Red Carpet Reviews: Emmy Awards
Is this a red carpet or prom?
By Jessica Katz, Online Editor, and Alexandra Mack, Clara Padgham, Jane Houseal and Rachel Reingold, Contributing Writers
Photo compiled by Jessica Katz
The Primetime Emmy Awards are back in person, and so is the red carpet. Alongside host Cedric the Entertainer, Television’s biggest stars congregated at the Microsoft Theatre at L.A. Live on Sept. 19, parading ensembles the world has waited two years to see. Given the celebratory nature of the return of the Television Academy’s annual award show, many actors flaunted neon looks and bold colors. Some of these actors, however, fell short of making a statement and instead appeared as though they stepped straight out of a Seventeen Magazine Prom Issue circa 2013.
Best dressed:
Michaela Coel embraced the neon motif flawlessly. She accepted her first Emmy in a stunning Christopher John Rogers custom look (Okwodu, 2021). “Sexy” and “neon” usually don’t go hand in hand for us, but Coel proved otherwise. The fit was impeccable, the color complimented her complexion beautifully and her stylist showed their talents from the statement earrings down to the matching shoes.
Kerry Washington stepped out in a lilac satin gown with a corset detail designed by Etro. The cowl neckline added sexy sophistication revealing her bare collar bone while the corset provided a structured contrast to the fabric of the dress outlining her figure. Her minimalistic jewelry, slick back ponytail and bold red lip tied the look together allowing for the focus to be on the dress. Washington brought old-school glamour with a modern twist.
Sarah Paulson turned heads walking the red carpet in a Carolina Herrera Spring ’22 ball gown (Emmys 2021 Red Carpet Fashion, 2021). Her dramatic red taffeta gown featured a plunging v-neckline and oversized puffy balloon sleeves. This bold and classy look was the highlight of the whole awards ceremony.
Spectacular would be an understatement for Nicole Byer’s ensemble featuring a bright purple Christian Siriano gown (Javed, 2021). The two-tiered dress features tulle ruffles at the bottom of each layer. The sheerness of the fabric gave movement to the dress and added modernity to the 1960’s inspired look, while Byer’s beehive updo maintained the reference to a monumental fashion era. From the texture to the movement, to the styling, Byer gave us an unforgettable fashion moment.
Yara Shahidi, star of Black-ish and subsequent Grown-ish, graced the red carpet in a marvelous green tea-length dress. This portrait-neckline Christian Dior gown paired with simple brown pumps and a slicked-back bun united to present a graceful, ballerina-esque look that reinforced the actress’s youth, while simultaneously emanating an aura of timelessness that gave a nod to old Hollywood glamour.
Kayley Cuoco literally glowed in a neon yellow custom Vera Wang Haute gown and matching strappy heels. The monochrome look featured a plunging sweetheart neckline, asymmetrical ruffled straps, a ruched bodice and a high slit. The stunning look served Cuoco well, considering The Emmys was her first red carpet appearance since her split with former husband Karl Cook (Flanagan, 2021).
Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. truly proved to be “inimitable and an original” as he shimmered on the runway in a dazzling white ensemble from Dolce & Gabbana (Wurzburger, 2021). Odom Jr. was a standout against the overall disappointing assemblage of menswear seen this year at the Emmys, leaving a memorable impact that radiated in the minds of viewers and the other attendees in “the room where it happens.”
Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo looked sophisticated, yet stunning in a black velvet jumpsuit designed by Elie Saab (Patek, 2021). The jumpsuit itself was simple but the details–embellishments, structured shoulders and a sleek butt-length ponytail–elevated the look.
Biggest flops:
Emma Corrin indeed takes “the crown” for worst-dressed at this year’s Emmy Awards. The figureless Miu Miu gown with matching bonnet and fingerless gloves was an attempt at originality that missed its mark (Van Paris, 2021). Perhaps the cherry-on-top of this unsettling monochrome look was the black, claw-like fingernails that only drew further comparisons to the image of Max from “Where the Wild Things Are.”
Amy Poehler’s combination of Bella Freud and Galvan London missed the mark for us (Vulpo, 2021), giving us flashbacks to being cold before a school dance and having to borrow your date's jacket. There is nothing special about the sequin skirt, and the coat overtop seems like a completely different vision. Another thing we dislike is unnecessary belts. We wish Poehler chose a more tailored coat, rather than one that required a waist-cinch.
Kenan Thompson walked the red carpet in a bubblegum pink suit by Bogard by MikeB (Emmys 2021 Red Carpet Rundown Part Two, 2021). The suit featured peak lapels and a matching bow tie. We have to give Thompson props for choosing a fun color, but overall the look fell short. Instead of looking like a double nominee actor, he looked like he was on his way to junior prom.
Angela Basset wore a Greta Constantine black dress with a ruffled sash down the front (Emmys 2021 Red Carpet Fashion, 2021). You could say the neon pink ruffle was show-stopping for the wrong reasons. Is that supposed to be a question mark?
It’s boring, it’s expected, it’s men in black suits. Eugene Levy, Conan O’Brian, Sterling K. Brown, Wilmer Valderrama, Evan Peters (although he brought his mother as his date, and that is adorable) and more, step it up!
Seth Rogan may be a famous comedian, but that doesn’t mean his red carpet fashion has to be funny, too. He wore an orange Brioni suit jacket, brown pants and taupe button created a pretty fall color palette, but not a cohesive outfit (Prarthna, 2021). The matching bow tie and shirt was a fun touch, though!
Questionable ensembles:
Anya Taylor Joy served looks as she wore Christian Dior Haute Couture in her first-ever Emmy Award ceremony (Lee, 2021). There is no doubt that she looked glamorous in the high-neck pale yellow backless gown. The open back adds sex appeal with the Tiffany and Co. necklace draping down her back. But, we started questioning her choice to wear a mustard yellow cape and wish she left it home.
The Emmy Awards first-ever transgender nominee, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez showed off her figure in an Atelier Versace teal gown with an asymmetrical neckline and ruching in the bodice. Rodriguez “wanted to look like water coming out of the sea” (Emmy Awards 2021: Here Are the Memorable Fashion Moments & Biggest Winners, 2021). We understood the water aesthetic she was striving for, however, this dress gave off more of a cheap prom vibe than a sea goddess.
Aidy Bryant wore a custom Simon Rocha embroidered tulle dress, covered in a spray of pink and red embroidered flowers (Goodykoontz, 2021). Bryant paired the gown with a matching red beaded bag and headband. While the ethereal look was beautiful, the red and green color combination made it feel like a holiday party dress than an outfit for the Emmys.
Cynthia Erivo made an appearance on the red carpet, in a unique Louis Vuitton gown. We liked the idea of this dress—the contrast between the simple white bodice and the array of blue-green, royal blue and white feathers at the bottom. In fact, this gown features more than 1,8000 feathers and took a total of 315 hours to hand embroider (Widjojo, 2021). However, with the combination of an unflattering neckline and an unnecessary thin white belt, this look was a miss in our eyes.
The Audrey Hepburn-inspired haircut and a bold red lip that Mandy Moore presented on the red carpet redeemed the underwhelming red gown she was fitted in. Although the color is stunning on her, the Carolina Herrera mermaid frock complete with horizontal linear ruching and cascading tulle from either side of her waist is likened more to a lobster than to Jo Stockton (Bergeson, 2021).
It-girl Beanie Feldstein did not inspire us with her look. Her Brandon Maxwell dress had beautiful colors and pleats, but overall we felt it was teetering on being too casual (Nesvig, 2021). The beachy waves and belt created an elevated brunch look-not an award show moment.
Elizabeth Olsen paid homage to her sisters by wearing The Row (Garvey, 2021). Although we adore sisterly love, the gown underwhelmed. We yearned for more from Olsen and wish the look had something to set it apart or make it pop.
Sources:
Emmys 2021 Red Carpet Fashion. (2021, September 20). E Online.
Emmys 2021 Red Carpet Rundown Part Two. (2021, September 22). Tom + Lorenzo.
Garvey, M. (2021, September 20). Elizabeth Olsen's Emmy dress was designed by her sisters. CNN.
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