I always knew that the stars named Best Dressed on the 2024 Emmy red carpet would always play their fashion cards right for three reasons. First, the Emmys are the last major awards ceremony of the year. Second, the presenters and nominated stars are known to have a strong style obsession, including Greta Lee, Loewe's exclusive model, and Anna Sawai, Fashion Week's front row darling and first-time Emmy winner. And third, due to the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023, the second Emmy Awards red carpet will be held in 2024. If TV viewers are struck by red carpet deja vu, it will be in style. It's not every day that stars get the chance to redo a step-and-repeat look for the exact same event that surpasses the look they had a few months ago.

Still, I was pleasantly surprised by the new definition of trophy-worthy glamour on the red carpet at the 2024 Emmy Awards. The Emmys are one of Hollywood's most staid awards ceremonies: hence the profusion of black dresses and princess ball gowns. The red carpet at the Emmys featured many black dresses and princess ball gowns. Still, some brave stars pushed the envelope, looking sophisticated, elegant, and downright regal... Take a look at the 11 best-dressed women who caught the Marie Claire editors' eye on the 2024 Emmy Awards red carpet.

What Makes a Memorable Emmy Red Carpet Debut Dress” Ask Shogun star Anna Sawai and her stylist Carla Welch. She arrived in a gown that blended the 2024 trend of drop-waist dresses with Old Hollywood glamour. The dress, a Vera Wong custom, featured a bold strapless plunge bodice set against a voluminous layered skirt in a very delicious shade of candy apple red.

Welch told E. News that Sawai wore her “dream dress” for the evening. Had she not researched the nominees prior to the ceremony, she would not have thought she was a first-time attendee. Sawai carried herself with the poise of an Emmy regular, who just happened to be wearing one of the most gorgeous dresses at the awards ceremony. And she made sure she picked the perfect dress for her performance in “Shogun,” which earned her the coveted Best Actress in a Drama category and a place in style and television history. Sawai is the first Asian woman to win the Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama.

I always look forward to seeing what Bridgerton's leading lady Nicola Coughlan and stylist Emme Croisdil cook up for the red carpet, whether it's a custom-made Wiederhoff corset or a dreamy Simone Rocha dress. The duo took the fashion motto of “taking place” to a fun new place at the 2024 Emmy Awards. Coughlan appeared in a Prabal Gurung custom-made peplum dress, but the word peplum is not adequate to describe the truly sculptural way her skirt curves away from her waist and over another column skirt below it. The sequins throughout would not be out of place on Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour.

If I weren't already married, I would rearrange my bridal mood board to place Greta Lee's Loewe wedding dress at the center. And even then, I would consider a vow renewal just to mimic this lace dress.

Greta was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for “The Morning Show” and attended tonight's event in the Avant Bridal line in a gown with the most interesting silhouette. Angelic, gorgeous lace was twisted into an oversized neckline from which metres of more lace floated around her. Lee told ABC reporters that she and her stylist, Daniel Goldberg, just wanted something “fresh.” They showed another outfit that proved that the confrontation between Lee and Loewe is still as exciting as their encounter at Paris Fashion Week a few seasons ago.

When Sarah Paulson and stylist Kara Welch get together, fashion magic happens. At the 2024 Emmy Awards, Paulson took the wind out of a sea of semi-naked dresses and safe LBDs with a three-tone, color-blocked Prada look. Looking at this dress from top to bottom, there were new surprises in each segment: first, the bateau-neck cerulean sheath dress. First, a cerulean sheath dress with bateau neckline. And wait a minute, is that a black and white ribbon train? Paulson proved that simplicity and visual interest are not mutually exclusive. And blue and black definitely go together in the same outfit.

When the Marie Claire team's Slack lights up with a “a few people are typing” notification, you know the look is worthy of attention. That's exactly what happened when Ayo Edebiri showed up to the 2024 Emmy Awards in a custom Bottega Veneta dress.

The night before, she and stylist Daniel Goldberg had posted on Instagram Stories about Robin Williams' first Issey Miyake printed suit. It was a red light for a strapless, side-slit gown that Edevili would wear the following night.

Her dress was smooth with coral-like sequins and delicately embellished with black sandal heels and silver earrings. And on the carpet, Edebili explained that the print on her dress was inspired by the work of Italian artist Gaetano Pesce, who died in April. Like Edevili's best red carpet looks of all time and great works of art. Bottom line: she is the type of fashion girl who does her homework right.

Color blocking became its own trend on the 2024 Emmy red carpet. Meryl Streep and stylist Micaela Erlanger subverted this trend with their monochrome suits. Streep's Alexander McQueen custom-made suit was just as pretty in pink, from the double-breasted blazer to the pussy-bow blouse and extra-long pants. Nevertheless, the “Only Murderers in the Building” nominee showed great tailoring with a subtle pop of color: a bright white top handle bag and a huge deep blue cocktail ring.

Let Brie Larson explain the intent of the tea-length Chanel dress and matching ribboned headband: she wrote on Instagram, “Wrapping the ‘chemistry class’ era in ribbon. From the layered tulle skirt, classic pointed-toe pumps, and bows throughout Larson's hair and bodice, it's clear that she and stylist Samantha McMillen were fully committed to the 1950s codes of the former series. Thanks to the mix of vintage silhouettes and trendy details, the homage to the character actually worked. I'm not saying Elizabeth Zotto would approve, because the character Larson played preferred white coats to party dresses. But if she had to attend Hollywood's biggest night, I think this chic navy and black combination would work very well together.

Dakota Fanning has been a red carpet darling for nearly 30 years. Of course, she was just nominated for an Emmy Award, which she intended to serve at the Emmys.

In support of the cast of Ripley and the possibility of winning her own trophy, Fanning and stylist Samantha McMillen cleverly channeled the celebratory energy of fizzy champagne. Her strapless Armani Privé gown sparkled with pearls and diamond embellishments of all sizes, almost like champagne bubbles. The gold-toned fabric of the gown was beaded, and Fanning completed the look with just an oversized pearl ring on her index finger. Cheers.

Carrie Coon, the woman you are. I'm obsessed with her New York socialite antics in “The Gilded Age,” and now I'm equally obsessed with her 2024 Emmy red carpet gown styled by Alicia Lombardini. This dress by Thom Browne beautifully deconstructs the white tuxedo jacket, leaving the skeleton in the mixed material bodice and the pleated skirt hanging halfway down from the waist. From all angles, it is a new twist on the bridal-adjacent white dress that always appears on the red carpet. I just wish Coon had worn the brilliant headpiece that debuted with this dress on the Paris Couture Week runway. It would have been a Method Dressing 2.0 moment, since the hat is also part of her on-screen wardrobe.

In Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Maya Erskine plays a reluctant undercover agent. On the red carpet at the Emmy Awards 2024, she transformed into a forest fairy. Aesthetics 180

Working with stylist Rebecca Grice, Erskine wore a dreamy Rodarte dress with a peachy pink lace base and oozy 3D white daisies. (The designer of this dress has not yet been named, but rest assured it will be credited as soon as possible.) Erskine, enhanced by a loose updo and bright red lips, chose not to go the usual route (i.e., LBD) and brought an understated elegance and composure to the carpet. Dare we say, she was understated.

Alan Cumming won the night before stepping foot on the red carpet at the 2024 Emmy Awards. At last weekend's Creative Arts Emmy Awards, he picked up a trophy for his hosting duties on the cult favorite celebrity reality game show, The Traitors.

Cumming took his duties as host of The Traitors seriously in his tartan-check wardrobe. He brought the same Highland Haute Couture energy to the official Emmy Awards carpet, wearing a cream-colored blazer with a tartan shawl wrapped around the front of his jacket and down one arm. Underneath, a black pleated kilt and black dress pants paid homage to Scottish style. [One of the best looks of the evening. Just don't tell me Cumming's outfit resembled Taylor Swift's Dior tartan plaid at the 2024 VMAs. In an interview with People, Cumming joked that Swift actually stole his look.