2014 Tony Awards

EMMY ROSSUM
gown and shoes by Ralph Lauren

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Since Hollywood stars have way better access to free designer clothes than Broadway stars, it was easy for Emmy Rossum to jump to the top of my best-dressed list. Her Ralph Lauren gown is sexy and chic, and I love the contrast of the textured bodice with the liquid-silver skirt. The jewelry is stunning – extremely glam, without looking like she got lost in her grandma’s costume jewelry box.

VERA FARMIGA
gown by Stella McCartney

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Vera always keeps things interesting on the red carpet, but usually not in a good way. So I was thrilled to see her in this very modern but totally event-appropriate gown. Every star on earth seems to have worn a Stella McCartney illusion dress with that curved shape that makes all these women look even thinner than they already are. But I think this is the first time I’ve seen that particular trend with those sheer cut-out stripes. It’s a great addition, one that makes this dress feel original instead of played-out.

TINA FEY
gown by Oscar de la Renta

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty

Absolutely heavenly. Whoever has been styling the incomparable Tina Fey for the last year or two deserves a raise. Comedians and writers don’t always look at home in high fashion, and Tina’s wardrobe used to be approaching disaster levels of awkwardness. But she’s really turned things around recently, and it’s been a joy to watch.

LENA HALL
gown by Zac Posen

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

The dark color makes it difficult to see all the beautiful detailing on this dress, but it’s there. The shape is mega-flattering, and the cape-like effect is just fucking cool. To see Lena Hall go from this Hollywood glam look to her drag-king portrayal of Yitzhak in the Hedwig and the Angry Inch performance during the Tonys was so incredible. This versatile lady can go from a Zac Posen gown to an eastern European punk rock dude in the blink of an eye.

MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL
gown by Dolce & Gabbana

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

If it weren’t for the very bottom of the gown, where the feathers sort of hang an inch or so beneath the dress, this might have been my pick for best dressed. From the ankles-up, this is flawless. But the hemline is downright stupid.

IDINA MENZEL
gown by Zac Posen, purse by Judith Leiber

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

My personal hero Idina Menzel stuck with her usual Zac Posen-does-old-Hollywood aesthetic, and it worked like a charm. Things get a little wonky with the seaming around her knees, but that bodice is draped and tailored to perfection. And the color! That orangey-gold shimmering through the metallic burgundy is to die for.

NEIL PATRICK HARRIS and DAVID BURTKA

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Speaking of amazing Hedwig transformations, how the fuck did they get Neil Patrick Harris into full hair and makeup in between the red carpet and the “Sugar Daddy” performance? That must have taken a score of super-efficient drag queens. And when Neil-as-Hedwig jumped off the stage and pulled his husband David into the scene for a kiss, I swear, my heart grew three sizes. I also had a dream that night that I went to see Hedwig and Neil Patrick Harris performed all of “Midnight Radio” while sitting in my lap. It was maybe the greatest dream I have ever had in my entire life.

ANIKA NONI ROSE
gown by Badgley Mischka

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

I don’t even like animal print, and I love this dress. The color and cut are perfect for this diva.

ANNA GUNN
gown by Jenny Packham

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Cut an inch or two off the length and you’ve got a perfect gown. It looked even better on television than it does on the red carpet. I’ve loved this gown for ages, since I predicted a year and a half ago that Christina Hendricks would wear it. Could you imagine how Joanie’s red hair would have popped against that gold? But I still adore it on the lovely Ms. Gunn.

JUDITH LIGHT
gown by Randi Rahm

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Suck it, Broadway babies - Judith Light, at sixty-five years old, was one of the sexiest, best-dressed women on this red carpet.

CELIA KEENAN-BOLGER
gown by Zac Posen, purse by Edie Parker, shoes by Christian Louboutin

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Cute, sweet, and inoffensive. Looking a little bit like a bridesmaid, as Celia does here, is more acceptable at the Tonys than at other awards shows, mainly because of what I said above about access to free designer clothes. Zac Posen is the go-to designer for a lot of stage divas, probably because a gay Jew from New York City is preternaturally suited to dressing Broadway stars. So while a simple, pretty look like this might have made my head ache in a different context, it’s a damn good dress for this woman at this event.

SUTTON FOSTER
gown by Reem Acra

Photo: Jim Spellman/WireImage

The pink is a bit glaring here, but it worked very nicely on television. I’m not in love with the styling, but I am in love with Sutton Foster, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s still a win.

LUCY LIU
gown by Vivienne Westwood, purse by Judith Leiber, shoes by Nicholas Kirkwood

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

I usually think everything Lucy Liu touches turns to red carpet gold, but I’m not totally sold on this dress. That bustline is so awkward, squeezing her boobs together uncomfortable and looking more like dinner napkins tucked into her bra than anything else. The accessories also don’t make much sense, save for the necklace, which is spectacular. Anyway, there’s no making this woman look bad, but she can, and usually does, do a hell of a lot better.

AUDRA MCDONALD
gown by Escada

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

I’m not a fan of huge-ass florals in general, but it kind of works on Audra. Sorry, dear readers, that I’m only going to be really mean to people who aren’t supremely talented Broadway singers that I’ve spent my whole musical-theater-loving life adoring. But divas have to stick together.

BETH BEHRS
gown by Carolina Herrera

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Everything Beth Behrs wears on the red carpet is almost-but-not-quite fabulous. There’s something weird about this bodice, or maybe it’s just that my mega-supportive sports bras look exactly like it, with those extra-thick straps. I don’t think the bow at the waist works particularly well, and while the print of the skirt is cool, it fits her so poorly that it’s hard to really see it.

PATRICIA CLARKSON
gown by Dolce & Gabbana

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

There’s something about this shiny red fabric that feels very dated to me, and Patricia desperately needed a necklace, but I’ll give it a pass.

JENNIFER HUDSON
gown by Kaufmanfranco

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Dear designers: make illusion netting come in shades other than white girl, so that when women of color wear your dresses, they actually still work. J.Hud would have looked so much better if someone had bothered to switch out that netting for something that actually matched her skin tone. She’s not supposed to look like she’s got someone else’s pantyhose tied around her neck and waist.

SOPHIE OKONEDO
gown by Sophie Theallet, purse by Rafe

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Great print, awkward proportions.

KELLI O’HARA
gown by Narciso Rodriguez

Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Boring as shit, but very pretty.

LEIGHTON MEESTER
gown by Antonio Berardi, purse by Emm Kuo

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Boring as shit, and not that pretty.

JESSIE MUELLER
gown by Randi Rahm, purse by Marchesa

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

I’m hesitant to say anything bad about Jessie, since her portrayal of Carole King (another of my idols) is so fucking fantastic, but let’s find this girl a new stylist! The hair and makeup do nothing for her, the color of this dress is like dirty dishwater, and the WAY too long skirt makes her look much shorter than she actually is.

SARAH GREENE
dress by Thakoon

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Someone told her this was the Tony Awards, right? You can’t wear what looks like a cotton halter dress and a pair of sandals to the motherfucking TONYS. Show some respect.

KATE MARA
dress by Dolce & Gabbana

Photo: Sartorial/Splash News

A noble effort, Kate, but this looked positively cartoonish on television. When she presented an award with Kevin Bacon, I swear, her shoulders were twice as broad as his. And on her delicate little frame, those linebacker shoulders looked particularly insane.

—
© Democracy Diva, 2014.
. facebook . twitter . pinterest .