June 19, 2014

Vulture TV Awards: The Year’s Best-Dressed Characters

By Margaret Lyons

Photo: Maya Robinson

We’ve looked at performances, shows, and networks during the Vulture TV Awards — now let’s turn our attention to getups, outfits, gowns, dresses, suits, ensembles. Everywhere we look these days, some character or another is killing it, whether it’s with sharply tailored officewear, sumptuous evening gowns, or functional pieces that help advance the story. Click through to witness the best of the best-dressed we saw on TV this year.

TV Week Award Winners

Best Comedy Performer, Female — Amy Schumer
Best Comedy Performer, Male — Jon Benjamin
Best Teen Show — The Fosters
Best Child Actor — Maisie Williams
Best Couple — The Americans’ Philip and Elizabeth
Best Drama Performer, Male — Matthew Rhys
Best Drama Performer, Female — Julianna Margulies
Best Directed Scene — True Detective’s “Who Goes There” montage
Best Episode — Hannibal season 2 finale
Best TV Villain — Walter White
Best Death — Click to find out [warning: spoilers]
Best Network — FX
Best Late-Night Moment — Colbert Report
Best Dressed Characters — Scandal and others
Best Dialogue — Sherlock
Best Comedy Sketch — Inside Amy Schumer
Best Plot Twist — House of Cards [warning: spoilers]

HoC is a show that knows its way around a white dress, and Claire Underwood is one of TV's most elegantly dressed humans, always in minimalist sheaths and angular blouses. This white crepe dress is a cut above, though. The flare and swinginess at the bottom offset the prim neckline and full-length sleeves; it's fancy but not frilly.

HoC is a show that knows its way around a white dress, and Claire Underwood is one of TV's most elegantly dressed humans, always in minimalist sheaths and angular blouses. This white crepe dress is a cut above, though. The flare and swinginess at the bottom offset the prim neckline and full-length sleeves; it's fancy but not frilly.

If you're going to endure a weird bouquet mix-up that involves your boss screaming at you, do it in style. Shirley style.

If you're going to endure a weird bouquet mix-up that involves your boss screaming at you, do it in style. Shirley style.

This dress qua dress is perhaps nothing special, but think about the challenges of costuming Drunk History: The dress needs to conjure Dolly Parton without parodying her; it needs to function in several different segments of the story; and it has to be just a little bit silly itself. For some reason, this dress has been tattooed on my brain ever since this episode aired.

This dress qua dress is perhaps nothing special, but think about the challenges of costuming Drunk History: The dress needs to conjure Dolly Parton without parodying her; it needs to function in several different segments of the story; and it has to be just a little bit silly itself. For some reason, this dress has been tattooed on my brain ever since this episode aired.

Carrie et al. donned some amazing ensembles this season, but it's hard not to love this Carolina Herrera dress — it's just the right amount of fun, and punchy while still being glamorous. Man, we're gonna miss this show.

Carrie et al. donned some amazing ensembles this season, but it's hard not to love this Carolina Herrera dress — it's just the right amount of fun, and punchy while still being glamorous. Man, we're gonna miss this show.

OH, DAMN! That's the only possible thought one could have seeing Sansa march down the stairs in this black dress with the oil-slick feathered shoulderpiece.

OH, DAMN! That's the only possible thought one could have seeing Sansa march down the stairs in this black dress with the oil-slick feathered shoulderpiece.

You know what? Go big or go be on a different show.

You know what? Go big or go be on a different show.

Dom correctly won season 12, but it was Justin's finale dress that was the real highlight of all the collections. Justin's line was inspired by his personal story of being born deaf and eventually getting cochlear implants, and this dress — made of hundreds of tiny plastic test-tubes — notably made a hypnotic swishy-clicky sound on the runway. Stunning, dramatic, and really lovely.

Dom correctly won season 12, but it was Justin's finale dress that was the real highlight of all the collections. Justin's line was inspired by his personal story of being born deaf and eventually getting cochlear implants, and this dress — made of hundreds of tiny plastic test-tubes — notably made a hypnotic swishy-clicky sound on the runway. Stunning, dramatic, and really lovely.

What if more characters had Watson's fashion moxie? TV would be a much more fun place.

What if more characters had Watson's fashion moxie? TV would be a much more fun place.

Most of TSoM sucked. But man, the Baroness looked good! Maybe it's time for the wide-leg trouser to make a comeback?

Most of TSoM sucked. But man, the Baroness looked good! Maybe it's time for the wide-leg trouser to make a comeback?

Olivia's fashion game was weaker this season than in previous ones — having to disguise a pregnancy will do that — but there were still some highlights, namely this geometric dress that she wore to the White House. If Olivia's taste in men were half as good as her taste in clothes, we'd be watching a really different show.

Olivia's fashion game was weaker this season than in previous ones — having to disguise a pregnancy will do that — but there were still some highlights, namely this geometric dress that she wore to the White House. If Olivia's taste in men were half as good as her taste in clothes, we'd be watching a really different show.

The Newsroom is not a particularly fashion-forward show, so seeing Leona breeze in in this slightly edgy number was a real surprise. P.S. Jane Fonda's still got it.

The Newsroom is not a particularly fashion-forward show, so seeing Leona breeze in in this slightly edgy number was a real surprise. P.S. Jane Fonda's still got it.

It's not all horror and goblins and witches on Syfy’s Face Off. Sometimes there's a sculpture and costume that edges into straight-up fashion, and Laura — who won the all-star season for this, among other fascinating designs — hit that here with her spin on cubism. It's practically couture.

It's not all horror and goblins and witches on Syfy’s Face Off. Sometimes there's a sculpture and costume that edges into straight-up fashion, and Laura — who won the all-star season for this, among other fascinating designs — hit that here with her spin on cubism. It's practically couture.

Mindy wears a lot of fun brights, and pattern-mixes with the aplomb of a fashion blogger, so this Annie Hall–inspired skirt-suit was the grand finale outfit for a reason. It's more retro than most of her other clothes, but it's still sharp and modern.

Mindy wears a lot of fun brights, and pattern-mixes with the aplomb of a fashion blogger, so this Annie Hall–inspired skirt-suit was the grand finale outfit for a reason. It's more retro than most of her other clothes, but it's still sharp and modern.

Honestly, we can't pick just one. They were all great, though this play on volume and scale is among the standouts. Balenciaga!

Honestly, we can't pick just one. They were all great, though this play on volume and scale is among the standouts. Balenciaga!

Everyone. All the time. This season was off in a few ways, but it was dead-on costume-wise.

Everyone. All the time. This season was off in a few ways, but it was dead-on costume-wise.

Somehow a boxy, terrible cater-waiter tux still looks sort of perfect, irreverent, and festive here on Ilana, who wears a lot of distinctive getups. Plus the ensemble gets major bonus points for embracing curly hair: So often on TV (and in life!), characters with curly hair straighten it for fancy occasions. We need more curly-haired heroes.

Somehow a boxy, terrible cater-waiter tux still looks sort of perfect, irreverent, and festive here on Ilana, who wears a lot of distinctive getups. Plus the ensemble gets major bonus points for embracing curly hair: So often on TV (and in life!), characters with curly hair straighten it for fancy occasions. We need more curly-haired heroes.

The best way to intimidate your enemies is to corner them at an art gallery and just look amazing, right in front of them. It doesn't even matter what you say! If you look this fantastic, your enemies will simply wither.

The best way to intimidate your enemies is to corner them at an art gallery and just look amazing, right in front of them. It doesn't even matter what you say! If you look this fantastic, your enemies will simply wither.

Tags: