Quinta Brunson’s ‘Wrinkled’ Crushed Satin Dress Goes Viral at 2023 Emmy Awards

Quinta Brunson’s look on the 2023 Emmy Awards red carpet went viral on social media on Monday. Styled by Jessica Paster, the actress and creator of “Abbott Elementary” wore a pink Christian Dior dress that caught extra attention online for its wrinkled appearance.

Quinta Brunson at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Quinta Brunson at the 2023 Emmy Awards.

The dress, designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri, was made of crushed silk satin. Crushed fabric is a trend that was seen on Miu Miu’s fall 2020 runway and more recently at Versace’s and Burberry’s spring 2023 shows.

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“The fabric of the dress is crushed satin and was a concept that John Galliano did while he was designing for Christian Dior. This particular haute couture piece is just gorgeous — between the crushed satin and the draping, I absolutely adore it for Quinta,” Jessica Paster told WWD. “What was upsetting is that people who do not know about the construction of the dress would think that we did not steam a dress and that the crushed element was unintentional or anything but gorgeous,” she added.

Paster explained that the concept of the dress was “old Hollywood glamour.” “We actually chose this dress the week before the Emmys. We wanted something very beautiful, but also very timeless and chic. We thought that the color was absolutely perfect, and the silhouette is so flattering on all women. The rose pink is stunning, warm and beautiful, still old Hollywood, but still has that freshness. I love this length too — a new trend cut slightly above the ankle,” she said.

Quinta Brunson, winner of the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award for "Abbott Elementary," poses in the press room at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Quinta Brunson at the 2023 Emmy Awards.

On the red carpet, Brunson explained to “Live From E!’s” Laverne Cox that she had chosen the “one-of-a-kind” dress for its retro aesthetic. “I really like to go old-school glam and when I saw this, it made me feel very like ’50s, very like ‘alright, classy, speculated to be here,’” she said.

Brunson’s look was completed with Christian Louboutin’s Pigalle Plato pumps and De Beers jewelry.

During the ceremony, Brunson won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, making her the first Black woman to win the category in 42 years and the second to do so since Isabel Sanford in 1981.

Quinta Brunson at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Quinta Brunson at the 2023 Emmy Awards.

Brunson was also nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for hosting “Saturday Night Live” and received a nod for Best Comedy Series for “Abbott Elementary,” for which she is credited as creator, writer and executive producer.

The Primetime Emmy Awards, presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, honors excellence in the television industry. Comedian Anthony Anderson hosted the 75th annual ceremony, which was broadcast on Fox. Although the awards show typically takes place in September, the 2023 Emmys were postponed until January due to the Screen Actors and Writers Guild strikes.

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