It’s that time of year. With the Emmys upon us, Awards Season is kicking back into gear. All year long, television’s biggest stars have been hard at work disappearing into their roles. Awards ceremonies are an opportunity for them to shine as themselves while being recognized for that work. And it’s not just actors. Creators like art directors, costume designers and cinematographers have the opportunity to step out from behind the scenes and enjoy the spotlight they deserve.
The Emmys are a little weird in the world of awards shows because they don’t happen over just one day. The Primetime Emmys are divided into one main ceremony and the smaller Creative Arts Emmys. The Creative Arts Emmys, which mostly recognize the behind-the-scenes side of things, were held on Sept. 5-6 this year, the week before the main ceremony on Sept. 12.
While the Creative Arts Emmys don’t get quite as much attention as the main ceremony, I’m going to treat them as one of the same for the purposes of this post. Both events are ultimately dedicated to recognizing the highest achievement in television, and with that in mind the red carpets can be viewed as one continuous story.
Emily Bader in Oscar de la Renta
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Oscar de la Renta’s Pre-Fall 2026 collection, but this dress is definitely a standout for me. A sleek green sequined gown like this is always a winner, and the interwoven fringe at the hem adds some wonderful movement. I’m not so sure about the choice to pair emerald green jewelry with this more chartreuse-leaning dress, but the gems are small enough that I don’t think the contrast is too egregious in this case.
Quinta Brunson in Christian Cowan
Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson looked fantastic in this dress from Christian Cowan’s Spring/Summer 2027 Ready-to-Wear collection. In fact, I dare say I prefer the red-carpet styling to the runway. Ditching the gloves and turquoise necklaces lets the dress speak for itself, and the soft waves and drop earrings are a nice counterbalance to the edginess of the shredded fabric. And did you notice that illusion neckline? Probably not, because it’s done incredibly well. In a world of clunky applications of sheer/nude fabric, this one is practically seamless. Bravo.
Alan Cumming in Bode
You can’t go wrong with florals on a suit, and I really appreciate the monochromatic thing going on here. I do think the white shoes are a bit goofy, and I wonder if it would have helped to incorporate some black embroidery to speak back to the motifs on the suit.
Colman Domingo in Valentino
The king of menswear is in the house. The Four Seasons star Colman Domingo never fails to impress the crowd with his red-carpet wardrobe, effortlessly balancing his impeccable taste with his willingness to take sartorial risks. The one tweak I would make to this outfit would be swapping out the pants and shoes for a warmer color. As presented, the top of this look utilizes a great color palette, but the bottom doesn’t seem to speak to it at all. I would either reuse the brown of the jacket or select a warmer shade of white to create a more cohesive look. Still, it’s a fun look and overall a win for me. I’m always a fan of a departure from the standard jacket silhouette, and the purple sash is a great detail.
Ayo Edebiri in Chanel
I’ll never say no to a bow, and this dress comes with two! The sky-blue tea-length dress and full skirt are lovely on their own, but the contrasting red-orange bow really takes the look to the next level. I’m always excited to see what The Bear star Ayo Edebiri will bring to the red carpet, and this look is wonderfully fun and fresh. My one teeny-tiny complaint is that I wish it fit a little better around the bust.
Abby Elliott in Erdem
This is a great example of the kinds of considerations that have to be made for red-carpet dressing. All Her Fault and The Bear star Abby Elliott chose this dress from Erdem’s Resort 2026 collection, which looks absolutely stunning in the official photos released by the brand. But it just doesn’t bring that same gothic bride energy to the red carpet. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with the dress, but it just didn’t work for this event. Erdem’s photoshoot had this dress under cool, soft lighting, with the bow and skirt arranged in a more dramatic way. In this environment, the wrinkled fabric feels like a stylistic choice. But on the red carpet, it looks like someone forgot to steam it. The harsh lighting exaggerates the wrinkles, and the skirt and bow just haven’t held their shape. It’s possible that some adjustments could have been made, particularly to add some structure to the bow, but ultimately I think this dress simply doesn’t photograph very well in the red-carpet environment.
Sarah Michelle Gellar in Versace
Sometimes what the world needs is a little more pink, and who better to deliver it than Versace? I was shocked to learn that this dress is actually vintage, pulled from the archives to celebrate thirty years of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s iconic role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While I absolutely love the simple silhouette and high neckline, the back of the dress is where I get lost. I’ve seen it compared to the open-backed number Gellar previously wore to the Emmys in 1999, but this new iteration just does not feel well-executed. The way the fabric droops around the back doesn’t work for me, and I wonder if something like a halter would have worked better.
Jeff Hiller in Bode
Menswear can be interesting! Bode has a tendency to do well with suiting, and the subtle, western-style trim seen here is one of their signatures. It’s a great choice for Pluribus star Jeff Hiller, keeping things fun without getting ridiculous. The playing card motif is so unique, and the pared back color scheme keeps it from feeling tacky, especially with the coordinating gold shirt. The floral brooch is also the perfect detail to tie the look together.
Chase Infiniti in Louis Vuitton
The Testaments star Chase Infiniti always looks great on the red carpet, and this look is no exception. The color is perfect for her, and the beading is incredible. It actually reminds me a little of this iconic dress from Cruella (if you know, you know). I didn’t like the silhouette at first, but I think the trumpet skirt was a necessary trade off to achieve some movement without sacrificing structure required to support the heavy beading.
Diana Lee Inosanto in Mac Duggal
Something that always ruins a dress for me is an obvious illusion neckline. Fashion’s biggest designers still struggle to get this right, and it instantly cheapens the look. Conceptually, a black gown with floral appliques at the neckline is a cool idea. The tailoring and the draping of the skirt are excellent, but my eye is drawn to the poorly color-matched illusion fabric. Even on the model, the sheer fabric is highly visible, which essentially defeats the purpose of using it in the first place.
Seoyeon Jang in Fendi
Seojeon Jang was breathtaking in this gown from Fendi’s Fall/Winter 2026 Ready-to-Wear collection. The simple silhouette and gorgeous lace detailing are perfect, and I think the choice to stitch up the neckline a bit from how it was presented on the runway was the right one. If Jang isn’t planning on wearing this dress again, I’ll happily take it off her hands. I will note that the bottom of the skirt could have benefitted from a steamer, but the wrinkles aren’t overly noticeable, and I don’t feel that they detract from the overall look.
Brianna LaPaglia in Roberto Cavalli
This dress first appeared in Roberto Cavalli’s Spring/Summer 2003 Ready-to-Wear collection, and I don’t think it works as well here as it did on the runway. The most obvious change is the neckline, which to me feels like a haphazard attempt to adjust the dress to fit a different body type. I’m not necessarily opposed to reimagining a dress like this, but the asymmetric neckline just doesn’t work here. Still, this is a great color palette for LaPaglia, and the vaguely baroque abstract print is interesting to look at.
Chris Perfetti in Wiederhoeft
I already love Chris Perfetti with all my heart because of his performance as Jacob Hill on Abbott Elementary, so it’s wonderful to see him embrace the red carpet as an opportunity to get creative. It’s also interesting to see him do so in Wiederhoeft, a brand primarily known for womenswear and corsetry. A printed suit is always fun, and this monochromatic moment is such a cool take on the traditional black suit/white shirt combo. This particular suit is from Wiederhoeft’s Spring/Summer 2026 Ready-to-Wear collection, but I find the red-carpet styling to be much stronger.
Bonus: Isn’t his Glambot delightful?
Florence Pugh in Vivienne Westwood
When did we stop wearing lavender on the red carpet? It used to be a popular color (see Brie Larson, Hailee Steinfeld, Taylor Swift), but lately it seems to have fallen out of vogue. But Florence Pugh chose to wear it to the Emmys, and I’m so glad she did. This color is divine on her, and the soft sparkles and flowy fabric are truly ethereal. The jeweled necklace adds to the fairy princess vibe, and the messy bun adds just the right amount of that trademark Vivienne Westwood edge.
Jen Statsky in Michael Kors
As it’s become more popular for women to wear suits on the red carpet, designers have gotten creative with how to create suited looks that still feel feminine. This particular suit comes from Michael Kors’s Fall/Winter 2026 Ready-to-Wear collection, and it combines elements of a gown (flowing fabric and a cinched waist) with those of a more traditional suit (sharp lines, strong silhouette) to create something truly unique. I also think those flowing panels of fabric are a great way to incorporate movement in a look that could otherwise feel stiff.
Tyler James Williams in Givenchy
Well hello, Mr. Eddie! Abbott Elementary star Tyler James Williams pulled this fabulous printed jacket from Givenchy’s Spring/Summer 1999 Couture collection. He looks great, but I personally prefer the runway styling. While the black pants and gray shirt work with the print, the look loses some of its impact without the matching pants. Nonetheless, this is a great pull and I’m looking forward to seeing more from him.
Sartorial Onscreen 
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