Da’Vine Joy Randolph: Emmys Best Dressed (Duana)

There could be no other. 

Like honestly, there could be no other. 

If you search my history back on this site, I’m pretty sure it’s a given. I love a bright colour, I love a snood (not to mention how much I love that intrepid red carpet dressers mean that I have been given the opportunity, in recent years, to affirm that I love a snood) – and that particular shade of neon yellow? The one Beyoncé wore in the opening of the Oscars the year King Richard was supposed to be the big story, but Will Smith wound up being instead? 

Even that colour didn’t get its due back then. 

But it was waiting for Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Who has had a great year, and whose year apparently allowed her to come back to Only Murders In the Building, something I am more than a little jazzed about – and this is how she kicks off her season: 

BOOM. Fit is incredible. The details – ruching, the drape on the hood, every piece of fabric exactly where it’s supposed to be – absolutely flawless. The dress is Sophie Couture, there are absolutely no notes, and then we have the same more-is-more jewels trend again, with the Bulgari jewels around her neck like they live there. 

Per The Hollywood Reporter , she’s been working with her same team through her last two seasons, and they’ve really got their formula down, which, if I had to guess, seems to be “Don’t assume you know what to expect.” The gown is one thing but the wet look styling, the crimpy hair – they all make a look that’s much less Old Hollywood Glamour and much more … “this could go anywhere”. Like obviously, there may be some logistical issues with a highlighter-yellow gown ‘going anywhere’ if you want to be super literal about it, but honestly? YES, take it for a hike. Yes, put on some ridiculous Spice-Girl-esque platform sneakers and take some casual pics somewhere. Please, don’t make this dress a one-night memory…

My only complaint, if there is one, is that it was harder than it should be to find shots where she’s smiling, which – nobody has to smile on my account, but, because of the hood and the bangs (and, I suspect, whatever kind of eyelashes she’s wearing), I think she had to work hard to make sure her whole face was seen in optimal layout, and I would have loved the idea that in addition to being SO DAMN COOL, that this dress was always easy to wear. But… I guess we can’t have everything… so I’ll settle for having the memory of this dress as a reminder of the level everything should be at, if we try. 

Remember those next-day knockoff dresses that used to happen? Do we think I could get one like this in time for… well, nothing in particular? For lying around the house? Because I think I can make it work, honestly…