2024 Tony Awards: Red Carpet Review

Due to technical difficulties (I couldn't get my digital antenna in the right place to pick up the CBS broadcast), I was unable to watch the Tonys live, and I haven't had the chance to watch a recording, so I'm judging the red carpet fashions strictly on the photos shown here. And I have to say, even by Tony standards, which are significantly lower than other awards shows, the looks were...less than memorable. Let me show you what I mean. 

Maechi Aharanwa wore a voluminous emerald satin gown with a halter top; a puffy, draped skirt; and a puffy cape. It could have used a little more shape and a little less volume, but the color was fabulous on her and she clearly loved the look herself, so she made it work. I loved her tall updo with cascading tendrils and her gold strappy heels. 

Betsy Aiden wore a sleeveless black satin gown with a square neck trimmed with gold lace, a slightly raised waistline, and a slightly flared skirt with princess seams. It was simple, but quite pretty and flattering. Not especially memorable, however. 

Dede Ayite's coppery brown gown, on the other hand, was quite memorable. It featured a strapless, fitted bodice with a plunging neckline, and the sequined fabric was turned up at the hem to reveal a plain satin finish, and pulled up to mid-thigh at one side instead of a slit, cascading into a short train. A fantastic look. 

Shoshana Bean mixed glam and casual in a two-piece look, in a sleeveless white satin crop top with a prim pointed flat collar, paired with a silverly-white sequin column skirt with a train. I loved the juxtaposition of the looser top with the clingy train, and her heavy eye makeup and dark updo were a great contrast to the pale fabric. I would have loved a tiny top of color in a bag or a piece of jewelry, but the look was still terrific as is. 

Quincy Tyler Bernstine wore a dramatic black and white chiffon wrapped dress with one black side and one white side, accented with a wide crushed sash in the opposite color. I loved the shape of the neckline and the soft, full skirt. It looked like it would have moved beautifully, as well. 

Jocelyn Bioh seems to have time-travelled from my high school prom in 1986 in this purple satin ballgown with puffy sleeves and a neckline encrusted with fabric rosettes and ostrich tips. The color is lovely on her, but this dress belongs back in 1986. 

Camille A. Brown's feathery look was a little more successful, in a strapless, tea length, off-white eyelash gown. The cut was simple but floaty and ethereal, and her dramatic hairstyle, which seemed to be an off-white turban covering most of her hair with a tall mass of braids forming a fancy elongated asymmetrical chignon at her hairline was a great detail that brought the attention back to her gorgeous face. I liked but didn't love the dress, but I did love the overall look. 

Vanessa Bell Calloway wore a halter column in a luscious shade of pistachio. It featured an unusual neckline, with the top of the halter twisted into a short braided strap that joined it with a pointed collar. The skirt had a thigh-length slit, and the look was topped with a matching duster tossed over her shoulders, forming a short train. It was a different look, and the unusual color (which was gorgeous on her) brought it up to the next level. I would absolutely wear this look (probably not as well as Calloway, but I'd wear it). 

Juliana Canfield's black strapless column looks bland at first glance, but a closer look reveals some lovely corset seaming on the bodice and an elegant strand of sparkly black flowers on a vine twining down from a pair of leaves on one tiny shoulder strap, across the waist, and then running down the side of the dress to the hem. Another look that I would wear myself. 

Ekin-Su Culculoglu (whose surname should include a bunch of diacritical marks that I just can't make happen right now, my apologies) wore a black strappy minidress overlain with a sheer black spangled gown with long sleeves ending in gauntlets, a jewel neckline, and a straight skirt with a slit up to the hem of the underskirt. The fabric was pretty, but the look felt surprisingly prim and bland to me. 

Ariane DeBose looked beautiful in a retro-styled strapless gown with a flared skirt in a gorgeous fabric of lavender, pale yellow, sage green, and black shapes that looked like stained glass. I loved the effect of the panels increasing in size from the bodice to the hem, and the simple silhouette countered the busy-ness of the patterned fabric beautifully. Bonus points for her silver bejeweled sandals. Simply gorgeous. 

Cynthia Erivo wore a dramatic gown covered with large gold and silver sequins, with a fitted strapless bodice and a modified mermaid skirt that was fitted to the knee, then flared into a long train. She accessorized with a chunky silver leaf-patterned necklace and matching earrings, and a gold cuff bracelet of interlocking buckles. She looked dramatic and - to borrow a term from Tyra Banks - fierce.

Elle Fanning looked like a designer perfume ad (Nicole Kidman for Chanel No. 5, anyone?) - in the best possible way - in a square-shouldered black tuxedo with satin shawl collar, open to the waist with no shirt, and loose-fitting trousers, accessorized with impossibly pointy-toed pumps, a delicate diamond necklace, gorgeous blond waves, and deep coral lips. Fanning is becoming one of my red carpet favorites, and this look only solidifies my love for her sense of fashion. *chef's kiss*

Jill Furman wore a dress with a simple silhouette and color that was made striking because of the gorgeous embroidered fabric. The underdress was an ivory A-line gown with a straight across bodice with tiny straps, but the sheer tulle overlay had an illusion yoke with mother-of-pearl leaves twining around the neckline and armscyes, and was covered with delicate metallic gold floral embroidery incorporating the same mother-of-pearl leaves and larger dark gold leaves. I love that she added a tiny pop of color in a huge amethyst ring, although I would have loved matching amethyst earrings as well. But a lovely and ethereal look overall. 

Renee Elise Goldsberry wore a black lace off-the-shoulder gown that was fitted to just above the knee, then flared into a short, full train. The top of the bodice had just a hint of detailing with the addition of a few rosettes and pieces of lace to add some variation to the lines. I loved her black drop earrings and her sleek updo with a single straight tendril framing her face. Well done.

 

Danai Gurira wore a strapless metallic gold two-piece ensemble. I loved the structured bodice, which had a impressively tailored curved double-pointed bottom that worked well with the stiff fabric (which looked to be faux leather rather than the lighter weight lame that is more commonly used for metallic gold). The full skirt, however, had a texture which looked wrinkled and heavy, coming off as stiff and uncomfortable instead of light and flowy. I did love her elaborately braided and looped updo with a few long straight braids cascading over her shoulder, and her diamond cuff bracelet was spectacular. A good look, but not a great one. 

Taraji P. Henson looked amazing, as always, in a strapless metallic silver column in a shell pattern. I loved the scalloped hem, the triple-pointed bodice top, her pointy silver pumps, and her cube-shaped silver handbag. Winner. 

Julianne Hough wore a blush pink strapless dress with horizontal ruffles across the bust and vertical ruffles cascading to the hem. The color wasn't bad on her, but I felt like the space between her short diamond necklace and the top of the bodice would have been better filled with a longer necklace, perhaps with a pop of deeper pink or even a contrasting blue or green gemstone. However, Hough's red carpet wear has been somewhat off the mark of late, and this dress is a vast improvement, so it gets a nod from me. 

Jennifer Hudson wore a striking all-black two-piece ensemble with a structured bodice with touches of sparkle and a deeply scooped neckline, paired with a sleek fitted velvet skirt with just a hint of draping at the hip. I loved her elbow-length black gloves, diamond bracelet, and side chignon. Very glamorous. 

Amber Iman wore a futuristic blue dress with iridescent scales and leaves that I really wanted to like, but I just couldn't. Was it supposed to be armor? Mermaid scales? Was there a reason for the belly button dip? Did they run out of scales before they got to the belly? Did it hurt when she sat down? These are not the questions you should be asking when looking at a red carpet outfit. Sorry, just no. 

Nikki M. James wore one of my favorite looks of the evening, a cranberry satin off-the-shoulder gown with a plunging neckline, a wide wrapped waist, and a full skirt with a thigh-high slit. Her diamond necklace, long side braid, and delicate gold sandals were the perfect accessories. Just a wonderful ensemble, all around. 

Angelina Jolie looked striking in a dusty sage velvet gown with plenty of draping and wrapping creating graceful lines, which were echoed in her matching wrap. The construction was impressive in that it did not look stiff or bulky, but instead soft and light. Bonus points for date and daughter Vivienne's coordinating vest/pants/bowtie in a slightly darker color, although I wish her outfit had been better-fitting. 

Celia Keenan-Bolger wore a one-shouldered gown in deep cranberry satin with a high side slit. I wish the top edge had been pleated or crushed a little to soften the line, but in general it's a lovely silhouette and it's a terrific color on her. Another good but not quite great look. 

Alicia Keys rocked a burgundy off-the-shoulder gown that deepened in color and added sparkly beading toward the hem as well as along the neckline. I loved the accessories of a narrow belt, crushed opera gloves, gorgeous chandelier earrings, and a high severe topknot softened with braids and tiny curling tendrils right at the hairline. She looked like the queen that she is. 

Kecia Lewis took the cranberry gown in a different - and unfortunate - direction. Her sequin-encrusted off-the-shoulder gown was edged with a wide rhinestone ribbon at the neck and sleeve hems - and if it had stopped there, the dress might have been a little much but not bad. But the addition of long, bright pink marabou feathers extending from the rhinestones, plus a top-heavy pearl-studded updo was just too much of everything. 

Nikiya Mathis wore a zip-front spangled black minidress with a super-flared skirt, paired with an attached long black cape with a raised collar and a coral and green printed lining. I felt like I should hate this outfit, but I honestly kind of loved it. It was cute and different in an understated and effortless kind of way, and she looked like she loved it, which made me love it, too. 

Rachel McAdams looked very subdued in a pretty but boring black column with an asymmetrically pointed bodice edged in silver and a short train. It was...okay, but nothing more. 

Audra McDonald wore a clinging sparkly black lace gown with draped shoulders and just a hint of a train. I adored her half-updo with cascading curls on one side of her face, and her pointy silver shoes. Another great example of a relatively simple dress made great by its great fabric. 

Idina Menzel wore an optical-illusion sheath dress with a pattern of nude ovals on a black background. The silhouette was simple and almost severe, with squared-off shoulders, a round neckline, and long sleeves, but it was a good balance for the busy pattern. I especially loved her softly waved hair and very natural makeup. A very nice look for her. 

Maleah Joi Moon wore another of my favorite looks on the night in a beautiful sparkly silver gown with tiny straps, a full train starting mid-thigh, and matching opera-length gloves. I loved that the top of the bodice was mainly black but faded into silver, which tied in nicely with her black handbag, and her chic pixie cut set off her fabulous square diamond earrings. Sleek, sexy, and sensational!

Bebe Neuwirth opted for a loose-fitting black halter gown with silver trimming at the neck and a fuller skirt starting at a mid-thigh seam. I didn't love the bagginess of the bodice and would have preferred a little more tailoring, but she won me over with the peep of bright red shoe. And her dark sunglasses scream "diva" in the best possible way. 

Kelli O'Hara is probably the only person who could wear this dress and not have me hate it. I love the bubblegum pink on her, and the base dress, a simple strapless column with a slightly flared skirt, is terrific. But I'm not sure why someone thought it needed an almost knee-length bubble peplum in a slightly shinier fabric added on. She does carry it off somehow, so...win? I guess?

Ashley Park wore a strapless black gown with a bustier-style laced-front top with leather insets, a column skirt with rosettes at the hip, and opera-length gloves. The top of the gown looked better when she presented (which happened to be during the 15 seconds of the ceremony that I actually had reception for). The top looks uncomfortably tight and poorly-fitted in this photo, but it is just an unfortunate pose. Overall, I really liked this look on her. 

Sarah Paulson is on my perennially-badly-dressed list, but this dress isn't too bad. I like the black-and-white patterning and the white detailing at the shoulders, so although the straight-across neckline is a bit severe, I do love her blond wavy bob and bright lips. 

Gayle Rankin's white halter shift dress should have been on my "don't" list for multiple reasons: pure white on a pale blonde, no shape, lack of accessories, overly severe eye makeup. And yet...it's totally working for me. She looks like a Greek goddess, my attention is drawn to her face and not just her dress, and she looks regal and elegant. Sometimes a bunch of don'ts can make a do. 

Nicole Schertzinger's cranberry satin dress had a lot of details, but they (mostly) worked together for a very nice look. I loved the way the diagonal lines of the one-shouldered bodice were balanced by the draping at the hip; I loved the added neck wrap that balanced the angled expanse of skin at her shoulder; I loved the just-enough-but-not-too-much volume of the bubble skirt flaring out from the sheer fabric of the upper skirt. If I were to change one detail, I think I would have used a non-sheer fabric for the upper skirt, but that's a pretty minimal nitpick. This is a really nice look, and she wears it well. 

Alyah Scott wore an ivory satin dress with short, slightly puffed sleeves, a pointed tab collar with a narrow keyhole opening, and a row of bows down the front, with a not-too-full skirt that puddled on the floor. It reminded me of a 1940s wedding gown, and it certainly had a demure and virginial feel to it. It was pretty enough, but it didn't feel quite right for a red carpet event somehow. 

 

Brooke Shields' banana yellow dress was thisclose to being successful, but it just wasn't working for her. The angles of the bodice made her shoulders look overly broad, the slight fullness at the hips made her waist look thick, and the texture of the fabric made the skirt stiff and wrinkled at the hem. The concept of the dress wasn't bad, but it was absolutely wrong for her. Look how much better she looks in the second photo, as she lifts the dress to show her shoes: the "peplum" it creates is so much more flattering - that would have been a huge improvement! I will note that I scoffed at the fact that she was wearing Crocs under her gown, but I was informed that she recently had foot surgery so I will forgive her (although I think she could have managed something as comfortable as but less ugly than Crocs). But I will not forgive her stylist for putting her in such an unflattering gown. (She's still gorgeous, though.)

Heather Simms wore a strapless bright coral ballgown accented with ruffles and rosettes at the top of the bodice, a wide sash, and two giant rosettes on the skirt, as well as a short train. I really liked the lines of the dress, although I would have added just a bit of height (and structure) to the bust, which looks just a hair droopy and unsupported. I liked the double loops of braids, but the skinny end of the braid sticking out looked childlike and unfinished. 

Shaina Taub wore an eggplant satin jumpsuit (strike one) with squared-off puffy shoulders (strike two) and metallic gold pointy-toed boots (strike three). The color was honestly the best thing about it, but it was poorly tailored, with seams wrinkling and straining, bagginess and wrinkles at the hip and crotch, and too-tightly pegged pantlegs crushing over the boots. It was just not a good look. 

Taylor Tomlinson wore a black, off-the-shoulder tea-length dress accented with champagne-colored tulle frothed asymmetrically across the top of the bodice. I liked the lines of the dress, especially the barely-flared double hem, and the short length, but the tulle was too close to her skin tone and looked lopsided. Replace the tulle with a line of rosettes in a more flattering color and this would have been a great look on her. 

Tamara Tunie wore a voluminous purple chiffon gown with a high-low skirt and huge puffy trim along the neckline and hemline. Although the color was great, it was simply too puffy and too big, and with that much volume, the high-low hem made her look stumpy. Lose 75% of the volume of the trim and 50% of the volume of the rest of the dress, keep the color, the cute silver shoes, the superlong diamond earrings, and the perfect makeup, and this is a look that would work. 

Kela Walker wore a coral long-sleeved sheath with patterning in blue, red, and yellow. The silhouette was very simple, and although the print of the fabric added some visual interest, the color wasn't quite right for her, and the overall look still came off as slightly boring. Perhaps a deeper shade of coral would have been better, or even the dress as is but as a long cape in a deeper shade of coral. it just needed a little more pizazz. 

Kara Young wore a flowing gown in an olive shade that not many people could have pulled off, but it looked amazing on her. The bodice featured sheer and opaque panels that created the illusion of more skin than was actually showing, as well as creating beautiful diagonal lines, a full skirt, and super-long, floaty sleeves that created "wings" to give her an angelic look. The dress moved beautifully, and the feminine, flowing lines were nicely balanced by Young's super-short silver hair and the heavy silver neckline of the dress, which framed her face perfectly. Another of the best looks of the night. 

So, overall, my Best Dressed List includes Dede Ayite, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Ariana DeBose, Elle Fanning, Taraji P. Henson, Nikki M. James, Angelina Jolie, Maleah Joi Moon, and Kara Young. And my Worst Dressed List includes Jocelyn Bioh, Danai Gurira, Amber Iman, Kecia Lewis, Brooke Shields, Heather Simms, Shaina Taub, and Tamara Tunie. Everyone else ranged from "fine" to "blah."

Did I miss any of your favorites? Or your least favorites? Let me know!