Television’s biggest night returned to Los Angeles on Monday, September 14, as the 78th Primetime Emmy Awardstook over the Peacock Theater in downtown LA. Hosted by Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay, the evening brought together an especially strong front row of television and film names, with Zendaya, Selena Gomez, Nicole Kidman, Florence Pugh, and Sally Field among those in attendance.
Inside the theatre, Widow’s Bay emerged as the night’s runaway success, setting a new comedy record with 14 Emmy wins, including Outstanding Comedy Series. The Pitt retained Outstanding Drama Series, while DTF St. Louis took Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Matthew Rhys made Emmy history with lead acting wins in both comedy and limited series, Jean Smart collected her fifth consecutive Lead Actress in a Comedy win for Hacks, Rhea Seehorn won Lead Actress in a Drama for Pluribus, and Sally Field received a standing ovation as she collected the fourth Emmy of her career for Remarkably Bright Creatures.
There were plenty of moments away from the winners’ podium too. Hargitay became the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years, Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, Reba McEntire paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton; and Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz reunited onstage to mark 30 years of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
But before the trophies were handed out, the beauty direction had already given us plenty to talk about. Cropped hair, barely-there brows, undone texture, colour around the eyes and manicures worth zooming in on. Here are the looks we saved.
Zendaya Made the Case for the Pixie — and the Skinny Brow
Zendaya arrived with the beauty change of the evening, a short, piece-y pixie, styled by Coree Moreno with a sleek perimeter, airy texture and lift through the crown. There was an early-2000s reference to it, Halle Berry immediately came to mind.
The hair may have been the first thing we noticed, but the brows arguably made the greater beauty statement. Makeup artist Ernesto Casillas gave Zendaya a much finer, sculpted brow than the fuller shapes we have become accustomed to seeing on red carpets, set against bronzed skin, a softly flushed cheek and restrained eye makeup. After years of laminated, brushed-up brows dominating beauty, consider this another sign that the pendulum may finally be swinging back towards thinner arches.
Selena Gomez Let Her Hair Down
Selena Gomez went in the opposite direction entirely. After a period of shorter cuts and structured updos, she arrived with dark espresso lengths falling in loose mermaid waves, reaching almost to her hips. Against the geometry of her gold Louis Vuitton gown, the looseness of the hair was exactly what the look needed.
Her makeup stayed within the same softer register, flushed cheeks, warm rosy tones and a berry-tinted lip rather than a strong graphic eye. Even the manicure followed through on the colour story. Longtime nail artist Tom Bachik created what he called a “Sunset Frost” manicure, using an iridescent pearl-pink metallic finish inspired by the frosted gold of her gown.
Sepideh Moafi Went for Soft, Luminous Beauty
For Sepideh Moafi, the beauty direction was all about light. The Iranian-American actress paired her crystal-covered Georges Hobeika Couture gown with softly worked, ethereal waves and glowing skin, keeping the overall effect warm rather than overly formal. Defined eyes and a muted lip allowed the antique-gold dress to remain the focal point while still giving us one of the evening’s prettiest beauty references
Florence Pugh Matched Her Eyes to Her Dress
Matching eyeshadow to a gown can easily head into overly coordinated territory, but Florence Pugh’s lavender eyeworked because the colour remained diffused and light. Her lilac shadow echoed her dress without competing with it, washing the lids in colour rather than creating a conventional smoky eye.
It was also a useful reminder that awards-show makeup does not always need brown, bronze or black to feel wearable. A muted pastel around the eyes can do much of the same work while feeling far more unexpected.
Nicole Kidman’s Undone Updo
Nicole Kidman’s hair sat somewhere between formal updo and end-of-night looseness. Curtain bangs, substantial volume and an intentionally undone updo framed the face without looking overly set.
With so much ultra-sleek hair dominating carpets over the past few years, it’s a welcome change to see movement, flyaways and volume return.
Ayo Edebiri’s Kiss Curl Was the Detail to Notice
At first glance, Ayo Edebiri’s beauty look appeared restrained. Look closer and there was a tiny kiss curl placed along the hairline, paired with a bright inner-corner highlight that picked up the cool tone of her periwinkle Chanel dress.
Sarah Pidgeon Warmed Up Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Blonde
After playing Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in Love Story, Sarah Pidgeon has become closely associated with CBK’s cooler blonde. For the Emmys, colourist Kari Hill shifted the tone warmer into what she described as “beach blond” — softer and more sun-touched against Pidgeon’s lilac Chanel.
It was not a dramatic transformation, and that’s what we love. A tonal change can alter the entire temperature of a beauty look without requiring a new cut.
Shailene Woodley Made a Case for the Low Ponytail
We’ve all known, worn and perhaps done the sleek high ponytail to death, but Shailene Woodley made a convincing case for taking things lower. Her hair was pulled tightly back into an ultra-long ponytail positioned at the nape of the neck, giving the familiar style a more directional update.
