This year’s Tony Awards ceremony was special in so many ways. On a last-minute whim, Broadway dedicated the entire ceremony to the victims of the Orlando shooting. The shooting, which took place at Pulse nightclub, was a terrible tragedy that shook the country to the core.
Despite the gloom, the show went on with a positive vibe. We can probably thank the general cheerful attitude of the participants and the celebrities who graced the event. And, of course, the event was made much better by the array of fetching gowns the celebrities wore.
The following are some of our favorites.
1. Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton
Michelle Williams at the 2016 Tony Awards in New York on June 13, 2016
The 35-year-old instantly commanded attention in her white ruched gown with a cleavage-baring V-neckline, black micro straps and front slit. Her pixie haircut accentuated the simplicity of the gown. She accessorized with a pair of black sandals and a black box clutch.
2. Lucy Liu in Zuhair Murad
Lucy Liu at the 2016 Tony Awards in New York on June 13, 2016
The 47-year-old looked like a ray of sunshine in her Zuhair Murad spring 2016 haute couture gown. The frock was made up of layers of organza and floral embellishments. Lucy capped off the look with a pair of Charlotte Olympia gold sandals and some Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
3. Lupita Nyong’O in Hugo Boss
Lupita Nyong’O at the 2016 Tony Awards in New York on June 13, 2016
The beadwork on Lupita’s custom Hugo Boss gown was just awe-inspiring. We can always count on her to bring something edgy to the table.
4. Cate Blanchett in Louis Vuitton
Cate Blanchett at the 2016 Tony Awards in New York on June 13, 2016
Cate’s rather eclectic taste in gowns was again evident in this mixed media creation from Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2016 collection. The gown is glaringly edgy, and only a woman as seemingly confident as Cate could pull it off.
5. Danai Gurira in Rosie Assoulin
Danai Gurira at the 2016 Tony Awards in New York on June 13, 2016
Perhaps our most favorite dresses of the night was this mustard creation from designer Rosie Assoulin. The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira wore this dress on the red carpet, and we loved the fit on the actress. The color suited her complexion and the minimal detailing — like the shape of the bodice and the cutout on the chest — really stood out. Danai accessorized with a pair of Rosie Assoulin for Paul Andrew pumps and a Rogier Vivier clutch.
6. Claire Danes in Narciso Rodriguez
Claire Danes at the 2016 Tony Awards in New York on June 13, 2016
The seamless execution of this gown really stood out despite the lack of adornment and the stark simplicity of the fabric used. The actress wore Eva Fehren jewelry to elevate the look.
7. Busy Philipps in Ingie Paris
Busy Philipps at the 2016 Tony Awards in New York on June 13, 2016
Busy paid homage to spring in this fun, floral-printed ball gown from Ingie Paris. She accessorized with Olympia Le Tan book purse.
What do you think of these gowns? Which one is your favorite?
Credit: Ivan Nikolov/WENN/Joseph Marzullo