TV'S BIG NIGHT BRINGS OUT FASHION TO DYE FOR.

Byline: Sandra Barrera Staff Writer

At Sunday night's Emmys, color made a big splash. Red, yellow, green, shades of blue and other delicious berry hues were spotted making their way down the red carpet.

``There are a lot of absolutely gorgeous women here tonight,'' observed Benjamin McKenzie, star of ``The O.C.'' He didn't look bad himself, but the night clearly belonged to the plunging necklines, flowing trains and slinky gowns on beauties like ``Everybody Loves Raymond'' star Patricia Heaton.

She had managed to get nearly every color of the rainbow into her gorgeous Elie Saab gown, while Janel Moloney of ``The West Wing'' wore a bright yellow strapless gown by Vera Wang.

The guys cleaned up nicely, too. ``Extreme Makeover Home Edition'' host Ty Pennington added some pop to his off-the-rack black Prada suit with a tangerine tie that coordinated with his date's gown.

But Hollywood's big girls broke all the rules.

Edie Falco of HBO's ``The Sopranos'' looked scrumptious in a nude Randolph Duke gown wrapped in black beads and tulle. ``Will & Grace'' star Debra Messing wore a strapless salmon gown with flowers stitched into the material. And Bonnie Hunt wore a simple off-the-shoulder blue gown with a gathered bust.

Green was well represented among the nominees, too, with Allison Janney of ``The West Wing'' wearing a strapless, vibrant green silk chiffon dress and vintage jewelry. ``Sopranos'' star Lorraine Bracco looked stunning in a green embroidered gown by Douglas Hannant with Chopard diamond earrings featuring 276 gemstones, while Cheryl Hines of HBO's ``Curb Your Enthusiasm'' wore a sea green gown with pink-and-purple beaded flowers and feathers.

Despite the rainbow hues, black remained popular among the stars. ``Sex and the City'' star Sarah Jessica Parker wore a strapless black tea-length dress with a feathered skirt and black sash, while Laura Linney, a ``Frasier'' guest star last season, wore a black Prada dress with black beads. And Anne Heche looked breathtaking in a Giorgio Armani black satin gown.

White was the color of choice for ``Alias'' star Jennifer Garner and ``Friends'' star Jennifer Aniston, who threw reporters a quick wave as she and tuxedoed hubby Brad Pitt rushed by last minute.

Joely Richardson of FX's ``Nip/Tuck'' turned heads in a slinky white satin dress. Presenter Teri Hatcher's white gown was spattered with black and gold, and beads, another fashion statement among Hollywood's beauties. And while Sam Saboura, the stylist who hosted ABC's fashion preshow, predicted short `50s-style party dresses and a more ``eclectic'' personal style, the overall look was long, sleek and glamorous.

Freckle-faced Alia Shawkat of ``Arrested Development'' looked all grown-up in her green empire waist gown by Yigal Azroul.

Similarly styled cuts were worn by other starlets, including presenter Kathryn Morris of ``Cold Case,'' who wore a tangerine crepe Carmen Marc Valvo and gripped a metallic Fendi purse with gold bolts.

Cynthia Nixon of ``Sex and the City'' fame wore layers of turquoise strands around her neck. The just-married Jamie-Lynn DiScala of ``The Sopranos'' had a necklace sewn into her gown. And going for ``simple elegance,'' actress Kim Raver, who will join the cast of ``24,'' this season, accessorized with a smoky topaz around her neck. Portia de Rossi of ``Arrested Development'' sported a big chain around her wrist by Diane von Furstenberg.

Even the legendary Peter O'Toole accessorized, wearing a John Kerry for President pin on his lapel. ``It's still a free country,'' he said.

Sandra Barrera, [phone]

sandra.barrera(at)dailynews.com

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11 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Showing up fashionable is Joely Richardson of FX's ``Nip/Tuck.''

(2 -- 3 -- color) Shining together on the carpet, above, are husband-and- wife duo James Brolin and Barbra Streisand. Below, stunning in a gentle print is ``Friends' star Jennifer Aniston.

(4 -- color) Shimmering and golden, nominee Janel Moloney of ``The West Wing'' strikes a glamorous pose.

(5 -- color) In appropriately slinky apparel, Kim Cattrall, left, of HBO's ``Sex and the City'' pauses for photogs.

(6 -- 7 -- color) Together against the press are Melanie Griffith and husband Antonio Banderas, above. At right, Lorraine Bracco of ``The Sopranos'' is sumptuous in a beaded green gown.

(8 -- color) Ted Danson looks nice in his tux, but cannot compete with the vision of wife Mary Steenburgen in a plunging gown.

Photos by Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

(9 -- 10 -- color) Edie Falco of HBO's ``The Sopranos,'' left, and Helen Mirren of PBS's ``Prime Suspect'' series, both thought of charity when they considered their Emmy gowns. Falco will auction hers off as part of the third annual ``Clothes Off Our Back'' Emmy clothing auction, while Mirren bought hers in an East London dress shop that supports the work of Bangladeshi women.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

(11 -- color) Nominated for her role in ``Alias,'' Jennifer Garner goes for classic white and black.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer