“Fashion is the most powerful art there is.” – Emmy Fashion 2016

Posted by Maggie

It was a long summer, devoid of major red carpets with only Louis Tomlinson’s daily trips to Starbucks to sustain us, but the Emmys are finally here. Jimmy Kimmel aside, that was a fun night, right? So many great looks, some pleasant surprises and only a few disappointments. I’m a little distressed by the amount of sheer skirts, but I can handle it. So let’s topple the patriarchy and look at some gowns!

BEST DRESSED

Kristen Bell

Hands down, best look of the night. Look at this pattern, you guys, I think I even see birds in it. The silhouette is amazing on her, I love that even though she’s so petite, this gown isn’t overwhelming her.

Sarah Paulson

This hits a lot of buttons for me — I love a v-neck with long sleeves, I love a well executed green look, and my god, do I love beading. Especially when someone can still move gracefully like Sarah, if she was feeling weighed down, it didn’t show. Those earrings were the perfect choice, too.

Allison Janney

SHUTTING. IT. DOWN. I love everything about this, bow down.

Constance Zimmer

I’m so into this. I love how this look could be described as romantic or very feminine, but somehow she still looks tough as nails. I feel like this was the exact right shade of pink, I’m dying over the sleeves, and I need to stop looking at this photo soon before I take it to my hair stylist.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Okay, THIS is how you do the sheer and black romantic look (ahem, Sophie Turner, but I’m getting ahead of myself). It shouldn’t really surprise loyal readers that I liked this very much overall, and I was especially taken with the criss-cross detail at the bust. I’m really glad that she decided to attend, given the passing of her father last week, not so I could immediately slot her in the best list but because she looked genuinely thrilled when Veep won at the end of the night. I was really moved by her acceptance speech, and I thought it was very generous of her to share it with us.

Priyanka Chopra

Yes, the detail at the bust bothers me too, but isn’t this gorgeous? I think this is the best she’s ever looked. I love this color on her and the way the dress moved was stunning.

Kerry Washington

No disrespect to the 90s, especially because they really are back (damn), but last time Kerry walked the red carpet while pregnant I thought she looked like an extra from the 10 Things I Hate About You prom. (Yes, that prom was cool as hell but it wasn’t a major awards show red carpet, okay?) But this, you guys. How is this working so well?? She looks so cool and comfortable and breezy and we know it was like a thousand degrees out on the red carpet last night. If you look closely, the boob collar’s not great? But it doesn’t detract too much from overall look.

Kate McKinnon

I am living for Kate in this classic red. L-i-v-i-n-g. She looks beautiful and comfortable and like a goddamn winner.

Kirsten Dunst

There was an unfortunate amount of sheer skirts on the red carpet, and Kiki’s put them all to shame. THIS is how it’s done. I wrote down “DYING I LOVE THIS CABARET HOTNESS” and I love the hair, although I think she might have pulled back too much on accessories.

Taraji P. Henson (Ceremony)

This second look was much more the drama that I was expecting from her. It’s sleek, it’s elegant, it’s sparkly. And I love the lighter and darker brown colors in the pattern.

WORST DRESSED

Anna Chlumsky

I very seriously considered making this the only look on the worst list this time. That’s how bad this is. I don’t even know what happened.

Ariel Winter

As a sparkle enthusiast, I can see the appeal of this but it’s just not flattering. I think Ariel has struggled a little bit to find red carpet looks for her age and her gorgeous figure, and I want her to succeed, but I don’t think this was the right look. And the schoolmarm hair, which I think was a counterbalance to the showgirl of it all, does nothing for her.

Sophie Turner

I get the idea behind this look, but none of it was coming together for me. I don’t like the gown and the way the fabric gathers? Pleats? (Sorry, I’m not actually qualified for this, I just have Wi-Fi and a lot of opinions.) And I just can’t get on board with the hair or the makeup or the necklace, just none of it is working for me. I think she’s lovely and I did like the peach tattoo she got with Maisie Williams that she showed off during her interview, but. No.

Mandy Moore

Yes, on the surface, this is probably inoffensive at worst, but you know what? I’m so mad that she wore this lovely color that no one else was wearing and she didn’t do it well. Look at the sheer skirt. Look at the matchy blush. This could have been amazing and it’s so aggressively meh.

Taraji P. Henson (Red Carpet)

I felt so, like, personally let down when I saw this. It’s so basic, the hair is bad, where is the bold lip? Not at all what I’ve come to expect from her.

SUPERLATIVES

Best Debut: Millie Bobby Brown, Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo, aka the kids from Stranger Things

I haven’t watched the show so I don’t know their work, but I loved this trio on the red carpet. Caleb was so into explaining that his (amazing) blazer was custom, Millie’s bird applique dress and killer shoes were Valentino Red, and Gaten shrugging off his tux being a rental — it was all just so charming, you guys. They really warmed my black little heart.

It’s a Motherf*cking Jumpsuit: Leslie Jones

I’ve never been so happy to repeat a superlative in my life. I love the color and I am very interested to see more of the cape-like jacket that she tweeted a photo of. She tweeted a lot of great photos with celebs from Sunday, if you haven’t seen, and her love is just so pure, you guys.

Best Cutout Effect: Tatiana Maslany

I don’t know that we could actually say “cutout” when describing this, so I’m hedging with “cutout effect” because look sleek and classy she looks here. It can be done!

#ImWithHer: Laverne Cox

I wasn’t 100% on board with Laverne’s pretty and understated gold gown, the skirt was a little too see-through for me, but honestly I would follow her into fire. During her red carpet interview, before she had to remind Giuliana about who she was wearing, Laverne took a moment to encourage everyone to vote, no matter which candidate you support, and when she was onstage to present, she thanked Jenji Kohan for giving her a chance after Jeffrey Tambor mentioned the importance of hiring trans actors. Guys, I love her.

Best Accessory: Tituss Burgess and Rami Malek

A PEACOCK BOWTIE. WHO SAYS MEN ARE BORING ON THE RED CARPET? Oh, that’s me. I say that. I enjoy the shoes a lot too, but you’ve got to give up it for this bowtie, guys.

Sage: Okay, so, in our circle of no real fashion expertise, Maggie is the expert. And I respect her and her anti stance on the dinner jacket as a concept. (“Idk, I personally hate an off-white jacket with a white shirt.”) But I also respectfully disagree with it. For a guy who only ever gets to wear black hoodies on his own show, Rami Malek is becoming a force to be reckoned with on the red carpet. I love the old Hollywood, Bogie-knocking-back-a-drink-at-Rick’s of it all, plus the addition of that patterned pocket square to rep Rami’s off-beat personality. Handsome, and perfect for a first-time winner.

Worst Accessory: Claire Danes

Sure, the dress might need a little editing but the real crime is that tan.

Second Worst Accessory: Constance Wu

The hoop earrings, guys. They’re ruining the whole look for me. I love everything neck down and I might be able to deal with the high pony, but those earrings. They just tank it for me.

Can you ever just be whelmed? Tina Fey and Amy Poehler

Let’s start with Queen Tina. I don’t love the shade of green and I don’t like what the fabric is doing, it’s heavy but it’s not? I don’t love the hair. Onto Queen Amy. Listen, I am as happy as anyone else in this bar that she finally got the pudding, but. For something sparkly, how is this so drab?

Best Yellow: Ellie Kemper

I’m not saying that I chose this for Ellie because she was the only one wearing yellow, and yes there were several, who paired it with a bold lip but that is exactly what I’m saying. I thought the hair worked, it was so much better than when she middle parts to get away from the full bangs and she had the daintiest, vintage-looking earrings on. Per-fect.

Pretty in Pink: Viola Davis

I am in love with the shape and color of the gown, but the jury is still out on the beading.

Literally any other color: Emilia Clarke

I thought this dress, although just the tiniest bit tight?, was gorgeous. It was va-va-voom without being tacky. But the color. I would have loved to see this in literally any color other than nude. She still looked great, although the hair was not amazing, and I was really intrigued by the mismatched earrings, but the COLOR.

Goals: America Ferrera

I mostly really liked this look, I would have preferred a more form-fitting skirt and I really don’t respond well to a middle part, but what I loved was America’s red carpet interview. She talked about a triathlon that she did to raise money after a friend lost a family member to cancer, and she talked about how grateful she was to have a strong, healthy body and to have been able to participate in and finish the event, and that my friends is what we call goals. It’s so easy to focus on insecurities and “problem areas” instead of working to be strong and acknowledging what we can do.

I Still Can’t With This Zac Posen Bitch: Emily Ratajkowski

This is the most Zac Posen-est look of any Zac Posen look and I simply cannot with it.

Surprise! I liked it: Heidi Klum

This is very typical Heidi yet it’s sleek and not hewing trashy for me. Dare I say understated about this gown?? I usually can’t with her, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

My bias is showing: Keri Russell

It’s a testament to how much I love her that I don’t hate this. I don’t think I’d let anyone else get away with this.

Hear Me Out: Maisie Williams

This is a little kooky but I’m into it? I don’t know, she kind of looks like a beloved crazy aunt who always has a drink in her hand. And I like it.

PANTS IT’S PANTS YOU GUYS: Sarah Hyland

Is it just me or do you feel like Sarah Hyland was trying to one-up Kiernan Shipka, who could potentially not really know who Sarah Hyland is?

I Can’t With This Bitch No Matter What She Wears: Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting

Every time. Even when she doesn’t show up.

I Can’t With This Bitch No Matter What She Wears Runner-Up: Sofia Vergara

From my notes: Eh whatever hair yuck

Creative Arts Highlights: Rachel Bloom, RuPaul

What do you say we end on a high note for once? Apparently the Creative Arts Emmys were where it was at this year.

Rachel Bloom slayed in menswear (even if you don’t like the tie, you can’t deny this is a look).

And RuPaul made all of my red carpet dreams come true in a pink and white polka dotted suit and I wasn’t even there. THIS. I want to see THIS, done with this much panache, on every red carpet from here on out. Men of Hollywood, you’ve been put on notice.

Who were YOUR best and worst dressed at the Emmys? Let us know in the comments!