‘Hills’ Lauren Conrad to design Emmy dress

updated 7:03 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2008

Lauren Conrad has designs on an Emmy — or at least designing a dress for next month’s awards ceremony.

The star of MTV’s reality hit “The Hills” will be creating a “couture red carpet gown” for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, the TV academy said Wednesday.

The dress — or maybe dresses, if Conrad designs more than one — will be worn by the “trophy girls” who tote Emmy statuettes on-stage for presenters to hand to winners, the academy said. The trophy bearers also walk the pre-show red carpet.

Reality TV already has a big presence at the ceremony, with emcee duties given over to five reality series hosts, including Ryan Seacrest of “American Idol” and Tom Bergeron of “Dancing With the Stars.”

Conrad, who pronounced herself “excited” by the academy’s request, also managed to put in a plug for her clothing line.

“I will be doing a red carpet look that still reflects the simple classic design of the Lauren Conrad Collection but with a black tie twist,” she said in a statement.

How real Conrad’s design credentials are remains a question for some in the industry. When she made her debut in March at Mercedes-Benz L.A. Fashion Week, mainstays such as Sue Wong told The Associated Press, “I don’t believe in reality TV stars turning into designers.”

Conrad said then she understands such skepticism.

“I will probably never have the respect I want in the fashion industry, but I can work hard every day to try and prove myself,” Conrad, who has trained at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, told the AP.

The Emmy ceremony airs Sept. 21 on ABC.

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