Amid a wealth of style choices at the 2026 Emmys, one color ruled above all: a bold crimson in its best look-at-me hue, seen on women happy to embrace its powerful psychology. From Cailee Spaeny in custom Miu Miu to Hassie Harrison in Monique Lhuillier, Rhea Seehorn in Louis Vuitton and Emmys host Mariska Hargitay in Monse on the red carpet, the choice was just the beginning of an evening that acquitted itself well on the style spectrum.

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Among the more touching elements of the night’s fashion conversations were the remembrances of legendary designer Bob Mackie, whose death in Palm Springs at the age of 87 was announced mere hours before the 78th Primetime Emmys kicked off at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. During the pre-show, E! News host Keltie Knight took a moment to honor Mackie, calling him “one of the most prolific and celebrated costume designers of all time … [who] created some of the most iconic looks of all time for stars like Cher, Carol Burnett, Elton John, Diana Ross, Marilyn Monroe, Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton and so many others. His impact on the world of fashion is really hard to put into words, and his legacy absolutely lives on.” E! News finished the segment with a moment of silence and a black screen.

Soon after, star stylist Law Roach noted on the red carpet that the best way to honor Mackie would be an exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which famously canceled its Spring 2027 exhibition highlighting John Galliano’s work following a wealth of public backlash over his past antisemitic comments. “We lost an icon today, so I would love to see Bob Mackie immortalized with a Met Gala theme, because he was one of the most incredible designers and Americans to ever live,” Roach told The Hollywood Reporter‘s Brande Victorian. “In the last few years he’s actually been a mentor and a godfather to me. I was very fortunate to spend a lot of time with Bob these last few years. I’ve been able to ask him every question I ever wanted to know about his work, and it’s just been great.” Among the night’s best surprises: Though it was a late decision, the Television Academy was able to fit Mackie into the night’s In Memoriam segment.

It was just one of many elements that made the night memorable from a fashion perspective. From a group of forceful ladies in power red to the diversity of designs and the tributes to a kind and vastly talented designer, the psychology of clothes became an essential element of the 2026 Emmys. With that in mind, we look at 13 stars who excelled at creating outstanding style moments.

Zendaya in Prada

She was among the night’s most anticipated arrivals, and though she arrived not long before the broadcast began, Zendaya was worth the wait, stunning in a custom belted gown by Prada. The best actress nominee for Euphoria‘s final season wore a nude-hued dress fully embellished with crystals and beads and featuring a deep-V neckline and train. On the red carpet, stylist Law Roach mentioned that the gown also inspired an additional trim on Zendaya’s headline-making pixie cut, which indeed added to the modernity of the overall look. The star completed her look with Mikimoto pearl earrings, a Rolex watch and pale pink satin Prada pumps.

Cynthia Nixon in Issey Miyake

She’s been tied up in corsets over four seasons of HBO’s The Gilded Age, and let’s face it, the sartorial choices of her Sex and the City character had to take a backseat to Carrie Bradshaw’s adventurous style. But offscreen it’s clear Cynthia Nixon loves fashion, as evidenced by the voluminous Issey Miyake look she chose for the 2026 Emmys. The asymmetrically pleated dress is from the house’s Fall 2026 collection; Nixon paired the look with earrings by New York-based Wempe Jewelers and shoes by Manolo Blahnik (surely Carrie would love that latter detail).

Niecy Nash-Betts in Khaled & Marwan Couture

Among the women in power red, no one was more delightfully va-va voom than Niecy Nash-Betts. The All’s Fair star credited the styling team of Wayman + Micah with arranging her peaked-strapless gown from the Beirut-based couture house of Khaled & Marwan. The look was finished with jewels by Leviev: earrings highlighting 10.84 carats of diamonds paired two rings showcasing slightly more than 30 carats of diamonds.

Dan Levy in Celine

Amid a sea of black tuxedos, several stood out for their unique details, such as this Celine suit worn by Dan Levy. His double-breasted Colonne jacket in mohair wool was paired with wool trousers and a classic cotton shirt, while his black rose brooch was likewise by Celine, and intended as part of his tribute to his late Schitt’s Creek co-star, Catherine O’Hara. Levy appeared onstage alongside his Schitt’s Creek co-star Annie Murphy and Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin, the other two actors who famously played the onscreen children of O’Hara, who unexpectedly passed away in January.

Michelle Pfeiffer in Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Margo’s Got Money Troubles boasts one of the industry’s more impressive producer rosters, a double-digit list that includes stars Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman and Michelle Pfeiffer, as well as showrunner and writer David E. Kelley, Pfeiffer’s husband of 32 years. Pfeiffer’s choice Monday night of a beautifully draped V-neck silk gown, by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, exuded chic elegance, an idea reinforced by the Saint Laurent jewels that finished the look, including a sunburst brooch at the gathered waist. Pfeiffer’s satin clutch was also by the French house.

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Louisa Jacobson in Tom Ford

Not unlike Cynthia Nixon, her Gilded Age co-star Louisa Jacobson likewise favors forward-thinking style choices away from the set. For the 2026 Emmys, that translated to a menswear-inspired look by Tom Ford, a black grain de poudre cropped evening jacket and Colbert-style high-waisted evening pants with wide legs, paired with a white cotton-silk piqué waistcoat and an off-white ribbon grosgrain scarf. Jacobson finished the look with the label’s Selen pumps and a variety of diamond jewels set in platinum and yellow gold by Tiffany & Co.

Colman Domingo in Valentino

Colman Domingo loves the artful-meets-whimsical style of Valentino creative director Alessandro Michele, who created this colorful look partly as an homage to the actor’s current series, Netflix’s The Four Seasons. Domingo finished the look with a variety of jewels by Boucheron, which designated the actor as a friend of the house (a title akin to ambassador) in January; the brooch at his waist is crafted of green tourmalines and diamonds, as well as green lacquer, all in 18-karat white gold. He completed his look with Omega’s Speedmaster 38 timepiece and Oliver Peoples sunglasses.

John Maloney in Brunello Cucinelli and Olivia Munn in Fforme

The best couple to sync up their style Monday night was Olivia Munn, whose sleek gown by Fforme paired nicely with the navy Brunello Cucinelli tuxedo worn by Mulaney. Details on his suit included a one-and-a-half-breasted jacket with silk lapels, while Munn paired her strapless metallic velvet dress with Boucheron jewels, included a statement high-jewelry necklace in diamonds and black lacquer set in 18-karat white gold.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Dior

A best actor nominee for Disney+’s Wonder Man, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II wore one of the night’s best tuxedo jackets, in a smoke-hued velvet with a deep shawl collar, the latter detail all the better for displaying a pair of brooches by Tiffany & Co., including the house’s Zinnia brooch, a Jean Schlumberger design crafted of more than eight carats of diamonds and rubies and set in 18-karat gold.

Selena Gomez in Louis Vuitton

Among all the stunning handcraft seen on 2026 Emmys gowns, few inspired style aficionados to want to examine the construction than the bustier dress Louis Vuitton created for Only Murders in the Building star and producer Selena Gomez. The strapless tulle gown was embellished all over with gold sequin embroidery that also added to the gown’s artful shape. Gomez accessorized her look with a variety of jewels by Tiffany & Co., including the Feathers bracelet of diamonds totaling more than 10 carats, set in platinum and 18-karat yellow gold.

Charlie Hunnam in Burberry

Tuxedos in head-to-toe tonal hues were popular among men of the 2026 Emmys, but no one did it better than Charlie Hunnam, a best actor nominee for Netflix’s Monster. Hunnam’s Burberry look consisted of a custom navy double-breasted jacket with matching trousers and a navy silk shirt, which the actor paired with Vacheron Constantin’s Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar timepiece, featuring a 36.5mm case in 18-karat pink gold.

Ayo Edebiri in Chanel

Chanel dressed a quartet of nominees, including Nicole Kidman — a nominated producer for Margo’s Got Money Troubles — Sarah Pidgeon, a best actress nominee for FX’s Love Story, and Youn Yuh-jung, a supporting actress nominee for Netflix’s Beef. Rounding out the group is Ayo Edebiri, a multiple nominee for Hulu’s The Bear and a Chanel ambassador since October 2025. True to Chanel creative director Matthieu Blazy’s love of injecting a bit of surprise into the design codes of the iconic house, Edebiri’s blue silk faille dress was offset with a contrasting back bow in a vivid vermillion red. The actress finished her look with pearl jewels by Mikimoto and Aquazzura’s So Nude sandals in silver.

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