Forget secure sequins and a predictable ball gown 77th Primetime Emmy Awards red carpet was a lesson in how to generate headlines without laying a finger on a statuette. From jeweled couture to protest pins and matching couple ensembles, the evening demonstrated that fashion at this level is more a matter of storytelling than style.
Held at LA’s Peacock Theater, the Emmys opened award season with a blend of classic sophistication, bold risk-takers, and intensely personal expressions. Though Apple TV+’s The Studio swept the wins, it was The White Lotus cast and some scene-stealing outsiders that dominated the style conversation. Below, the most talked-about looks that had fashion observers, social media, and style insiders buzzing long after the final statue was awarded.
1. Jenna Ortega’s Gothic ‘Naked’ Dressing
Jenna Ortega recast the current ‘naked’ dressing phenomenon in a moody, filmic tone. Attired in a Sarah Burton creation from Givenchy, the effect was more architectural than illusion mesh it was just her torso, and that covered up by massive pearls and gems set out like a wearable chandelier. The piece directly referenced Isabella Rossellini’s Lisle Von Rhuman in the 1992 cult classic Death Becomes Her, a nod Ortega has been building toward through her goth-glam press tour for Wednesday season 2.
Givenchy top, allegedly delivered in a coffin-shaped box, was worn with a fitted black skirt and Christian Louboutin heels. Zanna Roberts Rassi, style journalist, joked on Live From E! that “it is made of extra-large jewels and not much else,” accurately projecting that it would “be filling your feed.”
2. Lisa’s Painterly Pink Perfection
Pink overwhelmed the carpet in every hue, but Lisa of The White Lotus and Blackpink popularity gave the night’s most gossiped-about spin. She wore a Lever Couture gown by Ukrainian-born designer Lessja Verlingieri, a bubblegum-colored whirl of ribboned material that seemed like brushstrokes in progress. The high slit that rose to the thigh and almost sheer shoulder provided depth, as a delicate train flowed behind.
She doubled down on the theme with Bulgari’s Serpenti jewels in pink sapphires, sparking fan theories that the serpentine motif was a subtle nod to the snake imagery in The White Lotus’ latest season. The result? A look that felt both ethereal and slyly referential.
3. Honoring Giorgio Armani’s Legacy
Only days following the death of Giorgio Armani, numerous stars decided to pay tribute to the designer’s memory on the red carpet. Cate Blanchett in a backless velvet jumpsuit from the Italian house and Leslie Bibb in her low-cut Armani Privé gown were both from his last collection that he had worked on. Kristen Bell, Keri Russell, and Anna Sawai also went for Armani, each exuding the restrained glamour that characterized his career.
Bibb told WWD, “It was from his last Privé collection, and I’m so excited that I’m able to wear it,” underscoring the emotional weight behind the choice. Even without an explicit tribute, the presence of so many Armani looks was a quiet but powerful salute to the man who revolutionized red carpet dressing.
4. Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s Coordinated Couple Moment
Selena Gomez and fiancé Benny Blanco attended their first totally planned red carpet together, and it was a straight-up Old Hollywood romance. Gomez dazzled in a custom Louis Vuitton red gown with a draped train and architectural neckline, topped with Tiffany & Co. jewelry. Blanco opted for a classic black suit with satin lapels, his outfit subtly textured for contrast.
The couple’s romantic moment hand-holding, kisses, and hushed aside comments made them one of the most interesting couples to watch during award season. With their wedding allegedly weeks away, this was just the beginning of seeing many more coordinated style moments to follow.
5. Megan Stalter’s DIY Gaza Ceasefire Statement
Amidst a sea of couture, Megan Stalter’s red T-shirt and jeans were a purposeful interruption. The Hacks star paired the outfit with a black bucket bag fashioned into protest sign, with the words “CEASE FIRE!” in tape-on letters, and a red Artists4Ceasefire pin. The minimalist vibe ensured that her political message was the focal point.
Talking with Live From E!, Stalter teased, “We have to bring back jeans on the red carpet!” before she went on to say that getting to use her voice and honor her colleagues was what she was most looking forward to about the evening. It served as a reminder that the red carpet can be used for more than fashion.
6. Menswear Codes, Cropped and Reimagined
Some of the evening’s standout menswear looks arose from discreet reinvention over explicit declarations. The White Lotus actor Sam Nivola made his cropped peak-lapel jacket with a floral waistcoat from Jonathan Anderson’s Summer 2026 collection look decent. Paul W. Downs also opted for the cropped shape in Wales Bonner, with a low-key bow tie.
Harvey Guillén pushed the idea further, wearing a shirtless look under a wide-lapeled coat that translated to a sweeping train, which he flared for photographers. The looks demonstrated that men’s formal wear could change without losing its luster.
7. The White Lotus Cast’s Fashion Frenzy
With several nominations, The White Lotus cast made the carpet a fashion frenzy. Sarah Catherine Hook sparkled in a black sequin Miu Miu dress, Natasha Rothwell was jaw-dropping in an off-the-shoulder Ines Di Santo that featured puffy sleeves, and Carrie Coon exuded frosty glamour in a Chanel chiffon bustier gown covered with feathers and crystals.
Meanwhile, Aimee Lou Wood’s pink and red satin Alexander McQueen dress divided opinion on the web, as did Parker Posey’s Valentino tiered frock. Love them or hate them, the group’s overall effect cemented the show’s status as TV’s most fashionable group.
8. Sydney Sweeney’s Red-Hot Oscar de la Renta
Sydney Sweeney embraced the night’s crimson trend with a strapless Oscar de la Renta dress that had a plunging sweetheart neckline, cinched waist, and flowing train. A silky satin shawl draped over her wrists provided softness, as a Lorraine Schwartz diamond pendant necklace grounded the ensemble.
Marked by Molly Dickson, Sweeney’s minimalist makeup and gently parted blonde hair held back the attention to the sparkle of the gown. She joined Selena Gomez and Cristin Milioti in solidifying crimson as the night’s most assertive color.
9. Bowen Yang’s Cool-Weather Hack for a Hot Carpet
With LA’s heat testing the boundaries of formalwear, Bowen Yang came up with a fashionable solution. The Saturday Night Live actor combined black wool cigarette pants, a cummerbund, and loafers with an ivory silk crepe tank top from Ami Paris. The airiness of the cut kept him cool, while the high-quality fabric kept the look classy.
In an evening when most men merely unfastened a couple of shirts, Yang’s decision was the exception to the rule: practical and chic a testament that glamour and comfort need not be at odds.
The 2025 Emmys red carpet show that the most unforgettable fashion moments are about something greater than lovely attire they’re about personality, cultural reference, and risk-taking. Whether through couture technique, coordinated passion, or merely a T-shirt with a message, these stars demonstrated that fashion is at its strongest when it communicates something.
