2018 Emmy Awards: The Best Dressed Stars
Much has changed since the Emmy Awards first began in January 1949. Back then, Walter O'Keefe hosted the six-award spectacular at the Hollywood Athletic Club and, while it was broadcast on television, there were less than a million TV sets across the entire United States. A game show by the name of Pantomime Quiz took home the award for Most Popular Television Program of the time, which only goes to show how much the Emmys — and TV as a whole — has changed.
At the 2018 Emmy Awards, hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che, known for their "Weekend Update" antics on Saturday Night Live, entertained celebrities and viewers alike. Outstanding television shows and incredible actors and actresses were recognized for their stellar performances in categories ranging from comedy to drama.
On this special night, fashion certainly did not take a backseat. Stars — whether they were nominated for an award, tasked with presenting, or simply attending — stunned on the red carpet. Here were some of the very best looks of the night.
Angela Sarafyan was "so full of splendor"
In a big departure from her character Clementine on the ever-popular Westworld, Angela Sarafyan stunned on the red carpet in her dark-as-night strapless Siriano crystal ballgown. Sarafyan kept the jewelry to a minimum and accented her look with large post earrings. Although dazzling, the fitted bodice and full skirt didn't outshine — or out-sparkle — the actress, who attended the 2018 event to support the HBO series' whopping 21 nominations. HBO even took to Twitter to comment on the star's stellar style, tweeting in Westworld fashion: "Have you ever seen anything so full of splendor?"
While Sarafyan certainly looked exceptionally wonderful at the 70th Emmy Awards, her fashion game is pretty much always on point. And, as she was spotted at New York Fashion Week just a week before the big awards show, you have to wonder if she got some extra inspiration for her red carpet appearance.
Scarlett Johansson sparkled in white
After Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson arrived to the Emmy Awards, Cosmopolitan dubbed the couple "your 2018 Emmys prom king and queen" — and they're not lying. Although the couple hadn't been dating for too long as of the Emmy Awards show, it was the second time they hit a red carpet together. The two made their first coupled-up public appearance at the Met Gala in May of the same year. However, the 70th Emmy Awards would be their very first time attending an award show together.
Both Jost and Johansson looked at each other lovingly while posing for photos on the red carpet and, while they both looked wonderful, Johansson certainly stole the show in her sparkling white off-the-shoulder dress. The plunging neckline and high slit made for a dramatic look that commanded attention. The actress tied her style together with tousled waves, simple metallic sandals, a diamond bangle, and severe spiked earrings.
Issa Rae looked secure in this pantsuit
Leave it to Issa Rae to rock a totally untraditional — and fabulous — ensemble at the Emmys. The star, who received her first nomination as the Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in Insecure, rocked a pastel blue pantsuit by Vera Wang. Her ensemble also featured a flowing skirt and beaded bodice. According to Elite Daily, Rae stated that the look took over 100 hours to make and it featured over 3,000 crystals. Amazing.
Rae's matching blue eyeshadow made the star's eyes pop and her nude lips kept her makeup from looking over the top. Although you probably aren't in the market for a bedazzled Vera Wang getup, you can soon try out one aspect of Rae's Emmy outfit affordably: her sparkly nail color. Elite Daily revealed the hue to be "Venture to the Venue," part of a new collection by Essie, which debuts in November 2018.
Sandra Oh killed it in crimson
September 17, 2018 was a big night for Sandra Oh. The phenom made history as the first woman of Asian descent to be nominated for Best Actress in a Drama category. Oh was nominated for her performance in the BBC series Killing Eve. However, this was not the first time she'd been nominated for an Emmy. The star was nominated five times prior for her role as Dr. Cristina Yang on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. No matter the outcome, Oh was dressed to win in her crimson Ralph & Russo gown with its severe plunging neckline.
When speaking to Entertainment Tonight about her nomination, she explained: "Images are extremely important to culture, and being a part of that image making, I take a great responsibility, and I'm very grateful for my job to be able to do so. I hope that the wave continues and we see real change."
Jessica Biel made semicircles look incredible
Jessica Biel looked absolutely radiant at the 70th Emmy Awards. The Sinner actress, who was nominated for Lead Actress in in a Limited Series or Movie, donned a dress by the same designer as Sandra Oh: Ralph & Russo. According to Entertainment Tonight, the star's dramatic white strapless gown was from the brand's fall-winter 2018 couture collection. With its stunning train and sheer half-circle panels, you would've thought this dress was designed specifically for Biel.
Instead of pairing the already ornate gown with a necklace, Biel kept things fairly simple with 11.48-carat Harry Winston diamond earrings, a diamond bracelet, and diamond rings. The best part of Biel's look, however, may have been her ear-to-ear grin. "It feels amazing, it's like a dream," Biel said of being nominated for the first time, "Who knows if this will ever happen again, so I'm trying to enjoy every moment of it." The star joked that her cheeks "hurt a lot" from all the smiling.
Rachel Brosnahan's marvelous gown
Rachel Brosnahan, or Mrs. Maisel, as you may know her, arrived to the red carpet looking, well, marvelous. The actress sported an off-the-shoulder deep red Oscar de la Renta gown with Tiffany earrings. Brosnahan discussed her Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nomination with E! News (via Town & Country Magazine) and revealed she had an "outline" ready in case she needed to make an acceptance speech — which, as it turns out, she did.
The star also talked about the upcoming second season of the hit Amazon Prime series."We just wrapped shooting day before yesterday I have no idea where I am, but I'm happy to be here," she joked. The celeb continued, saying, "It's a blast. I've never had so much fun. It's been challenging and fulfilling in all the right ways and... we put literal blood, sweat, and tears into this." Fans of the show were most definitely rooting for Brosnahan to take home a win.
Constance Wu wooed in this metallic number
Metallics were a common theme at the Emmy Awards in 2018 just as they were in 2017, but no one did them quite like Constance Wu. The star of Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh Off the Boat killed it in her award-worthy ensemble, which featured a) long sleeves b) cold shoulders and c) cutouts. This dress was truly lacking nothing.
The Jason Wu creation was even appreciated by viewers at home. Some loved it so much, they took to Twitter to share their thoughts. One person tweeted: "Cause of death: Constance Wu at the Emmys" while another said, "Honestly just spacing out on that picture of Constance Wu. She's so beautiful." Despite looking like the Queen of the Emmys, Wu herself was sadly not nominated for her role in Fresh Off the Boat, which many feel is yet another snub — in a long line of snubs — against the actress.
Aidy Bryant's playful ensemble
Aidy Bryant may be best known for her hilarious performances on Saturday Night Live, but at the 2018 Emmy Awards, she was known for being one of the best dressed ladies in the house. The star kept the summer season alive in well in a custom blush pink tulle mid-length gown by Tanya Taylor, a New York-based designer.
"We wanted to give her something very soft and feminine, with bursts of neon playfulness like her personality," Tanya Taylor herself told People. The designer continued, saying, "[Bryant] wanted something lightweight, something that made her feel special and something that matched her playful personality." The improv master's sense of humor was even incorporated into the ensemble, which Taylor says was "interpreted... through color." The whimsical design also featured 3,500 hand-beaded sequins.
It was a big night for Bryant who was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and her stunning ensemble helped her look the part.
Emilia Clarke's dramatic fashion
The Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons, Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke walked the red carpet in a black floral embellished skirt and sheer top by Dior Haute Couture. The juxtaposition of flowers with black lace made for a feminine, but dramatic, look. The star had her hair pulled back in a bun, which drew attention to her Fernando Jorge earrings. Quite the stunner themselves, the earrings were made of nephrite jade, yellow gold and diamonds, according to Harper's Bazaar.
With the filming of the HBO series complete, the actress also parted ways with her platinum blonde locks ahead of the 2018 Emmys. While she didn't totally say goodbye to blonde — she still has highlights, after all — her hair was far from the Khaleesi color we've all gotten so used to. The star also seemed to have left her dragons at home, but she did just fine slaying on her own.
Mandy Moore's metallic masterpiece
Ahead of the 2018 Emmys, celebrity stylist Brad Goreski discussed his A-List fashion predictions to E! News. After naming Mandy Moore as a frontrunner, Goreski revealed some insider details, saying, "Mandy Moore was on the Paris couture circuit in July. She was there with her stylist, she was at every single show, and my guess is she's gonna be wearing something from one of those collections because she was definitely there shopping for an Emmys gown."
Just as the celeb stylist predicted, Moore looked stunning. However, Moore's look involved much more than just picking a style she liked from the runway. The This Is Us star dished to Access Hollywood about her ensemble, which ended up being a custom Rodarte gown. Moore said one of the designers for Rodarte actually came to her house with the fabric in tow. The designer, along with Moore and Moore's personal stylist, came up with the perfect style. "I had never experienced that before — that level of detail," the actress revealed after saying the dress was essentially made for her body. No wonder it looked phenomenal!