Zendaya, Florence Pugh and Selena Gomez shine on playful Emmys red carpet

Celebrities like Zendaya and Florence Pugh leaned into colour and playfulness on the Emmy Awards red carpet.

It was a historic night that saw Welsh actor Matthew Rhys scoop two best actor awards – one for Netflix psychological thriller The Beast In Me and another for Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay – and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay become the first solo female host in 15 years.

Compared to awards seasons’ red carpet events that traditionally happen at the beginning of the year, famous faces seemed to have more fun with their fashion at the 78th annual Emmy Awards – wearing bright colours, bold prints and shining metallics for the night.

Fresh off a fashionable press tour for The Odyssey, Zendaya debuted a new choppy pixie cut on the red carpet. She paired her fresh hairstyle with a sparkling metallic Prada gown, complete with a deep-V neckline and tulle accents.

Pastels were a definite trend at this year’s Emmys, with Florence Pugh opting for a lilac design by British fashion house Vivienne Westwood. It featured the brand’s signature corseted bodice, with draped sleeves and a long train – worn with a tousled updo.

A presenter at the show, Pugh is set to make her return to television with the upcoming Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East Of Eden, due to be released in October.

Only Murders In The Building star Selena Gomez shimmered in a sculptural Louis Vuitton column gown with a strapless design and chainmail detailing, flaring out into a mermaid skirt. She kept her hair loose, and accessorised with Tiffany & Co jewels.

Nominated for her role in Apple TV show Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Elle Fanning chose an unusual colour for the red carpet: sage green. The shimmering Ralph Lauren gown featured an open back and trailing scarf detailing, and was topped off with statement Cartier earrings.

Fanning’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles co-star, Nicole Kidman, also had fun on the red carpet, wearing a white Chanel midi dress with feathered detailing across the neckline.

Also wearing Chanel was The Bear star Ayo Edebiri, who wore an unexpected colour combination: pale blue and bright red. The statement gown featured two oversized bows – one on the front and one on the back – and plenty of ruffles, giving the look shape and movement.

Nominated twice at the awards show – for his role in Netflix comedy The Four Seasons, and again for his guest appearance in HBO drama Euphoria – Colman Domingo is a reliably exciting voice in red carpet menswear. He delivered in an interesting Valentino suit, with a burnt orange jacket, purple tie at the waist and cream trousers.

Also experimenting with menswear was Bait creator and star Riz Ahmed, who wore a grey oversized double-breasted suit by Loewe.

Proving that pastels were a major trend for the night was Game Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, in a lilac Prada strapless gown.

Meanwhile, Beef actor Carey Mulligan – who was nominated for her role in the Netflix series – didn’t shy away from colour and print on the red carpet. She wore a bright blue and white strapless dress from The Row, with a floral motif and statement bow on the back.

Mariska Hargitay also leaned into bright colour to walk the red carpet ahead of taking on hosting duties. She wore a fire engine red Monse gown with plenty of sequins and feather-like detailing along the train.

While husband and wife duo Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell might not have chosen colour like other celebrities, they were still impeccably dressed: Rhys in three-piece tuxedo from American brand Thom Browne, and The Diplomat star Keri Russell matching in a black leather-look halterneck dress by Khaite.

There was also a bit of silliness on the red carpet, courtesy of Hacks star and comedian Meg Stalter, who painted herself in head-to-toe gold and came as the actual Emmy statuette. It’s not the first time she’s made a comedic statement on the red carpet: she’s previously dressed as Kylie Jenner, with Hacks co-star Paul W Downs donning a matching orange outfit as Timothee Chalamet.