Red, black, yellow and cleavage

Hollywood's A-list sparkled in the California sunlight on the red carpet for the Emmy Awards, television's top honors.

Bright colors -- red, yellow and emerald green -- dominated the annual fashion parade, but basic black was still a winner. Unusual dress cutouts provided visual allure, and plunging necklines were plentiful.

The following are briefs from the red carpet: 

Ladies in red

On the red carpet, red is always a standout -- and a statement. 

Tatiana Maslany, a surprise winner for best actress in a drama for her demanding turn as multiple clones on sci-fi cult favorite "Orphan Black", sizzled in a sleek red Alexander Wang column dress, a hint of midriff visible through the cut-outs.

And Kate McKinnon, who took home the statuette for best supporting actress in a comedy for her many roles on sketch show "Saturday Night Live", was striking in a simple crimson gown with a V-neckline.

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra, a former Miss World who stars on ABC's conspiracy thriller "Quantico", wowed the crowd in a pleated one-shoulder red Jason Wu goddess gown with a full skirt that she twirled for the cameras.

All that glitters is gold (or yellow)

Beyonce may have been nominated for her album-film "Lemonade," but the stars embraced the drink's bright yellow hue -- not always easy to wear -- for Emmys night.

Angela Bassett, who has starred in multiple seasons of the fright-show anthology "American Horror Story" on FX, earned instant praise in the Twitterverse for her Christian Siriano yellow kimono dress with a plunging neckline. 

Best drama actress nominee Taraji P. Henson, who plays the fierce Cookie Lyon on Fox's hip-hop drama "Empire," smoldered in a body-hugging canary Vera Wang gown with spaghetti straps.

Ellie Kemper, the nominated star of "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt", rocked a belted yellow Jenny Packham column dress, her red hair cut into a simple bob.

And British actress Minnie Driver, who will star in new ABC show "Speechless" this season, stunned in a yellow Versace gown with daring shoulder and waist cutouts -- and a deep slit up the side.

Back in black

When in doubt, black is a winner.

"Game of Thrones" is now the show with the most Emmy wins ever for a narrative series with its best drama victory, and star Sophie Turner sizzled on the carpet in a lacy black Valentino slip dress. 

Turner, who plays Sansa Stark, teased that the upcoming season 7 would be "unbelievable" and would leave fans "really satisfied."

Maura Tierney, a nominee for best supporting actress in a drama for her heart-wrenching turn as a woman wronged on Showtime's "The Affair," wore a strapless gown with a leaf pattern along the neckline and skirt from Siriano.

And "Scandal" star Kerry Washington, who is heavily pregnant, glowed in a strapless black gown from Brandon Maxwell that accentuated her baby bump.

Plunging necklines

Deep necklines were all the rage on a day when temperatures reached the mid-80s Fahrenheit (29 Celsius).

Sarah Paulson, a winner of the Emmy for best actress in a limited series for her portrayal of prosecutor Marcia Clark in "The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" dazzled in a beaded emerald green Prada gown.

Her arms were covered, but the dress -- in a fetching shade also favored by Tina Fey -- opened to her navel.

Same look for Kirsten Dunst, a nominee for her work on "Fargo", who turned heads in a low-cut embellished sleeveless black Givenchy gown with a sheer skirt.

And Kristen Bell, the voice of Anna in animated classic "Frozen" and the star of new NBC comedy "The Good Place", chose a floral Zuhair Murad gown that plunged open to her waist.

Source: AFP