Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Jan 18, 2026

Memorable Looks From the Emmys That Stand the Test of Time

Memorable Looks From the Emmys That Stand the Test of Time

These are the best dresses that made an impact on the Emmy Awards’ red carpet.

This Sunday marks the 73rd annual Emmy Awards, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer. (For all of the evening’s nominations, read on here.) Ahead of TV’s big night, and in honor of the red carpet that will happen beforehand, Vogue is looking back on some of the most memorable fashion looks to hit the step and repeat over the past 15 years. We’ve seen style on the red carpet run the gamut, from daring trends to classic Hollywood glamour. Here, we look back at the dresses that made an impact at the awards.

Although she wasn’t nominated, Blake Lively stole the spotlight in 2009 in a plunging neckline and high-slit dress from Versace. Also leading the way with a more-is-more look around that time was Heidi Klum in a John Galliano for Christian Dior Couture dress that recalled the smoldering elegance of Rita Hayworth. With beachy blonde waves and whimsical Chanel dresses, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston also brought an air of romance to the big night.

On the other end of the spectrum, Mischa Barton, Keri Russell, and Kerry Washington have all dazzled in sequins from head to toe. Julianne Moore in Christian Dior Couture and Claire Danes in Lanvin showed that bold color can be a beguiling choice-ditto for Allison Williams in Oscar de la Renta and Katie Holmes in Calvin Klein Collection. A favorite from the 2013 Emmys was Kiernan Shipka, who wore an intricate Delpozo dress that was sophisticated without being stuffy.

The following year, Gwen Stefani all but stole the show in a shimmering Atelier Versace number boasting edgy metal detailing. More recently, Lady Gaga opted for an all-black gown by stylist turned designer and close personal friend, Brandon Maxwell. The asymmetric neckline flattered Lady Gaga’s 5-foot-1 frame and furthermore showcased her signature sense of dramatic flair.

At the 2018 Emmys, pink was the color of the night: Tracee Ellis Ross wowed in a voluminous Valentino Haute Couture gown, while Westworld’s Thandie Newton did sleek minimalism in a Brandon Maxwell column gown. But whether they brought home a statuette or not, these women’s fashion choices made them part of the winner’s circle. Last year, notable moments included Kendall Jenner's floral Richard Quinn gown, which was offset with a latex undergarment by Vex Clothing worn underneath. Gwyneth Paltrow also proved that vintage could feel just as fresh as straight-off-the-runway, sporting an archival Valentino creation that was extremely chic.

For last year’s virtual Emmys, stars didn’t skimp on the fashion. A highlight was Zendaya in Christopher John Rogers’s polka-dotted ball gown, which she wore while accepting her award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, for her role in Euphoria. A winning gown for a big winner of the night.

Below, see these and more of the 45 best moments in Emmys red carpet history.


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump to hit Europe with 10% tariffs until Greenland deal is agreed
Prince Harry Returns to UK High Court as Final Privacy Trial Against Daily Mail Publisher Begins
Britain Confronts a Billion-Pound Wind Energy Paradox Amid Grid Constraints
The graduate 'jobpocalypse': Entry-level jobs are not shrinking. They are disappearing.
Cybercrime, Inc.: When Crime Becomes an Economy. How the World Accidentally Built a Twenty-Trillion-Dollar Criminal Economy
The Return of the Hands: Why the AI Age Is Rewriting the Meaning of “Real Work”
UK PM Kier Scammer Ridicules Tories With "Kamasutra"
Strategic Restraint, Credible Force, and the Discipline of Power
United Kingdom and Norway Endorse NATO’s ‘Arctic Sentry’ Mission Including Greenland
Woman Claiming to Be Freddie Mercury’s Secret Daughter Dies at Forty-Eight After Rare Cancer Battle
UK Launches First-Ever ‘Town of Culture’ Competition to Celebrate Local Stories and Boost Communities
Planned Sale of Shell and Exxon’s UK Gas Assets to Viaro Energy Collapses Amid Regulatory and Market Hurdles
UK Intensifies Arctic Security Engagement as Trump’s Greenland Rhetoric Fuels Allied Concern
Meghan Markle Could Return to the UK for the First Time in Nearly Four Years If Security Is Secured
Meghan Markle Likely to Return to UK Only if Harry Secures Official Security Cover
UAE Restricts Funding for Emiratis to Study in UK Amid Fears Over Muslim Brotherhood Influence
EU Seeks ‘Farage Clause’ in Brexit Reset Talks to Safeguard Long-Term Agreement Stability
Starmer’s Push to Rally Support for Action Against Elon Musk’s X Faces Setback as Canada Shuns Ban
UK Free School Meals Expansion Faces Political and Budgetary Delays
EU Seeks ‘Farage Clause’ in Brexit Reset Talks With Britain
Germany Hit by Major Airport Strikes Disrupting European Travel
Prince Harry Seeks King Charles’ Support to Open Invictus Games on UK Return
Washington Holds Back as Britain and France Signal Willingness to Deploy Troops in Postwar Ukraine
Elon Musk Accuses UK Government of Suppressing Free Speech as X Faces Potential Ban Over AI-Generated Content
Russia Deploys Hypersonic Missile in Strike on Ukraine
OpenAI and SoftBank Commit One Billion Dollars to Energy and Data Centre Supplier
UK Prime Minister Starmer Reaffirms Support for Danish Sovereignty Over Greenland Amid U.S. Pressure
UK Support Bolsters U.S. Seizure of Russian-Flagged Tanker Marinera in Atlantic Strike on Sanctions Evasion
The Claim That Maduro’s Capture and Trial Violate International Law Is Either Legally Illiterate—or Deliberately Deceptive
UK Data Watchdog Probes Elon Musk’s X Over AI-Generated Grok Images Amid Surge in Non-Consensual Outputs
Prince Harry to Return to UK for Court Hearing Without Plans to Meet King Charles III
UK Confirms Support for US Seizure of Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker in North Atlantic
Béla Tarr, Visionary Hungarian Filmmaker, Dies at Seventy After Long Illness
UK and France Pledge Military Hubs Across Ukraine in Post-Ceasefire Security Plan
Prince Harry Poised to Regain UK Security Cover, Clearing Way for Family Visits
UK Junk Food Advertising Ban Faces Major Loophole Allowing Brand-Only Promotions
Maduro’s Arrest Without The Hague Tests International Law—and Trump’s Willingness to Break It
German Intelligence Secretly Intercepted Obama’s Air Force One Communications
The U.S. State Department’s account in Persian: “President Trump is a man of action. If you didn’t know it until now, now you do—do not play games with President Trump.”
Fake Mainstream Media Double Standard: Elon Musk Versus Mamdani
HSBC Leads 2026 Mortgage Rate Cuts as UK Lending Costs Ease
US Joint Chiefs Chairman Outlines How Operation Absolute Resolve Was Carried Out in Venezuela
Starmer Welcomes End of Maduro Era While Stressing International Law and UK Non-Involvement
Korean Beauty Turns Viral Skincare Into a Global Export Engine
UK Confirms Non-Involvement in U.S. Military Action Against Venezuela
UK Terror Watchdog Calls for Australian-Style Social Media Ban to Protect Teenagers
Iranian Protests Intensify as Another Revolutionary Guard Member Is Killed and Khamenei Blames the West
Delta Force Identified as Unit Behind U.S. Operation That Captured Venezuela’s President
Europe’s Luxury Sanctions Punish Russian Consumers While a Sanctions-Circumvention Industry Thrives
Berkshire’s Buffett-to-Abel Transition Tests Whether a One-Man Trust Model Can Survive as a System
×