TROPHY TIME
Editor’s Note: Fashion Walk-Off is one in a series of articles written in collaboration by the image staff. Fashion reporter Xazmin Garza and image editor Susan Stapleton take a look at the fashions worn by celebrities and offer their opinions.
The 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards honor everything from children’s programs to game shows, but the real darlings of the show have been and always will be the soap operas. Everyone’s favorite villains, good girls, dashing leading men and destined couples come out for the big night.
We don’t know if the over-the-top nature of soaps inspires everyone walking the red carpet to go overboard or if every stylist in Tinseltown takes a vacation the week of this show, but the fashion always proves…interesting. Still, a few black sheep manage to pull together impressive ensembles. Take a look at our list of best and worst dressed.
GARZA’S BEST
• Rachael Ray: She looked just as impossibly “delish” as one of her 30-minute meals. The raven mane, faux tan and dangerously low neckline had us all wondering if the “V” in EVOO stands for vixen.
• Eva LaRue: I think there’s a rule that requires all soap opera actors to dress as obnoxiously as the role they play. I think the same rule has a sub-rule that allows soap stars to look their best only when they’ve left daytime, as evidenced by LaRue here. Now an “All My Children” alumna, she’s entered the world of prime time and is dressing, well, in her prime.
• Oscar the Grouch: What? He cleans up nice.
GARZA’S WORST
• Elisabeth Hasselbeck: What’s that, Elisabeth? I can’t hear you over that dress.
• Ellen DeGeneres: A white beard and a bucket of chicken would complete this apparent homage to Col. Sanders. After the W magazine spread and every impressive outfit change she did at the Oscars, we’ve come to expect much more than this from Ellen.
• Tyra Banks: A copper catastrophe. During her on-stage bit with Elmo I kept expecting Banks to lift that ridiculously huge skirt, Nutcracker style, and reveal a bunch of Sesame Street characters underneath. Then, and only then, would it have made sense.
STAPLETON’S BEST
• The Dashing Men of Soaps: Who knew the men would outshine the ladies at a red carpet event? Rick Hearst from “General Hospital” donned a navy shirt with his black tux jacket. Cameron Mathison of “All My Children” added pinstripes to the navy and black motif. Even Austin Peck of “As the World Turns” combined a red tie with a red shirt and black jacket. These boys know how to dress for an awards show.
• Vivica A. Fox: All soap stars, please take a moment to note Fox’s attire. Seafoam dress with sequins. Understated hair half up but framing her face. Diamond-encrusted bracelet and ring. That’s how to shine like a star.
• Lisa Rinna: I love that she tamed her hair. I love the red dress with cleavage down to there. And I love that I automatically wrote down her name as Billie from “Days of Our Lives.”
STAPLETON’S WORST
• Genie Francis: Oh, Genie, I know you’ve been doing this for 31 years, and this was your first Emmy win, but you don’t have to look like you’re reliving your Ice Princess days with Luke on “General Hospital.” Hairdressers are a good thing.
• Michelle Ray Smith: This “Guiding Light” actress looks like she mixed up her invitation to Studio 54 with her invitation to the Emmys. Too casual for this event. And Spanx are all the rage now. Wear them.
• Kim Zimmer: Jennifer Hudson and America Ferrera proved that you can look good if you embrace your curves. Zimmer, from “Guiding Light,” needs to find colors that work on her skin tones and shapes that can flatter her full figure. She looks like she’s going to a toga party at the Delt house. The just-off-the-beach hair could have used a hairdresser as well.