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What television characters wear has always been as important as how they sound or act. A uniform, a badge, or an apron immediately tells us someone’s job; a crown, a fancy bag, or a diamond necklace signals their social status. Even colors, patterns, textures, and layers are subtle cues that convey the nuances of a character’s personality — not to mention that beautiful clothes can make a show worth watching for the sumptuous visuals alone.
That’s why the Emmys give out not one, but two awards for costumes: the best period/fantasy costumes (thanks, Game of Thrones) and the best contemporary costumes. The 2017 Emmys, whose costume awards were handed out a few days ahead of the televised ceremony, awarded The Crown and Big Little Lies the top two prizes this year.
But so many shows were truly deserving, as our yearlong coverage of TV fashion demonstrates. Check out the highlights below:
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The Untold Stories Behind the Most Memorable Clothes on ‘Girls’
It seems cruel to ask costume designer Jenn Rogien to single out each character’s most important outfit from the show’s six-year run, but we did it anyway.
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Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Costume Designer on the Show’s ‘Wacky’ Clothes
Creating costumes for all those song-and-dance sequences is a real challenge. Here’s how pro Melina Root gets it done.
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What BoJack Horseman’s Clothes Reveal About Its Characters
Series production designer Lisa Hanawalt explains the significance of the show’s clothes. (What do they mean? Do they mean things? Let’s find out!)
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How ‘Master of None’ Nailed Italian-Girl Style
If you binge-watched the show’s phenomenal second season, chances are you emerged from your Netflix cocoon craving two things: pasta and polka dots. Find out how costume designer Dana Covarrubias got us dreaming of Italy.
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The Many Familiar Brands and Designers of ‘Big Little Lies’
Alix Friedberg discusses the clothing that went into distinguishing the HBO show’s many characters, from “head-to-toe Alaïa” to some good ol’ Zara and Target.
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Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Costume Designer on Titus’ Epic Beyoncé Tribute
The series is as famous for its candy-colored costumes as it is for its nonstop zingers and sight gags — including that iconic yellow dress.
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We Just Want to Dress Like Elizabeth and Margaret From ‘The Crown’
Cropped trousers, buttoned-up blouses, high-waisted pants — the outfits of The Crown were the hottest trends of the day. They also happen to be extremely in at this very moment, too.