The 68thPrimetime Emmy Awards will be held in Los Angeles, on 18th September 2016. On the biggest night of the American television calendar, a number of top shows will compete for awards in costume design. Which productions are up for costume design awards at the Primetime Emmys?
Costume design awards
Every year, the US Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honours professionals across the American television landscape, from actors to costume designers, for their most recent achievements at the Primetime Emmys. There are three gongs specifically for costume design. These are:
- The ‘Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Non-Fiction or Reality Programming’ award.
- The ‘Outstanding Costumes for a Contemporary Series, Limited Series or Movie’ award.
- The ‘Outstanding Costumes for a Period Series, Fantasy Series, Limited Series of Movie’ award.
Variety, Non-Fiction or Reality Programming
Let’s look first at the Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Non-Fiction or Reality Programming award. Productions which have received nominations for this honour include Dancing With The Stars for its ‘Disney Night’ episode, Grease Live, Ru Paul’s Drag Race for the ‘Keeping it 100!’ episode, Saturday Night Live for the episode hosted by Ryan Gosling and The Wiz! Live.
Contemporary, Limited Series, Movie
Meanwhile, competition is fierce for the ‘Outstanding Costumes for a Contemporary Series, Limited Series or Movie’ award. Nominees include American Horror Story: Hotel for the ‘Chutes and Ladders’ episode, Empire for the ‘Past is Prologue’ instalment, The Good Wife for its ‘End’ episode, Grace and Frankie for ‘The Party’ and the ‘Kina Horra’ episode for ground-breaking Amazon series Transparent.
The gong went to Transparent’s Marie Schley in 2015 and Indie Wire reckons she will be “hard to beat again.” Commenting on Schley’s work, the publication writes that she “dresses up characters from Institute for Sexology in hip fashion [and] also makes Maura Pfefferman (Jeffrey Tambor) more feminine this season with several earthy dresses.” But with Lady Gaga’s character on American Horror Story rocking a tonne of retro outfits this year, courtesy of Lou Eyrich, anything could happen.
Period, Fantasy, Limited Series, Movie
The competition is also stiff here. Those nominated include Downton Abbey’s ‘Episode Eight’ and ‘The Winds of Winter’ episode for Game of Thrones. Other include Outlander’s ‘Not in Scotland Any More’ instalment, The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story and Roots for ‘One Night.’
There’s a good chance that Downton Abbey’s Anna Mary Scott-Robbins will take the Emmy again. Scott-Robins really raised her game this year, developing authentic vintage outfits for the weddings of characters such as Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) and Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael). But with designers such as Game of Thrones’ Michele Clapton and Roots’ Ruth Carter also developing wonderful historical outfits, it is currently unclear who could take the prize.
Stiff competition
The 2015/2016 year has seen US television costume design taken to a new level. Ranging from period through to contemporary, talented designers such as Marie Schley and Anna Mary Scott-Robins have crafted outfits which have transported viewers worldwide to other times and places. I really cannot wait to see who triumphs in each category at the 2016 Primetime Emmys!
About Helen Beaumont
Helen Beaumont’s career started at Camberwell College of Art, where she studied the History of Art and Design, specialising in costume during her final year. After completing study, Helen became a costume buyer for theatre and opera. She has since become a professional costume designer, with a keen interest in period clothing. Throughout her career, Helen has created authentic costumes for prestigious companies such as the Universal Studios, Disney, BBC, Tiger Aspect and the Young Vic Theatre.
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