Many of the night’s big prizes went to established series like 24, Law & Order: SVU, and The West Wing. But the real stars at the 58th annual Emmys were the red-carpet newcomers and the surprisingly fresh, sometimes little-known labels they chose—despite the heat, they made for one of the coolest award ceremonies in memory. The Office ingenue Jenna Fischer wore a strapless Giambattista Valli number; House’s Lisa Edelstein donned a black and white Marchesa column; and Calista Flockhart, who returns to the small screen this fall with Brothers & Sisters, went with one-shoulder Derek Lam.

For the most part, glitz was in short supply. Instead, actresses wore flowing goddess gowns (reality TV matriarch Heidi Klum, pregnant, in red Michael Kors) or nipped-waist columns that showcased their gym-toned physiques (Ellen Pompeo in purple-velvet John Galliano for Christian Dior). And in what looked like a nod to the movies, namely Sofia Coppola’s upcoming Marie Antoinette, Sandra Oh layered antique necklaces over the ruffled bodice of her periwinkle Vera Wang, while Portia de Rossi opted for a princess gown by Zac Posen.