It was the intersection of Wisteria Lane and Rodeo Drive.
Just in time for Emmy week, the famed fashion house Giorgio Armani threw a neighborly cocktail party for the stars of multi-nominated Desperate Housewives and their influential costume designer Catherine Adair–herself Emmy nominated–at the posh Beverly Hills boutique and made the housewives at home by lining the chic street with green, lawnlike patio carpeting and white picket fences.
Leading ladies Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman and Nicolette Sheridan (nominees all) strolled the carpet Armani-clad, as did co-star Brenda Strong: Marcia‘s lacy black dress showed her alabaster coloring with its daring décolletage; Felicity sampled a simple, shoulder-baring black sheath (“Do you think I would come in Dolce & Gabbana?” she cracked); Nicolette opted for plucky periwinkle; and Brenda was a ravishing lady in red.
Teri Hatcher couldn’t make it (she was hosting the Hollywood Reporter’s 75th anniversary party elsewhere in L.A.), nor could Eva Longoria (who was feted at the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Event in Washington, D.C. that night), but the the bulk of rest of the cast turned up: the newest resident of Wisteria Lane, Alfre Woodard, joined her new neighbors James Denton, Doug Savant, Julie Bowen, Mark Moses, Shawn Pyfrom, Joy Lauren, Cody Kasch and Lesley Ann Warren, and they were joined by visitors Aisha Tyler, Kelly Carlson and Ever Carradine.
Honoree Catherine Adair told me she found inspiration when picking out clothes for the characters in “the wonderful writing. I mean, honestly, it starts with the wonderful writing, and the fact that all of my actresses and my actors bring those characters to life in such vivid form. And then it’s just odd, it’s almost organic. You go out, and you find a piece of fabric, or you see a gorgeous suit, that Armani, and you go, ‘You know what? that absolutely looks like the character in this situation.”
I couldn’t resist asking the ladies if they’d settled on the gowns for Emmy night, and if they had any pre-Emmy rituals they planned to indulge in. “I’m taking a shower, and I’m serious–I AM taking a shower,” said straight-faced Felicity, who reveled she’d be wearing a rouge Kevan Hall creation. “You know, it’s the usual, you have hair and make up coming. It’s like Oz–they put you through the factory and you come out the other side, looking better than you started.”
Marcia admitted she hadn’t even seen her dress yet, and was putting blind faith in her stylist: “I’m getting it sort of towards the end of the week, which is a little late, but I’m excited, I don’t know, I’m hoping that wonderful things are brought my way.” As for her Emmy prep, “I probably should get a facial! Thanks for reminding me,” she laughed.
Nicolette had just chosen her Emmy gown the night before, but played coy on the designer, revealing only that “it’s very elegant, and it’s very comfortable.” Her Emmy morning promised to be more hectic. “I’m working in Vancouver, and flying in from Vancouver Sunday morning, going to be whisked from the airport to my house, throw my hair up, put on some make up, and hopefully make it to the Emmy’s on time.”
Brenda was also discreet but explained that her Emmy frock was “being whipped up as we speak. The cloth is being cut.” She explained that she liked “the texture, the architecture, and the color. I go with what feels good, as opposed to what necessarily looks the best. For me, I put it on, and I have this kind of feeling, that just, I know that’s the dress.” And Brend had some defintite ideas for Emmy morning: “Sleeping in would be really special, but I don’t think I’m going to be doing that, because my son just started school. For Emmy day, I’m hoping to maybe go to the Korean spa and get scrubbed. That would make me very happy.”
“I can’t wait to see what everyone else is wearing,” said the always chipper Andrea Bowen, who was still trying decide on just the right outfit. “I’ve been talking to Teri about it a little bit, and she’s talked to me about the dresses that she might be choosing, and she’s got a couple, and we’ve just been comparing and discussing it the whole time, just as girls do. So I’m excited to see what she ends up picking. It’s just gonna be so fun. Overwhelming but fun.”
Lesley Ann Warren, who was returning to the set to reprise her role as Susan’s free-spirited mom that week, had no plans to be overwhelmed on Emmy eve. “Actually, a girlfriend of mine, we’re sharing our birthdays together, and we’re gonna order in and watch it on TV,” she confessed.
The gentlemen of Desperate Housewives weren’t quite as fashion-minded as the ladies. When I asked James Denton how much planning he’d put into his Emmy outfit, he didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely none. Typically what happens is, I put something on, and right before I get out the door, somebody goes um, no, no, no, no, no, then they put something else on me. I don’t know what I’ll end up wearing, but I don’t put much thought into it. I know the women do and I probably should. I’ll try not to look too tacky, but it’s not a big deal to me.”
Doug Savant, whose wife Laura Leighton recently gave birth to their new baby daughter, (Doug dared to be different by wearing a Hugo Boss suit to the soiree) said he didn’t have any rituals or lucky charms to tote to the Emmys to help influence a winning night. “I’m just going to root for my girls, that’s all,” he told me.
Meanwhile, Denton was feeling just a little superstitious. “In baseball I just jump over the foul line when I don’t step on it, so maybe I’ll hop out of the limo or something,” he said. “I haven’t thought of it, but we’re just so happy to be there. And no matter what happens it’ll be a good night…I’m gonna be bummed no matter which women don’t win, because they all deserve it, and obviously can’t all win. But I hope the show wins.”
As close as the castmates appeared to have become, when asked if they all planned on arriving on the Emmy red carpet together, it was clear they weren’t entirely joined at the hip. “You mean, like, in the same car?” replied Felicty, then she added definitively: “No.”
