERY pent up and now that she’s divorced Don, she looks even more anxious and she’s smoking more. NY had a quick press junget/”Mad Men” premier this week, and to that, the lovely Ms. Jones wore a short white beaded Versace dress, with draped fringe on it. It’s elaborate and chic at the same time, and we love the black eyeliner. And to appear on Jimmy Fallon’s late night show, she wore this adorable Marchesa yellow patterned fringe cocktail dress – both dresses are very festive and chic, with a lot of detail, but very simple shapes.

In deep summer, just when you think there’s not that much going on in Hollywood, there are still movies coming out, tv shows debuting, and ladies who like to dress up in sexy clothes and strut their stuff for the world to see. Last night, the 18th annual ESPY sports awards were given out at the Nokia – on one of the warmest nights of the year. So what’s a girl to wear? Sounds like a moment for Versace. Ashley Greene, who is no stranger to a sexy showstopping dress, wore a red, high-neck sleeveless Versace cocktail dress with an asymmetric hemline and a diagonal slit detail on the front right side. January Jones (“Mad Men” is back next weekend) was a presenter, and a white halter mini dress from Versace’s Fall 2010 Collection. This might be the shortest sexiest dress we’ve seen her wear yet. It definitely is NOT Betty Draper!

For those of you who were NOT up at 5:30 am Los Angeles Time – as many reporters were – the Emmy Nominations were announced then, by Joel McHale and Sofia Vergara (who got a supporting nom for her show “Modern Family”). The Emmy’s will play live on both coasts on August 29th, 2010, on NBC, hosted by Jimmy Fallon.

Here’s a list of the lead actresses in comedy, drama and mini-series, that designers will want to be sending sketches, lookbooks and videos to TODAY:

Best Actress in a TV Comedy Series:

• Lea Michelle, Glee
• Julia Louis Dreyfuss, The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreations
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• Toni Colette, The United States of Tara

(What’s interesting here is that ex-SNL buddies Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are competing in the same category. Our money is on Lea Michelle to be most glamourous on the red carpet.)

 

Best Actress in a TV Drama:

• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
• Glenn Close, Damages
• Connie Brixton, Friday Night Lights
• Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
• Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order SVU
• January Jones, Mad Men

(Of course, January Jones will be the most gorgeously dressed in this category – and “Mad Men” comes back July 25th, and we are counting the days.)

 

Best Actress in a TV Mini Series or Movie:

• Maggie Smith
• Joan Allen
• Dame Judi Dench
• Hope Davis
• Claire Danes

(Of course, Claire Danes – recently seen at Paris couture – should come home with an amazing dress to wear to the Emmy’s on Aug 29.

I think we know the answer to that question – and that’s not even the subject of the story, it’s just a funny headline. In fact, I was going to use “Skinny Bitch” in the headline – which is the name of a very popular book series – but was afraid of insulting someone on the internet, lest they google themselves. And who doesn’t? Monday night at Soho House L.A., these two super brunettes hosted a party for new LG mobile phones they’re promoting, and called it “A Night of Fashion and Technology.” It was more like a night of mini dresses and more mini dresses, in my opinion. The only thing technological about this event is how anyone can eat as little as these ladies. If anybody knows, please let me know. Whatever the reason, it’s no doubt very expensive. Victoria’s dress may have been the shortest – and it’s from her own collection, which is surprisingly good. Jessica Simpson, who came with sister Ashlee, also wore a Victoria Beckham dress – but it doesn’t fit her quite as well. Eva wore a short and fluffy semi-sheer Reem Acra mini – a designer she wears a lot of. January Jones had on a much reasonably priced Alice & Olivia backless dress, and looked chic as ever. And the event attracted pretty major names: Rosario Dawson, Anna Kendrick, Selma Blair, Vanessa Hudgens – and Rachel Zoe. We have a feeling Zoe may be the throughline here. – Merle Ginsberg