The hottest trends on the red carpet at this weekend’s Emmys? Strapless, black and white, alternated with vibrant colors.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Ugly Betty) winner America Ferrera held her golden statue and smiled for the cameras. Of course, without braces and glasses - and smoldering in her cobalt blue jewel-toned Monique Lhuillier gown. “She made this dress for me,” the first-time winner gushed, “I love it, it feels really good.”

Showing up at the “it” after party - uniquely thrown at the Walt Disney Concert Hall (a sophisticated venue, and never used for an after party before), featuring the band Duran Duran - Grey’s Anatomy stars Ellen Pompeo and Kate Walsh looked stunning. Pompeo wore a strapless navy Michael Kors gown with a matching jacket and Fred Leighton jewels, while Walsh chose a form-fitting, ruby-red, plunging neckline satin number from Pamela Dennis.

Starter Wife Debra Messing didn’t take away an Emmy, but she may have won the fashion race in a gorgeous Ralph Lauren gown that she “snatched right off the runway” at his Spring 2008 show last week.

Of course, the stars couldn’t resist the sounds of Duran Duran. Spotted on the dance floor, Felicity Huffman, husband William H Macy, as Hayden Panettiere, Lisa Rinna, and Tori Spelling checked out the Maybelline swag booth set up in one corner of the concert hall’s vast lobby.

On the carpet, stars played it cool, even though they said it was hotter than it looked in the So Cal sun. Messing said she chose her ivory and black striped gown because she “wanted to wear something architectural and clean.”

Basic black is always a classic choice, and made an appearance on this red carpet.

Mariska Hargitay, wearing Zac Posen, Kyra Sedgwick, wearing a two-piece Oscar de la Renta with feathers and ruffles on the skirt, and Michelle Pfeiffer in a knee-length, sparkling Pamela Dennis dress are just few who favored black.

Yahoo! news reports: “Since staying cool was a goal, strapless was an appropriate choice for many women, including Sally Field, wearing a fuchsia Valentino with tiny ruffles at the hem, Sandra Oh in black, and America Ferrera, in cobalt blue gown.”

“Strapless dresses are in proliferation today,” said “Project Runway’s” Tim Gunn, adding that the look is often risky but that the stars pulled it off. “Hats off to them,” Gunn said.

Black and white was tempered with some bright colors, too.

Julia Louis Dreyfus wore a grape-colored Narciso Rodriguez. Queen Latifah wore red, Teri Hatcher showed up in pink, and Vanessa Williams floated in an apple-green Kevan Hall gown. And Minnie Driver probably presented the most shocking color - sporting a day-glo lime Donna Karan in satin and jersey.

Kate Walsh, Jennifer Morrison, Rebecca Romijn and Katherine Heigl went retro - Heigl played the white trend in Zac Posen. And no one’s surprised Christina Aguilera paid tribute to stars of days gone by, and showed up sporting her signature red lips.

- Alexis