Stars glitter on Emmys red carpet

Television's top stars strutted their stuff on the Emmys red carpet Sunday, showing plenty of skin on a sunny afternoon in Los Angeles, with strapless and sleeveless gowns a must.

Small-screen siren Christina Hendricks, nominated for best supporting actress in a drama for her work on "Mad Men," wore a low-cut black Christian Siriano gown with lace straps and accents, her red tresses in soft waves.

"It reminded me of a Sargent painting," she said during the red carpet pre-show, referring to the American painter John Singer Sargent.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who won the best comedy actress Emmy last year for "Veep" and is nominated again this year, glittered in a pale textured Monique Lhuillier column gown.

"Homeland" star Claire Danes, last year's winner for best actress in a drama, donned a sequined nude Armani gown with the thinnest of spaghetti straps, her hair in a platinum blonde bob style.

German supermodel Heidi Klum -- an Emmy winner for best reality show host for "Project Runway," a prize handed out ahead of Sunday's main ceremony -- glammed it up in a form-fitting, shimmering burgundy Versace halter gown.

Klum was not the only star who chose bold color for the 65th annual primetime Emmys awards show at the Nokia Theatre.

Tina Fey, a nominee for the best comedy actress prize for the final season of "30 Rock," opted for a low-cut cobalt blue gown, which she said was custom-made for her by Narciso Rodriguez.

Hendricks's "Mad Men" co-star Jessica Pare sparkled in a strapless turquoise Oscar de la Renta gown with a ruffled bodice -- and pockets.

For fashion and jewelry designers, having an A-list star show up on the Emmys red carpet in one of their creations is worth its weight in gold -- far more valuable than any traditional advertisement.

"Girls" star and creator Lena Dunham sported a plunging Prada turquoise dress with a floral pattern, while her co-star Alison Williams was a vision in clean lines in a strapless blue Ralph Lauren gown.

And curvy "Modern Family" star Sofia Vergara wowed in a low-cut red Vera Wang gown.

Most of television's male stars cut a sleek line in basic black, though "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm, sporting a full beard, opted for a white tuxedo jacket.

"Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston, a favorite to take home the best actor drama prize, said of the show's finale, which is set to air next week: "The ending is perfect, unapologetic."

"Everybody wants to be a bad guy and cook crystal meth and kill people," quipped Cranston, who was kitted out in a basic black tuxedo.