The Biggest Fashion Flops At The 2026 Emmys

It’s been quite a year for TV. We laughed, we cried, we shielded our eyes … and that was all during this year’s Emmys red carpet. Yes — the Emmys may have celebrated the greatest stars on TV. They did not, however, celebrate the greatest things those stars have in their closets. Or, at least, we hope not.

The 2026 Emmy Awards handed out some of those coveted gold statues to some of the biggest stars of our time. And one star even dressed up like one. She sported wings and old body paint, and against all odds, she probably wasn’t even in the top five worst-dressed stars on this particular red carpet. There were many outfits that left us scratching our heads. There were ensembles in desperate need of tailoring, bad cases of clashing, and a surprising amount of outfits that looked like they belonged at a Halloween party. Were there ensembles at the 78th Emmys that qualified as the worst-dressed Emmys moments of all time? That’s for you to decide. But we sure think so.

In a gown made mostly of gold sparkles, Trisha Paytas definitely stood out on the Emmys red carpet. In other ways, though, she totally blended in. Her gold gown featured a voluminous navy half skirt that was perfectly coordinated with the navy and gold decor on the red carpet. While she may have looked like a part of the venue, this ‘fit still managed to feel out of place for the event. This dress had way too many details, and it overwhelmed her.

Ciara Miller can pull off anything. But that doesn’t mean she has to test that theory with bad outfits. The “Summer House” star’s look was far from the worst of the worst amidst a sea of bad fashion, but it still left us feeling confused. For starters, the seemingly loose-fitting top paired with the low-waisted skirt made the look feel casual. Adding the loose updo reinforced this. But the most glaring problem was that the top and skirt were two different shades of white, which made the look clash.

A monochrome look can be a winner, but it can also be a flop. Derek Hough’s emerald green suit was definitely the latter. The oversized suit had way too much fabric on its own. Pairing it with the shirt and tie that also matched its green shade made this a total green overload. It’s hard to imagine how he looked in the mirror before leaving for the show and thought anything other than “I really look like Lucky the Leprechaun.”

Lisa Ann Walter wore head-to-toe black in a Christian Siriano gown on the Emmys red carpet. Yet, she looked more like she belonged in a haunted mansion of some kind in this look. The oversized, jagged detached sleeves looked undeniably Halloween-y. And something about her updo added to the odd spookiness of the look. For a Halloween party, she would have surely been the best-dressed of the night, but the Emmys wasn’t the place for this ensemble.

Lukita Maxwell definitely didn’t opt for subtlety with her Emmys outfit. Instead, she wore a dress that looked a lot like icing on a wedding cake. Pairing the fullness of this skirt with the length made it look a bit like she was wearing a Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” costume meant for a child. It also felt a bit too dressy for the occasion. On top of all that, this color wasn’t the best pick for her and left her looking overpowered.

Wearing a white gown can be risky, and Elaine Hendrix’s Emmys look is a perfect example of why. With the full skirt, strapless neckline, and white belt around the waist, this gave off serious bridal vibes. Choosing to pair it with this particular hairstyle and dangling, sparkly earrings only made this more difficult to ignore. Adding a veil and a bouquet would have made this perfect for her wedding day, and swapping the dress out for a different color would have made it perfect for the Emmys.

Grace Gummer’s dress certainly had an interesting silhouette with a straight-across, strapless neckline and a shapeless, voluminous body. Paired with the asymmetrical gathering around the hips and legs and the fabric’s all-around wrinkles, it was hard not to think of a black trash bag when looking at this dress. While the pearls up the side of the skirt and the flowers at the top certainly added some detail, they just further confused things.

Fiona Dourif stayed covered up in a deep red gown. The asymmetrical top was made of a material we don’t often see: blood red fur. As it turns out, there’s a good reason why we don’t see this material in this hue very often. It just seems like it would make more sense as a throw blanket on the couch in a vampire’s lair. And that’s not ideal for the Emmys.

At an event full of terrible outfits, Shailene Woodley somehow managed to have the worst one of all. And that really required some creativity on her part. Most people could never have dreamed up an outfit like this. Every element clashed. She wore a top that looked like a bathing suit, gloves for a comic book villain, and pants that belonged on someone wearing stilts in a parade. Woodley has undergone quite a transformation during her time in the spotlight, but this was one of her worst-ever looks.

Meg Stalter always has a trick up her sleeve when she arrives at award shows. This time, though, she didn’t have sleeves at all. Instead, she had a gold bikini paired with massive gold wings and gold paint covering her entire body. She carried a gold globe that she positioned over her head to look exactly like a life-size Emmy award. While she didn’t snag the outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series award, at least she looked like one. And, of course, all eyes were on her in this getup.

Playing with proportions and oversized, baggy fits is all the rage in menswear these days. Sometimes this works, and sometimes it doesn’t. In Noah Kahan’s case, this tux made him look like he needed a trip to the tailor. All around, it was way too big, and he was totally overwhelmed by it. That said, Kahan looked very happy to be on the red carpet, and his smile was one accessory that managed to brighten up this look. 

There’s really nothing about Odessa A’zion’s suit that worked for this occasion. The shape of the pants with the low rise and bell bottom felt messy and overly casual. Paired with the open jacket with big zippers, everything seemed to clash. The worst detail, though, was all those long strings hanging off of her. They were clearly meant to add interest to the look, but they just made things feel even more unkempt.

Unless you are Madonna in 1990, you probably have no business wearing a cone bra. And this is particularly true on the Emmys red carpet. Jessica Belkin’s red dress definitely would have worked for the occasion if it wasn’t for the top’s pointy silhouette. Unfortunately, that was distracting and put an odd twist on an otherwise classic-looking red gown. If Belkin was looking for an edgy addition, an interesting accessory would have been a less perplexing choice.