Television is not what it once was. Film superstars have flocked to the airwaves in recent years for dynamite shows (Glenn Close in Damages and Toni Collette for The United States of Tara were both among last night’s big winners). But fashion at the Emmys doesn’t reflect the medium’s creative sea change. At the Academy Awards, there’s at least one gal wearing something a pinch outré, an ounce audacious, a tad too much for Joan to stomach (thus her trademark gag-me gesture).

For film premieres and award shows, that woman is usually Tilda Swinton, who famously wore one of Alber Elbaz’s silk-draped dresses from Lanvin when she won 2008 best supporting actress for Michael Clayton (Eric Wilson of The New York Times panned the look, writing that it likely originated from “the House of Hefty”). Swinton’s a veritable patron of Elbaz, and the label never fails to disappoint her lithe frame.

Plenty of actresses looked pretty last night. But none had the temerity to rock the boat. Here’s to hoping that next year’s show may give us at least one avant-garde specimen. (Paging the Mulleavy sisters at Rodarte.) —Krista Jennings