“If Brad were here, we would be misbehaving. It would be bad,” laughs actress and 2017 Emmy Awards presenter Lea Michele in the midst of her pre-show beauty prep. She’s referencing her stylist, Brad Goreski, who is busy co-hosting E!’s Fashion Police, leaving the rest of the team—including Sarah Potempa for hair and Mélanie Inglessis on makeup—to prepare Michele at his L.A. studio for television’s most glamorous evening. Even without Goreski present, there’s plenty of laughter and champagne to go around, as the lighthearted crew shares their latest obsession with metallic eyeshadow and the industry secret for achieving perfect old-Hollywood finger waves.

With just moments to spare before a car whisked her away for the night, we learned all the details about Michele’s stunning Elie Saab gown (she’s been loyal to the designer for almost four years now), her favorite place in L.A. to book an appointment before the big night, as well as the most important thing she’ll be carrying in her Tyler Ellis bag.