By Alanna Marshall,https://www.buzzfeed.com/about
Copyright buzzfeed
The Emmy Awards never fail to bring us memorable moments every year. Whether it’s Viola Davis making history as the first Black woman to win the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Glee-ful opening performances, shocking wins (and snubs), or legendary red carpet looks, the Emmys are a prime destination for awards season entertainment.
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The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards taking place this year will be no different, with tough competition between fan-favorite shows like Severance, The Studio, The White Lotus, and The Penguin being the talk of the town (each having 20+ nominations, BTW). With the 2025 Emmys just around the corner, we decided to take a walk down memory lane to see some of the most iconic celebrity looks that have ever graced the red carpet. To see what this year’s best look will be, tune in this Sunday, Sept. 14, at 8:00 p.m. EDT/5:00 p.m. PDT on CBS and Paramount+.
Lucille Ball, 1954
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Lucille Ball accepted the award for Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series at the sixth Emmy Awards for I Love Lucy, which received four nominations on the night. The poodle skirt was a sign of the times (and we’re totally not secretly waiting for its return).
Ann Sothern, 1955
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Ann Sothern accepted the award for Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series this year for her role in Private Secretary, and the fur coat paired with the statement necklace is just pure style.
Dinah Shore, 1956
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Dinah Shore took home the award for Best Female Singer this year, and she stunned in a floral sequin dress with white gloves. We’d like to crown this look as the best of the decade, but that’s just our opinion.
Lucille Ball, 1957
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Back again and somehow beating out her 1954 look, Lucille Ball attended the 9th annual Emmy Awards with her then-husband, Desi Arnaz. Of course, she looks absolutely beautiful.
Polly Bergen, 1958
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Polly Bergen accepted the award for Best Single Performance by an Actress, Lead or Support, for her role in Playhouse 90 this year, wearing a beautiful gown with flower detailing on the side.
Dinah Shore, 1959
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A two-time winner, Shore took home the award for Best Musical or Variety Series and Best Performance by an Actress (Continuing Character) in a Musical or Variety Series for her role in The Dinah Shore Chevy Show. She truly loved a column dress and evening glove combo, and honestly, so do we.
Ann-Margret, 1960
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The Swedish-American actress, singer, and dancer, Ann-Margret, attended the 12th Annual Emmy Awards with fluttering, dramatic lashes and flowery embellishments, making for a look that was a true product of its time.
Carol Burnett, 1961
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Carol Burnett was a presenter for the 13th annual Emmy Awards, wearing an elegant floor-length long-sleeve gown. After seeing all of these early looks, we really need pixie cuts to make a comeback.
Carolyn Jones, 1962
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Known most famously for her role as Morticia Addams in the TV series, The Addams Family, Carolyn Jones attended the Emmy Awards this year with her husband, Aaron Spelling (director), in a classically chic gown and the staple of early Emmys attire — evening gloves.
Jane Fonda, 1963
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Jane Fonda and Richard Chamberlain cohosted a segment at the Emmy Awards this year, and she just screams elegance in her fur wrap and evening glove combo.
Joan Marshall, 1964
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Best known for her roles as a guest star in Star Trek and The Twilight Zone, Joan Marshall attended the 16th Emmy Awards in an eye-catching patterned dress and pearls. Don’t forget the evening gloves!
Mary Tyler Moore, 1965
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Mary Tyler Moore’s simple, yet classic, floor-length dress and ultra-long evening gloves make for a timeless look.
Dick Van Dyke, 1966
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As seen above, Dick Van Dyke wore a tailored suit with a bow tie and matching embellishments on his undershirt and suit cuffs.
The Monkees, 1967
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Pop band The Monkees all showed up dressed to the nines this year, each with their own distinct styles.
Lucille Ball, 1968
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Lucille Ball one-upped herself, yet again. Trading in the fur for feathers, as if she couldn’t get any more extravagant.
Hope Lange, 1969
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Hope Lange understands how to make a pop of color truly shine in this long-sleeve dress with red ruffles decorating the collar and cuffs.
Gail Fisher, 1970
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Wearing a stunning white dress decorated in dazzling chainmail, Gail Fisher made history this year as the first Black woman to win an Emmy for acting. She accepted the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series for Mannix.
Shirley Jones, 1971
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Shirley Jones is seen here in a stunning gold sequin dress and a sheer evening wrap, with a bold statement earring to pull the entire look together.
Mitzi Gaynor and Julie Andrews, 1972
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Mitzi Gaynor and Julie Andrews complemented each other perfectly with their matching necklines and ruffles.
Ann-Margret, 1973
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Ann-Margret showed up in a to-die-for white fur coat, only to reveal this peacock-colored, intricate dress underneath. Ahead of her time, really.
Cicely Tyson, 1974
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Cicely Tyson won two Emmys for her performance in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman this year. The floral-printed dress is beautiful, draping over her like silk.
Cher, 1975
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Come on, it’s Cher. She looked ravishing (as per usual) in a roaring ’20s-style dress with a matching choker necklace.
Captain & Tennille, 1976
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Captain and Tennille in matching sequin sets. Need we say more?
Barry Manilow, 1977
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Barry Manilow looked dapper as ever in his white suit. An all-white look is a classic for a reason.
Monique van Vooren, 1978
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Monique van Vooren wore a haunting, yet divine white dress with sequin designs decorating her chest. We’re obsessed with the bold smoky eye, honestly.
Cindy Williams & Lynda Goodfriend, 1979
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This one’s a tie, because we simply can’t choose between the two. Cindy Williams’s classic elegance and Lynda Goodfriend’s flapper girl-esque razzle dazzle are two things we love for entirely different reasons, but love nonetheless.
Phyllis Davis, 1980
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Phyllis Davis in a silver dress with a matching fur coat. Period.
Isabel Sanford, 1981
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Isabel Sanford wore one of the most beautiful color palettes we’ve ever seen in a gown, with a touch of sparkle to elevate the look even further.
Joan Collins, 1982
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Joan Collins showcased everything the ’80s had to offer, from the glitz and the glam to the hairstyles.
Jean Simmons, 1983
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Jean Simmons showed up looking classy, but also effortlessly fashionable in this patterned top, paired with a simple black skirt and elegant evening gloves.
Diahann Carroll, 1984
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A true fashion icon herself, Diahann Carroll’s white one-shoulder dress was one of the many stunning looks she showcased throughout the years.
Heather Thomas, 1985
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Heather Thomas kept things fun in this glittery bodycon dress with sparkly tassels decorating the bottom, and we can’t get enough of the multicolored cactus shapes on it.
Estelle Getty, 1986
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Estelle Getty’s monochromatic outfit and matching fur stole make for a whole lot going on, but all of it together equals a very stylish ensemble.
Justine Bateman, 1987
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Justine Bateman (who is, in fact, Jason Bateman’s sister) in this skin-tight gold dress and cropped jacket was something of a rare sight for an Emmys look, but absolutely no one is complaining.
Bea Arthur, 1988
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Bea Arthur looking like an actual Greek goddess in this white gown is a moment that we should all talk about more.
Kelly Rutherford, 1989
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Kelly Rutherford’s backless dress? The plunging neckline? The hair and makeup? Everything about this look just screams luxury and glamour, a common theme in Rutherford’s personal style.
Dana Delany, 1990
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Dana Delany’s strapless green dress was a borrowed $25,000 Gianni Versace dress, and the embroidered playing cards on the top just make it so much more iconic.
Christina Applegate & Meshach Taylor, 1991
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Another tie, purely because we’re obsessed with the color (and pantsuit) match. It’s a typical “who wore it better” scenario between Christina Applegate and Meshach Taylor. We’re also just fans of any man wearing something other than a plain black suit.
Rosie O’Donnell, 1992
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Rosie O’Donnell’s leopard-print outfit was a true jaw-dropping moment, as she looks effortlessly cool with the red and gold accents.
Kelly Ripa, 1993
Ron Galella / Getty Images
Kelly Ripa’s dazzling turquoise Bob Mackie dress is gorgeous, but what truly deserves a moment of its own is the hair. So dramatic. We love it.
Oprah Winfrey, 1994
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It’s simply Oprah Winfrey in Valentino. She said it best herself: “I loved it so much, I told Gayle that I wanted to be buried in it.”
Courteney Cox, 1995
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Courteney Cox is seen here in a stunning custom lilac halter gown designed by Debra McGuire (who was also the costume designer for Friends).
Christine Baranski, 1996
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Christine Baranski is seen here donning Robert Turturice, with luscious golden hair to match the glamorous gown.
Gillian Anderson, 1997
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Gillian Anderson wore this sleek white gown in this absolutely classic look, especially with this hairstyle that seems to be reminiscent of some ’50s Emmy styles.
Halle Berry & Sarah Michelle Gellar, 1998
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Yes, another tie. We’re not sorry. Look at both Halle Berry and Sarah Michelle Gellar in purple, then tell us who you’d choose.
Jennifer Aniston, 1999
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Jennifer Aniston wore a Randolph Duke gown to the 1999 Emmys, with a gold sequined sheer bodice and a plum-brown cocktail skirt. This is one of those looks that everyone remembers, and for good reason.
Patricia Heaton, 2000
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Patricia Heaton is radiant in this Dolce & Gabbana gown, and it’s not just because of the yellow embroidered floral pattern (though it’s definitely helping).
Michael Michele, 2001
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Michael Michele’s stylish blouse and fitted silver pants — paired with a sparkly statement belt — are emblematic of the early 2000s in the best way.
Joan Allen, 2002
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Joan Allen is stunning in satin, with the perfect hairstyle to complement the actress’s regal look of the night.
Wanda Sykes, 2003
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Donning this enchanting blue ombre dress and matching shawl, Wanda Sykes was exactly what the red carpet needed this year.
Star Jones, 2004
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This gold, shimmery-silky gown on Star Jones is actually ravishing, but the accessories take this look to a whole other level.
Sandra Oh, 2005
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For this being Sandra Oh’s first time attending the Emmy Awards, she set the bar impossibly high in this strapless corset dress.
Shaun Robinson, 2006
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Shaun Robinson — TV host, author, producer, philanthropist, and actress — is seen here in a gorgeous green gown, making for yet another stunning satin moment.
Jennifer Morrison, 2007
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Jennifer Morrison literally shone in this beaded Elie Saab gown. The details are what make this dress fabulous, especially the chunky bow right above the high leg slit.
Laura Dern, 2008
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Purple was a very trendy color this year, and Laura Dern rose to the occasion seamlessly in this Zuhair Murad gown. Bonus points for having pockets!
Chandra Wilson, 2009
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Chandra Wilson in this elegant Pamella Roland strapless gown with white crystal beading in a floral pattern on the bottom — the perfect way to add some flair to a classic black dress.
Nina Dobrev, 2010
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Nina Dobrev in this Zuhair Murad gown showcased a surprisingly glamorous blend of silk and sequin, making for an effortlessly classic look.
Kerry Washington, 2011
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Kerry Washington’s fully beaded Zuhair Murad dress stood out in a sea of red dresses worn to the Emmys each year, and she did it flawlessly in our book.
Lucy Liu, 2012
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Lucy Liu’s metallic Atelier Versace gown was a bold look that managed to make armor seem so chic.
Sarah Hyland, 2013
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Sarah Hyland in this emerald green lace-trim Carolina Herrera dress is the kind of darker, edgy look that works splendidly on her. Extra points for the lip color, as dark green and burgundy are a combo we never get tired of seeing.
SofÃa Vergara, 2014
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SofÃa Vergara in a mermaid-style dress is nothing we haven’t seen (and loved) before, but this white Roberto Cavalli gown was one of the highlights of this year’s Emmy Awards for a reason.
Niecy Nash, 2015
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Niecy Nash in a sequin-embroidered Mark Zunino ballgown was straight out of a fairytale.
Priyanka Chopra, 2016
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This custom-designed, one-shoulder red gown by Jason Wu on Priyanka Chopra was just made to be twirled around, which is exactly what she did!
Evan Rachel Wood, 2017
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Check out Evan Rachel Wood’s custom white pantsuit, designed by Jeremy Scott for Moschino. This is a lovely balance of both tailored perfection and feminine elegance, something we really could use more of through Emmy Awards looks.
Angela Sarafyan, 2018
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Angela Sarafyan in this crystal-embellished Christian Siriano princess gown was certainly a showstopper at this year’s Emmy Awards (and rightfully so).
Zendaya, 2019
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Zendaya’s emerald green custom Vera Wang gown is possibly one of the most unforgettable Emmy Awards looks ever.
Zendaya (again), 2020
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Despite this year’s Emmy Awards being virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions, Zendaya did not take this as an excuse to ease up on the fashion. Styled by Law Roach, she was radiant in a purple and black Christopher John Rogers dress.
Nicole Byer, 2021
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Nailed It! star Nicole Byer in a custom purple ball gown, designed by Christian Siriano. This speaks for itself, but we’ll reiterate: magnificent.
Elle Fanning, 2022
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Elle Fanning wore a custom-made dress designed by Sharon Long (the costume designer for The Great) AND handmade by Catherine Shaw (the show’s cutter and seamstress). Iconic doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Ayo Edebiri & Rachel Brosnahan, 2023
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This is the final tie, we swear… Ayo Edebiri in a custom Louis Vuitton leather dress and Rachel Brosnahan in a corseted burgundy Atelier Versace dress is not something we want to choose between (so we’re not going to!).
Aja Naomi King, 2024
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How to Get Away with Murder breakout star Aja Naomi King absolutely stunned in baby pink Giambattista Valli Fall 2024 Haute Couture.
We can’t pick a favorite, they’re all too good… Which one is yours? Leave a comment with your pick!
