The Best Emmys Looks of All Time


Each year, the best and brightest in television are honored at the annual Emmy Awards, bringing out the biggest stars in the world of TV, and, increasingly, film. And while the Academy Awards remain the, well, Academy Awards of fashion, when it comes to the red carpet, the Emmys also have their own history of glamorous, show-stopping dresses. Think Sarah Jessica Parker in a pink confection of a Chanel haute couture gown at the 2003 ceremony, or Olivia Wilde in that wedding-worthy Reem Acra in 2008. There was also Jennifer Aniston doing boho chic in beaded Chanel in 2004, a polka-dotted Chloë Sevigny in 2009, and Tracee Ellis Ross immediately going down in history in a fuchsia ball-skirt gown by Valentino Couture. This weekend, we have our second Emmys of the year (since last year’s writer’s strike pushed the 2023 awards into January 2024). The actual 2024 awards promise to be a good one with nominations for Ayo Edebiri, Selena Gomez, and Anna Sawai—a list that all but guarantees more fashion moments rolling around very soon. Until then, a look back at the best Emmy Awards red carpet dresses of years past.

Ayo Edibiri in Louis Vuitton

Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images

ayo edebiri at the

Edebiri took home her first-ever Emmy Award in a scultped, leather Louis Vuitton ankle-length dress.

Simona Tabasco in Marni

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

los angeles california january

The White Lotus star made quite a welcomed statement in this unique, floral Marni number at the delayed 2023 ceremony.

Colman Domingo in Louis Vuitton

Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty Images

colman domingo at the

Domingo looked incredibly dapper in his long Louis Vuitton evening coat

Zendaya in Valentino

Trae Patton/NBC/NBCUniversal/Getty Images

417dd9ee 2fac 49c4 8162 6f0b542db0be getty 1423201881

Zendaya was dressed to win at the 2022 Emmy awards, and the trophy she took home for her role in Euphoria matched perfectly with her custom Valentino ballgown.

Elle Fanning in Sharon Long

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

94a864c5 86fe 4246 9de4 b61316d78784 getty 1423222447

Ho-yeon Jung in Louis Vuitton

Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images

c3849109 2e7d 451b 8be8 56db939f15b9 getty 1243188152

It’s no wonder the Squid Game actress stays loyal to Louis Vuitton when they create pieces for her like this sequin-covered dress she wore to the 2022 Emmys where she was nominated for her first award.

Anya Taylor-Joy in Dior

Rich Fury/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

0e3ec1b3 52d6 41db b4c2 c0fe941a87c8 getty 1341346090

Taylor-Joy looked like a glamorous buttercup in a custom Dior dress at the 2021 awards.

Michaela Coel in Christopher John Rogers

Rich Fury/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

b20a1a5b b8c6 4baa 96b4 fbe337957f38 getty 1341346230

Coel was all about color at the Emmys in 2021, where she took home the award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her show I May Destroy You.

Emma Corrin in Miu Miu

David M. Benett/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

a8ebbe9b 5823 4581 96a9 b2d12f53d587 getty 1341338437

Corrin’s Miu Miu look was a controversial one, but what’s not to love about this quirky, chic masterpiece?

Yara Shahidi in Dior

Rich Fury/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

2d917918 3daf 45cc a357 61db4957c2b5 getty 1341341521

Shahidi looked like an old Hollywood starlet in an emerald green Dior dress at the 2021 ceremony.

Regina King in Schiaparelli Couture

Image courtesy of James Anthony

e3f17bfb 9fcb 4cf5 98d7 7087668ee62c img 5538 3a

While the 2020 Emmys were fully remote due to COVID, King still showed out in an embellished Schiaparelli couture dress.

Tracee Ellis Ross in Alexandre Vauthier

e472a6c2 3a75 496d 980b efd85d79372b 119883399 359484465194727 9090876467574651145 n

Ross, too, did not come to play, and she even rolled out the red carpet for herself.

Viola Davis in Alberta Ferretti

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc/Getty Images

50081c12 d0e7 4569 b487 9feb107098f9 getty 1176432559

Though Davis didn’t take home the award for Lead Actress in a Drama series in 2019, she did make it onto our best dressed list thanks to the custom, black and white Alberta Ferretti.

Kendall Jenner in Richard Quinn

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

378fb15d 1802 4cee 97ab 2b9375fcc752 getty 1176442469

Jenner was one of the first to wear Richard Quinn on the red carpet, and in our opinion, she made a pretty good billboard for the British designer.

Thandie Newton in Brandon Maxwell

5d850c697fc25f000897df92 GettyImages 1035655572

The bright bubblegum pink hue of this Brandon Maxwell gown pairs perfectly with its sleek design.

Tracee Ellis Ross in Valentino Couture

5ba03acb89a72a2cd552fa3f GettyImages 1035121060

It seems pink was a big trend on the 2018 Emmys red carpet, and Ross also got the memo.

Sarah Paulson in Carolina Herrera

5b9fe0b3cce33563ec43ebab Sarah Paulson

Paulson looked like an Emmy trophy herself in this paillette-covered Carolina Herrera dress.

Nicole Kidman in Calvin Klein By Appointment

5b9fdf9ab344102ced419c0f GettyImages 848633732

The unexpected, tea-length hem of this Calvin Klein dress is likely what helped it land a spot on our best Emmys dresses list.

Priyanka Chopra in Jason Wu

5967914e48a7bb6995252bb5 GettyImages 607845248 master

Chopra looked like a bonafide movie star (or, in this case, television star) in this red hot Jason Wu dress at the awards in 2016.

Sarah Paulson in Prada

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

97d0ce22 c92e 486e ba67 bd0060267309 getty 607624416

Paulson loves to bring some sparkle to the Emmys red carpet, and she did just that in 2016 with the help of a completely embellished, emerald Prada gown.

Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell

5967914d48a7bb6995252bb3 GettyImages 491253090 master

This Brandon Maxwell dress may look simple, but the unexpected silhouette made it a perfect choice for Lady Gaga.

Kerry Washington in Marc Jacobs

5967914d453684204b42f96e GettyImages 491252994 master

Who says an Emmy dress has to be full-length? Washington proved it very much does not when she wore this silver Marc Jacobs number to the ceremony in 2015.

Kiernan Shipka in Dior Couture

5d853e2d7fc25f000897dfc1 GettyImages 489362756

The then-fifteen-year-old Shipka found the perfect way to look age-appropriate while still cutting edge in a gorgeous, embroidered Dior couture top and black cigarette pants.

Lizzy Caplan in Donna Karan

5967914c453684204b42f96b GettyImages 480959744 master

Caplan looked simple and elegant at the 66th annual Emmy Awards in 2014.

Allison Williams in Giambattista Valli

5967914cd3e15b3ca08b56db GettyImages 480961856 master

Williams smartly kept the styling of this Giambattista Valli simple so as not to over power it.

Gwen Stefani in Atelier Versace

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images

ff1bd8c7 a224 4233 ab5f c5c5543790d7 getty 454758778

The singer went for a cool and casual Versace look at the awards in 2014.

Rose Byrne in Calvin Klein Collection

5967914ad3e15b3ca08b56d7 GettyImages 181649281 master

Byrne looked gorgeous in this peachy two-piece set at the 65th annual Emmy Awards in 2013.

Michelle Dockery in Prada

Dan MacMedan/WireImage/Getty Images

5723319a ff21 4784 861f efd6abaf3116 getty 181700962

It’s too bad Dockery didn’t win the Emmy for Lead Actress in 2013, because we would have loved to see this two-toned gown take the stage.

January Jones in Jason Wu

59679149d3e15b3ca08b56d3 GettyImages 152674463 master

Jones has always been known for her slighlty avant garde style, and the Jason Wu dress she wore to the Emmys in 2012 remains a perfect example of her red carpet aesthetic.

Lucy Liu in Versace

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/Getty Images

b955d368 6c79 4031 9024 27e516c1b2b7 getty 152698516

In 2012, Liu proved that when in doubt, a slinky, metallic Versace dress is always a great choice.

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab

Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Getty Images

a3ab6e7a 42dc 4e96 a36f dc60b11afed8 getty 1459492150

Wood’s red lip was the perfect accent to this beautiful, sparkly Elie Saab gown.

Nina Dobrev in Donna Karan

59679148453684204b42f964 GettyImages 137709947 master

We can’t decide what we like more about Dobrev’s 2011 dress, the neckline or dramatic skirt.

Christina Hendricks in Zac Posen

5967914748a7bb6995252ba5 GettyImages 103712719 master

The Mad Men actress’ signature red hair played off the pale periwinkle of her Zac Posen dress perfectly.

Claire Danes in Armani Privé

Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

fbb032ab 4716 42b8 82c0 9d1c289037bf getty 818594448

Good thing Danes took home the award for Lead Actress in a miniseries for her performance in Temple Grandin in 2010, because this Armani gown was made for a winner.

Connie Britton in Burberry

5967914848a7bb6995252ba9 GettyImages 109745518 master

Clearly, 2010 was the year of sequins and sparkle at the Emmys.

Drew Barrymore in Monique Lhuillier

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

3bcc7700 cbe8 4efb 8e08 52af7ef55a26 getty 90990088

Barrymore looked like a modern princess in her tulle-covered Monique Lhuillier confection.

Sandra Oh in Marchesa

Frank Trapper/Corbis Entertainment/Getty Images

eafe4abb ef73 4ed1 98df 694c348df8ec getty 529905846

The rope belt on Oh’s Marchesa gown is giving a welcomed touch of Scarlett O’Hara to this otherwise very modern dress.

Chloë Sevigny in Isaac Mizrahi

Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

155fc7ea 0e99 4e65 a7a6 8f0564fcd268 getty 659313304

It’s not often we see prints on the Emmy red carpet, but then again, Sevigny always marches to the beat of her own style drum.

Mila Kunis in Monique Lhuillier

Jeff Vespa/WireImage/Getty Images

f7f2d977 0697 4b1c 9ffc 3456bb2918a5 getty 90988087

Kunis’ deep red Monique Lhuillier dress walked the perfect balance between edgy and demure.

Evangeline Lilly in Elie Saab

Jason Merritt/FilmMagic/Getty Images

af487fcb 0407 434a 96a1 9dbe75015069 getty 106213237

Lilly looked gorgeous in her art deco-inspired Elie Saab gown at the awards in 2008.

Olivia Wilde in Reem Acra

59679148d3e15b3ca08b56cf GettyImages 106213272 master

Wilde’s Reem Acra dress had a chokehold on all the fashion girls in 2008.

Halle Berry in Emanuel Ungaro

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images

08ef86bb b5c3 4069 8a0c e37a28511931 getty 184503362

It’s always exciting when stars have a bit of fun with hemlines and step away from the standard full-length look.

Mischa Barton in Oscar de la Renta

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images

94546852 026f 47f3 8816 346fc95c36dd getty 113761783

Almost twenty years later and we’re still thinking about Barton’s ODLR dress from 2005.

Jennifer Aniston in Chanel

5967914848a7bb6995252bab GettyImages 116948850 master

Aniston was nominated for her role in Friends in 2004 when she wore this gorgeous white and gold dress to the ceremony.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Chanel Haute Couture

Chris Weeks/FilmMagic/Getty Images

c9ef598f 924b 4637 abe4 d778da6337ac getty 76226352

Leave it to Carrie Bradshaw to attend the Emmys in an extremely glamorous, Chanel haute couture gown.

Keri Russell in Armani

Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

899d3a59 7b0e 4252 b0a6 00dd98b1f6f1 getty 75505613

This Armani gown fit Russell so perfectly, it almost looks like it was painted on her body.

Angelina Jolie in Randolph Drake

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images

d62de9a3 9e19 4f08 952f 158901dee04e getty 155185439

Jolie attended the 50th annual Emmys in 1998 wearing a nude Randolph Drake dress with an asymmetrical, off-the-shoulder detail.

Helen Hunt in Laurel

Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

b1c6ebac ef3a 4d53 b0b0 6832c1bab673 getty 105576228

Hunt was wearing this slinky silver dress when she took home the award for Best Lead Actress in a comedy series thanks to her work in Mad About You.

Fran Drescher

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc/Getty Images

6b974d79 7a13 4a5b bf25 af15e354026b getty 124960804

When you play a fashion icon on TV like Drescher, you better dress the part, and she very much did in this lace corset and black mini skirt at the ceremony in 1997.

Joan Collins

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images

c8d9ecba 5b44 497e b8ad 353bc6ce75e1 getty 76285559

The Dynasty star epitomized ‘80s glamour in a gold lamé gown at the awards in 1986.

Diahann Carroll

Vinnie Zuffante/Archive Photos/Getty Images

b7d239ec 86f6 42ca ad33 0fb0dbfe8742 getty 1462141146

Carroll looked as glamorous as ever in an embellished black and white gown with a plunging neckline and high slit at the Emmys in 1985.

Mary Tyler Moore

NBC/NBCUniversal/Getty Images

87c9f656 8abd 4e73 ac27 2b2d111be2fa getty 138450435

Moore picked up the award for The Dick Van Dyke show in a dress with a criss-crossing bodice and white opera gloves.

Lucille Ball

Michael Ochs Archives/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

64dd8f47 934b 4b93 9d1d d8ecf98e13ad getty 73908871

The comedy icon looked gorgeous in a white fur coat and embellished dress at the 9th annual Emmys in 1957.

This article was originally published on



Source link

About The Author

Scroll to Top