That's a sheet of a dress Tess

It was a  feast of fashion - with all its highs and lows - as the stars twinkled colourfully for the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

Halle Berry looked stunning in blue, while screenwriter Tess Smith stunned a few with her choice for the occasion.

And Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Nicollette Sheridan could become known as the "strapless housewives".

Hatcher went for all-out glamour in a navy blue empire waist gown with a long train by J Mendel.

It had a crystal band under the bustline that she complemented with a substantial diamond link necklace and diamond earrings.

Cross's green strapless gown by Elie Saab had a ruched bodice with elaborate beading, and her dangling earrings dripped diamonds and green baubles under her free-flowing long red hair.

Sheridan, in a Giorgio Armani strapless dusty-rose satin gown with a fitted bodice, cascading tiered skirt and train appeared more sophisticated and demure than her on-screen counterpart.

"It's soft and elegant," she said.

Eva Longoria was hardly a shrinking violet, though, in her coral gown with a jewelled neck and revealing keyhole opening.

Felicity Huffman's rouge satin bias-cut gown had a gentle cowl neck, crystals on the thick straps and the waist insets - and an old Hollywood look.

Kathy Griffin, who will be co-host of E!'s Emmy fashion review show, cracked jokes about outfits all night but even she couldn't find anything to criticise about the stars of Desperate Housewives.

"They all look gorgeous," she gushed.

Other stars who went strapless:

■ Jennifer Garner showed off her pregnant shape in a black gown by Badgley Mischka with a jewel right at the bust.