Throwback: Natasha Lyonne Turns Heads in Avant-Garde Rodarte at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmys

In a true red-carpet throwback, Natasha Lyonne—best known for her standout roles in Orange Is the New Black and Russian Doll—lit up the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards in support of her acclaimed Netflix series.

Embracing drama and edge, she made a bold statement in a sculptural Rodarte ensemble that turned heads for its avant-garde proportions.

Natasha Lyonne makes a bold statement in a sculptural Rodarte look at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, a design that sparked varied reactions in Los Angeles, California, on September 15, 2019 (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN / FayesVision)

Fittingly, the night also saw Russian Doll honored for Contemporary Costumes, Production Design, and Cinematography—wins that underscored the same distinctive visual aesthetic Lyonne channels in her fearless fashion choices.

Natasha Lyonne’s Avant-Garde Rodarte Statement at the 2019 Emmys

Natasha Lyonne wore a dramatic blouse from the Rodarte Fall 2019 collection to the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, featuring voluminous pleats, ruffled sleeves, and a high neckline. She paired the exaggerated top with a gold logo-embellished belt and wide-leg black trousers, creating a highly stylized, avant-garde silhouette that sparked strong reactions online.

Some observers compared the look to a “hunchback” due to the blouse’s exaggerated back volume and high, structured collar. While unconventional, the outfit reflected Rodarte’s signature artistic direction, favoring sculptural shapes and dramatic proportions over traditional red-carpet elegance.

A closer look at Natasha Lyonne’s gold, logo-embellished belt, defining the waist of her avant-garde Rodarte ensemble

Lyonne, who stands at 5ft 1½ in (156.2 cm) and wears a US women’s size 6.5 shoe, was styled by acclaimed fashion stylist Cristina Ehrlich. Although her exact footwear from that evening wasn’t documented, her petite frame and the dramatic proportions of the Rodarte look point toward height-enhancing shoes, a common red-carpet choice.

Natasha Lyonne’s Most Memorable Shoe & Fashion Moments

To see how Lyonne’s footwear has taken center stage in other appearances, explore some of her most memorable shoe and fashion moments below.

Despite the look’s polarizing reception, Lyonne’s fearless approach to fashion—quirky, avant-garde, and unapologetically bold—remains a hallmark of her red carpet persona.

Natasha Lyonne embraces Rodarte’s dramatic proportions, wearing a voluminous blouse and wide-leg trousers at the Emmy Awards

Rodarte, founded in Los Angeles in 2005 by sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy, is known for its ethereal, modern-meets-romantic aesthetic. Named after their mother’s maiden name (pronounced roh-dar-tay), the brand often draws inspiration from California’s landscapes, classic film, and contemporary art.

She wasn’t the only Orange Is the New Black star to make a stylish impression on the red carpet that evening.

Laverne Cox Stuns in Elegant Zac Posen Gown and Jimmy Choo Accessories

She was joined on the red carpet by her Orange Is The New Black co-star Laverne Cox, who wowed in a black Zac Posen gown, an Annabel Chan ring, a Yvan Tufenkijan necklace, Harry Kotlar earrings, and a Jimmy Choo bag.

The actress was nominated for the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series award for reprising her role as Sophia Burset in one of the series’ final episodes, though the Emmy ultimately went to Cherry Jones for The Handmaid’s Tale.

Laverne Cox stuns in an elegant black Zac Posen gown, accessorized with Jimmy Choo pieces, at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on September 15, 2019

More Bold Red Carpet Looks from the 2019 Emmy Awards

To see how other stars embraced bold style at the 2019 Emmys, here are two standout fashion moments that lit up the red carpet: