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Alessandra Mastronardi as Francesca and Aziz Ansari as Dev in season 2 of Master of None.
Alessandra Mastronardi as Francesca and Aziz Ansari as Dev in season 2 of Master of None.
Photo: Netflix

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The Emmys Remind Us How Much Good Clothing Was On Screen This Year

A look back at the year in TV fashion.

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

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:


Shoshanna from “Girls” in Japan

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.


Rachel from “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”

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.


Characters in Bojack Horseman scene

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!)


Aziz and his girlfriend in “Master of None” rooftop scene

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.


Reese Witherspoon in still photo from “Big Little Lies”

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.


Titus Burgess wearing the yellow Beyonce dress in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”

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.


Princess Margaret in a scene from “The Crown” on Netflix

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.

Get even more TV and entertainment stories here.

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