The 78th Emmy Awards, held September 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, drew praise from Breitbart’s fashion columnist not just for the ceremony itself but for a red carpet that, in the writer’s view, delivered genuine style without turning into a political platform. In a Fashion Notes column published September 15, the outlet singled out nine of the evening’s best and worst dressed, with host Mariska Hargitay and Zendaya landing among the standout picks.
The Host’s Wardrobe Steals the Show
According to Breitbart, Hargitay — who hosted the evening — was also its fashion standout, working with stylist Erin Walsh on a series of custom looks that the column described as stellar without overshadowing the night. Among her strongest moments, per the outlet: a white satin three-piece suit with an oversized lapel and bell-bottom tuxedo pants, and a fully beaded white gown trimmed with pearls and finished with a black velvet sash that created an off-the-shoulder neckline.
Photos from the event, credited to outlets including Variety, NBC, and WireImage, show Hargitay both on the arrivals line and on stage at the Peacock Theater.
Zendaya Extends Her Red Carpet Run
Breitbart’s writer was less generous about Zendaya’s acting, calling her chops “pretty unimpressive,” but conceded her status as a fashion-forward fixture on red carpets. That reputation held at the Emmys, where the column said she continued a years-long best-dressed streak in a custom Prada gown featuring a deep V-neckline, embroidered crystals and beads, and an archival crystal and teardrop pendant belt drawn from the label’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection. The look, styled with pixie hair, was described as channeling a young Halle Berry.
Kidman and the Fanning Sisters Round Out the Favorites
Nicole Kidman’s arrival in white feathers by Chanel earned warm words from the columnist, who tied the look to her memory of Kidman starring in Baz Luhrmann’s 2004 No. 5 the Film, running through Times Square in a pale pink embroidered and feathered Lagerfeld gown. The Emmys appearance, the column said, was beautiful, elegant, and regal — everything expected from a Kidman appearance.
The Fanning sisters also made the best-dressed side of the ledger. Dakota Fanning wore a Carolina Herrera cocktail dress with strappy black stilettos, which Breitbart called timeless, while Elle Fanning chose a fully beaded, fringed mint gown from Ralph Lauren that the column described as ravishing. Breitbart noted that the sisters’ contrasting vibes worked precisely because they looked fantastic standing next to each other.
On the menswear side, Adam Brody drew praise for a navy Prada double-breasted suit. The columnist, who noted a preference for classic silhouettes with subtle twists, highlighted the choice of a soft baby blue shirt over the usual white and the decision to skip a tie in favor of a soft floral Prada scarf — a combination the column called cool and chic and, above all, appropriate for the evening.
The Worst-Dressed Contingent
Shailene Woodley’s Balenciaga Haute Couture look drew the sharpest criticism, with Breitbart calling it the outfit everyone was talking about. The column quoted a post from X wishing for Joan Rivers to roast the look and compared Woodley’s appearance to a child dressed up to help with the dishes after dinner. Photos of her arrival were credited to AFP and Getty Images.
Cynthia Nixon also landed among the misses, with the column remarking that she looked as though she had rolled around in a bolt of fabric before walking out the door. Claire Danes’s gown drew criticism on different grounds: Breitbart noted that the design had been shown on the Fall 2026 Haute Couture runway in Milan in a deep red wine velvet that moved elegantly with the model, but argued that the version worn at the Emmys, in what the column called a cheap argent silver, looked poorly constructed — particularly when viewed from the side.
Florence Pugh’s Vivienne Westwood dress rounded out the worst-dressed list. The column compared the silhouette to a 2004 high school prom look, noting that it might have been the best-dressed choice two decades earlier but that the shape felt tired in 2026 — and that not even Bulgari jewels could salvage it.
The column was written by John Binder for Breitbart News. The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards took place at the Peacock Theater at LA Live in Los Angeles on September 14, 2026.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/09/15/fashion-notes-9-best-and-worst-dressed-at-the-78th-emmy-awards/