Some years are more exciting than others, and this year’s Emmy red carpet definitely impressed with many memorable looks. For example, as if we don’t be talking about Jane Fonda’s ponytail for years. And I loved seeing so many legendary veteran actresses totally slay it on the red carpet looking better than ever. Along with Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Jessica Lang, Michelle Pfeiffer and Judith Light all stunned and showed their much younger acting counterparts how it’s done. A great dress paired with experience and confidence is hard to beat. Here’s a rundown of some of this year’s most talked about looks.
Nicole Kidman in Calvin Klein by Appointment
One of the night’s big winners for her role in Big Little Lies, Kidman had the best acceptance speech of the night. When I first saw this dress, I wasn’t in awe but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. Love the crystal embellished rope at the neckline and the cocktail length had a retro vibes yet sill felt fresh. And the stylish star has always worn crimson red well. Those lips were the perfect colour too.
Jane Fonda in Brandon Maxwell
SHE’S SEVENTY NINE!!! When your Jane Fonda, this is what almost 80 looks like. And only she could rock a ponytail like this without looking like she was trying too hard. Apparently it was her hairdressers idea, and she was like, “ya sure, do your thing.” The youthful look was accessorized with a three-piece jewelry set from Gismondi 1754 and included a $1.75 million necklace (worn backwards) and emerald and diamond chandelier earrings. Interesting jewelry fact: it took 10 artisans more than 600 hours to create the set (named the “Rugiada” collection). Only the best for Fonda…
Zoe Kravitz in Dior Haute Couture
I thought this rainbow feathered gown was totally stunning. And very couture. Kravitz has become one to watch on the red carpet and she totally nailed in this intricate and unique gown. She gives a little edge to everything she wears and couldn’t have suited this colourful look better. Well played.
Yara Shahidi in Prada
This teal sequin embroidery gown with a braided belt was a wise choice for the young stylish actress. A beautifully different dress with the same cool vibe Shahidi radiates. When I first saw the dress I thought it was Gucci and was surprised to learn it was Prada. Either way, it was one of the night’s top looks.
Tracee Ellis Ross in Chanel Haute Couture
I love Tracee Ellis Ross. She’s so cool – I want to be her friend and hang out and drink wine, gossip and laugh. I bet she’s a blast. And she is one of the most exciting stars to watch on the red carpet this year. She and her stylist are clever in their choices. She’s also never lets the clothes wear her. Time after time, she always owns the look. This Chanel gown is true couture. I loved it on the runway at the Chanel Couture show in January and I love it even more on Ross.
Sarah Paulson in Carolina Herrera
Paulson’s another one I love to watch on the red carpet. She always looks confident and in control of her looks. Similar to Tracee Ellis Ross’s couture look above, Paulson nailed it in the silver sequin gown with dramatic shoulders which was straight off the Spring 2018 runway. The whole look was 1980s Dynasty (a favourite era). Those beautiful diamond drop earrings were the right choice for such a chic and glamorous dress.
Gabrielle Union in Zuhair Murad
Damn girl! Hands down the best Union has ever looked on the red carpet. Incredible. It was sheer and sexy but also elegant at the same time. And loved the pulled back hair parted in the middle with natural curls. Everything about this was fashion perfection.
Claire Foy in Oscar de la Renta
One of the few to wears pants this year, The Queen actress impressed big time in this pantsuit with side train and crystal knot detail. There’s a timeless quality to this look that I’m always drawn to. Like, we could have seen this in the 40s, 70s, 80s, etc. Well done.
Reese Witherspoon in Stella McCartney
I appreciate how Witherspoon attempted to do something different style-wise from her usual red carpet aesthetic, which for the last few years has had a very ‘wealthy Texan fundraiser’ vibe. This short tuxedo mini dress was a solid effort but there’s something about it that didn’t work. I’d refer to this look as “almost but not quite.”
Susan Sarandon in Zac Posen
Bad ass veteran #1. Sarandon stunned in this custom Zac Posen design. A great red carpet appearance after starring alongside friend Jessica Lang in one of this year’s best shows, Feud. Oh and she’s 70! It’s a flattering, powerful and feminine look. Love the detail around the neckline. And the black nail polish was a nice touch.
Jessica Lange in Gucci
Bad ass veteran #2. This long sleeve black velvet Gucci dress is my favourite I’ve ever seen on Lang. It’s super chic and suited the talented actress perfectly. You can tell she knew she looked good and she owed it.
Judith Light in Christian Siriano
Bad ass veteran #3. Light’s a true TV legend and at 68, she looks amazing. She nailed it in this black long-sleeve Siriano gown, which had an interesting angled neckline.
Michelle Pfeiffer in Oscar de la Renta
Bad ass veteran #4. Like her counterparts above, Pfeiffer seems pretty much ageless and looked lovely in this Oscar de la Renta lace gown. Feminine and soft, Pfeiffer still manages to look strong and sexy without being too sweet.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Carolina Herrera
Award show after award show, Louis-Dreyfus is fairly predictable when it comes to her red carpet style. She knows what works for her and it’s never a miss. Typically lovely without being overly repetitive.
Jessica Biel in Ralph & Russo
Ralph & Russo is a favourite on the red carpet among a lot of stylish stars but this look overwhelmed Biel. On Jennifer Lopez I probably would have loved it but on Biel, it looks like she’s playing dress-up in her mother’s “fancy” dress. Also, what was with that side ponytail?! Here’s a tip: Barbie hair from the early 1980s generally isn’t a great source of inspiration.
Priyanka Chopra in Balmain
A bit of a miss for me. Normally I love Chopra on the red carpet but there’s too much going on with this embellished Balmain number. She’s also seemed way too hot. And it looked like something Kris Jenner would wear so there’s that…
Evan Rachel Wood in custom Moschino
I love how Wood is fairly committed to wearing pants on the red carpet. She usually nails it stylewise but I didn’t love this three-piece custom pant suit by Jeremy Scott for Moschino. Again, there are too many details and too many buttons. Like Witherspoon’s look this year, this was another “almost but not quite.”
Sofia Vergara in Mark Zunino
Literally the same look. Every. Single. Time. The only thing Vergara ever changes is her hair. “Oh look, she got bangs!!” But those huge Lorraine Schwartz sapphire and diamond earrings were awesome.
Elisabeth Moss in Prabal Gurung
After starring in one of the year’s biggest hits, Moss dissapointed in this Prabal Guring strapless blush satin cocktail dress – a total yawn. It’s fine but it couldn’t have been less exciting if it tried. And it sort of looked like a bridesmaid’s or grad dress which I’m guessing wasn’t the intention.
Ariel Winter in Steven Khalil
Hmmm. Don’t you wonder how dresses like this even happen? Like who would think both of those high slits were a good idea. No one! That’s who.
Shannon Purser in Sachin & Babi
Poor Barb! Purser received universal appraisal for her role as Barb in one of the year’s biggest hits, Strangers Things. But she won’t receive much appraisal for this emerald green gown. Out of all the options available, I’m confused as to how a stylist would think this was the right choice for a 20 year old?! The colour’s nice but other than that, it’s unfortunate. Period.
That’s a wrap! Thanks for reading. Best of TIFF red carpet to come!
Casey Wagar 