The 78th Emmy Awards were actually, dare I say it, well done, fun, enjoyable, and, perhaps the best of all, free of political talking points.
Of course, I’m most interested in who wore what and who hit the nail on the head versus the duds who got it all wrong. Here, I curate the 9 best and worst dressed from the evening.
Best: Mariska Hargitay in various designers
The host of the evening was also the standout, fashion-wise, of the evening. Custom look after custom look had Mariska Hargitay, perfectly styled by Erin Walsh, looking stellar while not upstaging the night as the hostess.
Her fiercest looks were a white satin three-piece suit with an oversized lapel and bell-bottom tuxedo pants, along with a fully beaded white gown, adorned with pearls, that featured a black velvet sash creating an off-the-shoulder neckline.
Mariska Hargitay at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
Mariska Hargitay at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
78th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: Mariska Hargitay arrives to the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. — (Photo by: Jesse Grant/NBC via Getty Images)
78th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: Host Mariska Hargitay speaks on stage during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. — (Photo by: Todd Williamson/NBC via Getty Images)
78th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: Host Mariska Hargitay speaks on stage during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Host Mariska Hargitay speaks onstage during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chloe Kern/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Host Mariska Hargitay speaks onstage during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Worst: Shailene Woodley in Balenciaga Haute Couture
This is the look that has everyone talking. Someone on X put it quite nicely — where the hell is Joan Rivers when we need her most to roast this girl?! Woodley looks like a child that got dressed up to help you do the dishes after dinner.
Even Balenciaga gets it wrong sometimes.
TOPSHOT – US actress Shailene Woodley arrives for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles on September 14, 2026. (Photo by LISA O’CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Shailene Woodley attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Best: Nicole Kidman in Chanel
There’s always a nostalgic quality when Nicole Kidman wears Chanel. I can’t help but remember her starring in 2004’s No. 5 the Film by Baz Luhrmann, running through Times Square in that exquisite pale pink embroidered and feathered gown from Karl Lagerfeld.
So when Kidman arrived in white feathers by Chanel for the Emmys, I couldn’t have had a bigger smile on my face. It’s beautiful, elegant, and regal. Everything you’d expect from a Kidman appearance.
78th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: Nicole Kidman arrives to the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. — (Photo by: Jesse Grant/NBC via Getty Images)
Los Angeles, CA – September 14, 2026: Nicole Kidman walks the red carpet during the 78th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, CA, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Worst: Cynthia Nixon in Issey Miyake
She literally looks like she rolled around in a bolt of fabric and walked out the door.
78th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: Cynthia Nixon arrives to the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. — (Photo by: Randy Shropshire/NBC via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Cynthia Nixon attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Best: Zendaya in Prada
Zendaya’s acting chops are pretty unimpressive. Still, she’s made a career as the fashion-forward staple of any red carpet.
On Monday evening, she continued her years-long best-dressed streak, channeling a young Halle Berry with pixie hair and this custom Prada gown, which features a deep V-neckline, embroidered crystals and beads, and an archival crystal and teardrop pendant belt from the label’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection.
Gorgeous, as usual.
US actress, singer Zendaya arrives for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles on September 14, 2026. (Photo by LISA O’CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Zendaya attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/WireImage)
Worst: Claire Danes in Armani Privé
This is one of those cases where the runway look doesn’t necessarily translate to the red carpet. On the Fall 2026 Haute Couture runway in Milan, this gown was shown in deep red wine velvet that slinked as the model walked. It was breathtaking.
But at the Emmys, in this cheap argent silver, the gown looks so unbelievably poorly constructed. Just take a look at the dress from the side, and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.
78th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: Claire Danes arrives to the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. — (Photo by: Randy Shropshire/NBC via Getty Images)
Los Angeles, CA – September 14, 2026: Claire Danes walks on the red carpet during the 78th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, CA, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Best: Dakota Fanning in Carolina Herrera, Elle Fanning in Ralph Lauren
I love when the Fanning sisters walk the red carpet together in complementary looks. On Emmy night, they had two totally different vibes going on, and yet, looked fantastic standing next to each other.
Dakota in a stunning Carolina Herrera cocktail dress and strappy black stilettos is timeless. Elle in this fully beaded, fringed mint gown from Ralph Lauren looks ravishing. Both are effortless.
78th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: (l-r) Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning arrive to the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. — (Photo by: Todd Williamson/NBC via Getty Images)
78th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: (l-r) Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning arrive to the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. — (Photo by: Todd Williamson/NBC via Getty Images)
Worst: Florence Pugh in Vivienne Westwood
It’s like she’s going to high school prom, but in the year 2004. If that’d have been the case, she would have been the best dressed of the night. In 2026, though, this silhouette is tired. Not even Bulgari jewels can fix this.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Florence Pugh attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)
Florence Pugh at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Deadline via Getty Images)
Best: Adam Brody in Prada
Any time I write about menswear, loyal Fashion Notes readers know that I tend to gravitate toward classic, traditional silhouettes with very subtle twists. Adam Brody in this navy Prada double-breasted suit is exactly the kind of twist-on-a-classic I write about.
First off, it’s refreshing to see a man in a suit that’s not black tie per se, and a shirt that’s not white. A soft baby blue is different, yet appropriate for the evening, and most of all, nixing a tie for a soft floral Prada scarf is cool and chic.
It doesn’t take much to look this good, just vision.
Adam Brody at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Deadline via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Adam Brody attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jbinder@breitbart.com.