The Emmys red carpet this year was eerily quiet. Maybe it was the lack of Ryan Seacrest-branded saccharine buttering up the stars? Or perhaps it was because the overwhelming nominations this year were for ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘Big Little Lies’ – two shows that focused on relatable topics like way women deal with male oppression and violence. It was most noticeable when the stars of the night, the driving force behind ‘Big Little Lies’, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, were pressed on a potential season two of their critically acclaimed production. Up and down the red rug the cast were continually asked about a new instalment of the series based on Australian author Liane Moriarty’s eponymous novel. Fans, and later critics, grew to love the show, which took home eight awards on Sunday in Los Angeles, including Nicole Kidman’s prize for best actress in a limited series or movie. “We want to do it. We love these women. It’s just tying to move pieces, and it’s complicated,” a clipped Kidman said. “What she said,” Reese Witherspoon quipped to E! After all the brouhaha about wanting to be asked more, the leading ladies of Hollywood – like actors/producers Kidman and Witherspoon who gave us one of the most refreshing shows of recent time – were surprisingly reticent. But their clothes weren’t. While inside the Microsoft Theatre the 2017 Emmys showed that TV has come a long way since Modern Family focused on blended and same-sex couple families and The Big Bang Theory made science sexy. Outside in the arrivals hall, it was clear the fashion world has too by acknowledging the power of a red carpet statement. While zipped-lips were as prevalent as Lorraine Schwartz jewellery; loud colours, blinding sequins, exaggerated shoulders and more feathers than the entire back catalogue of Duck Tales lit up the lobby. “Handmaid red” was a popular hue as seen on the Australian star of the dystopian series, Yvonne Strahovski and the author of the book it’s based on, Margaret Atwood. Kidman, too, wore a Gilead uniform, except her ruby A-line ensemble was made “by appointment” by Calvin Klein. Rainbows appeared to be plucked from pride banners and sewn onto actresses like Creed’s Tessa Thompson in a molten, pleated version by Rosie Assoulin and Big Little Lie’s star Zoe Kravitz in fluffy Dior. Coco Chanel was said to have once muttered: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” Black-ish’s Tracee Ellis Ross, coincidentally wearing Chanel Haute Couture, looked in the mirror, put 101 things on, tied it together with a belt and said “Emmys, come at me”. Her silver puffy-sleeved, sequinned and white feather number was busier than Aldi on a Saturday but it worked. It was a fitting costume for the politically charged awards show that closed as The Handmaid’s Tale show runner Bruce Miller yelled, “Go home, get to work. We have a lot of things to fight for.” Published in Daily Times, September 19th 2017.