Emmy Rossum Wore Viktor & Rolf Couture at MPTF Evening Before

Emmy Rossum had double the reason to celebrate at this year's MPTF Evening Before party. The "Shameless" and "The Phantom of the Opera" actress, who turned 40 the night before, hit the red carpet at the Pacific Design Center on September 14 for the organization's 20th annual pre-Emmys benefit, and she showed up looking every bit the birthday girl.

Emmy wore a metallic gold-and-silver mini dress from Viktor & Rolf's couture line, built from a textured, honeycomb-like lace fabric that caught the light with every movement. The dress featured a scalloped sweetheart neckline, thin spaghetti straps, and a fitted bodycon silhouette that skimmed her frame down to a scalloped hem just above the knee. The shimmering, almost reptilian texture of the lace gave the simple slip-dress shape a lot of visual interest without needing any extra embellishment.

She kept accessories minimal, carrying a small metallic clutch and letting delicate drop earrings do the jewelry work. On her feet, she wore matching gold strappy heeled sandals with crisscross detailing. Her dark curls were worn down and voluminous, with the front sections braided close to the scalp before cascading into loose curls, a style that added a bit of edge to the otherwise glamorous look.

The MPTF Evening Before benefit is one of the most star-studded stops on the Emmys pre-party circuit, raising close to $3 million this year and drawing names like Bryan Cranston, Claire Danes, Sally Field, and David Harbour. Co-chaired by Stephen Colbert and his wife Evelyn McGee Colbert, along with Janelle James and Lisa Kudrow, the event has become a Hollywood tradition heading into TV's biggest night.