In Honor Of The Tony Awards, I Decided To Rank The 38 Best Looks From The Last Decade

    The real drama is in these dresses.

    Natasha Jokic
    by Natasha Jokic

    BuzzFeed Staff

    It's the Tony Awards this Sunday, baby!

    @snl / Via giphy.com

    In honor of theater's biggest night, I, a moron, decided to rank the best outfits from the past 10 years. Here's my definitive list:

    38. Laura Donnelly in Marchesa, 2019:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    I want to be head over heels in love with this gown, I really do. For me, I think it's the way the tulle layers over itself that makes it a little too much. 

    37. Taylor Louderman in Christian Siriano, 2018:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    Not to equate actors with their roles, but I can totally see Regina George wearing this on the red carpet (and then probably insulting me for putting her so low on the ranking).

    36. Taylor Schilling in Michael Kors, 2015:

    Jim Spellman / WireImage / Getty Images

    If you're going to rock a skin-colored mesh, more power to you — but I want to not even be able to tell it's there. 

    35. Carey Mulligan in Giambattista Valli, 2018:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    This is one of the simpler dresses on this list (which you can't necessarily tell because the print is at odds with the roses behind it). Still, the balloon sleeves and buds make for a gloriously retro look.

    34. Judith Light in Badgley Mischka, 2019:

    Jenny Anderson / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    Judith ate this gown up!!! A dress for a legend — how fitting. 

    33. Katharine McPhee in Zac Posen, 2018:

    Larry Busacca / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    The neckline has some rather nice pleated details on the front, but I specifically chose this dress for the embroidery running down the back. Katharine's website describes the color as "midnight navy," and the Daily Mail calls it "black" — not to start another dress debate.

    32. Catherine Zeta-Jones in Elie Saab, 2011:

    Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

    I have no idea why Catherine is posing in a stairwell here, because THIS is a red carpet dress.

    31. Beth Behrs in Naeem Khan, 2012:

    Jason Kempin / Getty Images

    Whaddya know — Beth ended up wearing a very similar dress to Catherine's the following year, and I felt bad for only including one.

    30. Sutton Foster in Reem Acra, 2014:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

    This dress was clearly a hit with celebs — since Jessica Alba also wore it the same year. The pleats and the color make it a statement, but it's still a classic look from an otherwise godforsaken year for fashion.

    29. Denise Gough in Oscar de la Renta, 2018:

    Larry Busacca / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    The dress is decidedly meh from the front, but it's this angle where the tiered chiffon really shines (pun not intended). It's a small detail, but the buttons on the sleeves really take it to the next level. 

    28. Samira Wiley in Pamella Roland, 2019:

    Taylor Hill / FilmMagic / Getty Images

    Now, THIS is how you do a thigh slit. A true jewel.

    27. Dame Helen Mirren in Badgley Mischka, 2015:

    Bennett Raglin / Getty Images

    More like DAMN Helen Mirren! Oh, I'm just a sucker for some dramatic sleeves.

    26. Annaleigh Ashford in Zac Posen, 2015:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

    We love a dress with pockets! The structure on the bodice is impeccable, but the skirt is a touch too long for my liking. 

    25. Nikki M. James in Rubin Singer, 2016:

    Larry Busacca / Getty Images

    This dress is certainly sculptural — it looks like a slightly different shape, depending on the angle. 

    24. Kate Mara in Dolce & Gabbana, 2014:

    Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

    Look, this isn't a good fashion critique or anything — but this dress would be inordinately fun to touch. 

    23. Lupita Nyong'o in Jason Wu, 2016:

    D Dipasupil / FilmMagic / Getty Images

    Yup, this gown is actually made up of sequins — giving it a floral-print illusion look. God, Lupita knows how to do a red carpet.

    22. Candice Swanepoel in Prabal Gurung, 2017:

    Sylvain Gaboury / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

    Look at the fabric of the skirt: It looks like someone's photoshopped the night sky. Delightful. 

    21. Cobie Smulders in Schiaparelli, 2017:

    Sylvain Gaboury / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

    I originally thought that this was a print, but I was mistaken — it's actually brocade patchwork. This makes it infinitely better, in my book.

    20. Marlee Matlin in Jovani Signature, 2016:

    Larry Busacca / Getty Images

    This is one of the simpler gowns on this list, but I maintain that it is glam as fuck. Also, I saw a listing for this dress on AliExpress for some reason...although I don't think Marlee got it from there.

    19. Elisabeth Moss in Oscar de la Renta, 2015:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

    This floral appliqué is simply stunning, to put it mildly. The original gown had a belt, which I am unfathomably pleased Elisabeth didn't wear — the unbroken cascade of flowers here works much better.

    18. Hilary Rhoda in Michael Kors, 2015:

    Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

    Look, I get the feeling that this dress might not float everyone's boat. What sells this gown for me is the semicircular cut of the skirt by the waist. Beaut.

    17. Stephanie Styles in Marchesa, 2018:

    Larry Busacca / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    This dress is very fun, but I'm docking points because I think it could have had more shape. Bah, I'm just being curmudgeonly. You look fab, Stephanie. 

    16. Rachel Bay Jones in Christian Siriano, 2017:

    Jemal Countess / Getty Images

    If I owned this dress, I would twirl around and yell, "Tiffany!" like Satine in the "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" number in Moulin Rouge. Speaking of, why aren't there more gloves on this red carpet? Not that Rachel has anything to do with Moulin Rouge — she won that night for Dear Evan Hansen. Christ, I'm tired. Anyway...

    15. Lucy Liu in Christian Siriano, 2019:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    I get the feeling this might have broken the top 10 for many people — and understandably so! Who doesn't love volumes of bright purple tulle? It's a moment! But, and it is a big but, the purple bralike part underneath takes away from the magic for me — the cutouts just make it too much on what is already rather a lot. 

    14. Allison Williams in DKNY, 2016:

    Larry Busacca / Getty Images

    Is it a suit? Is it a jumpsuit? Is it fabulous? I mean, yeah. 

    13. Lucy Liu in Vivienne Westwood, 2014:

    Bruce Glikas / FilmMagic / Getty Images

    The tuxedo-look dress? Timeless. The hair? Very 2014. 

    12. Ming-Na Wen in Mark Zunino, 2018:

    Steven Ferdman / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

    I think I deserve to be paid extra for the creepy-AF tabloid story about this dress that popped up while I was looking for the designer (not linking to the site because fuck them). There's so much to love here: the deep crimson color, the fit of the keyhole top, the way the skirt cascades. 

    11. Sara Bareilles in Naeem Khan, 2017:

    Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

    The sheer amount of embroidery here (good god, I'll stop with the puns soon). Now, I've complained before that belts on dresses are rarely, rarely ever needed. I'd add that this black one doesn't meet the cut — at least make it match the color scheme of the rest of the dress?

    10. Jennifer Lopez in Valentino, 2015:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

    The way this dress moves is impeccable — the stars and sparkles run throughout the fabric. My god, what a star. 

    9. Jordan Roth in Givenchy, 2019:

    Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    This look is an homage to Hadestown (which Jordan produced), with red flowers covering the cape coat. Every inch of this is a sight to behold.

    8. Sophia Anne Caruso in Pamella Roland, 2019:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    There's something to be said for a gown that complements an actor's features — and this Pamella Roland look suits Sophia's coloring immaculately throughout its many layered fabrics. Plus, the Maria Canale necklace pulls the look together magnificently. 

    7. Condola Rashad in Carolina Herrera, 2018:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    Of all the princess ball gowns we've seen on this red carpet, I'd humbly suggest that this one takes the cake. The crumple effect on the off-the-shoulder sleeves is just stunning.

    6. Laura Linney in Christian Siriano, 2019:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    The ball gown version of this dress topped our Emmys ranking, so it should be of little surprise that it's this high up again. C'mon, that fabric is magical! I just personally wish there was no sleeve on her left arm.  

    5. Denée Benton in Oscar de la Renta, 2017:

    Bruce Glikas / FilmMagic / Getty Images

    This dress floors me. The texture of the beading on the top is just *chef's kiss.* Plus, intentional or not, she suits the backdrop remarkably well.  

    4. Kerry Washington in Versace, 2018:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    God, red carpet jumpsuits are underrated, aren't they? There's a lot going on here: The train! The embroidery! The cutouts! Yet I'm inclined to say it all comes together.

    3. Jourdan Dunn in Zac Posen, 2016:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    I honestly can't decide if I like the white underlining on this dress or not. Hey ho, it's a beauty either way. 

    2. Billy Porter in Celestino Couture, 2019:

    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

    Not ONLY is this a suit for the ages, but it also carries an important message — the pattern on the train is in the shape of a uterus because, as per Billy's own words, "Women’s rights are under attack right now." Also, it uses fabric from a curtain from the Kinky Boots set. 

    1. Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Zuhair Murad, 2016:

    Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

    Does anyone remember those plastic gems you can get for crafts in a huge plastic jar? The embroidery of this dress reminds me of being covered in buckets of those, and I somehow mean that as a compliment — it's so fun! Sue me!

    Alright, now go fight in the comments.