With her deadpan reactions and overall mysterious aura, Aubrey Plaza has won over fans for her hilariously mean characters like April in Parks & Recreation and Harper in The White Lotus. And her red carpet style is equally nuanced, oscillating between high glamour and avant-garde with ease.
It’s sartorial moments like her 2023 Met Gala look, an ultra-sexy cut-out gown with opera gloves, or her 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards dress, a butter yellow number with a sticky note-inspired bodice and massive needle, that perfectly exemplify this mix. Thanks to legendary stylist Jessica Paster, who also works with A-listers like Emily Blunt, Plaza has developed a unique sense of style that allows her to bring her brand of humor to the red carpet and position her as a bonafide fashion girl.
From all-black suits to ab-bearing cut-outs, here are 15 of Aubrey Plaza’s best red carpet looks.
Cannes Film Festival, 2024
Ever the avant-garde dresser, Plaza dashed on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet wearing a satin long sleeve gown with a bulging peplum detail from Loewe. She perfectly accented the look with a set of turquoise necklace and earrings for a jewel-toned moment.
Primetime Emmy Awards, 2024
Few starlets can pull of a yellow column dress with a massive needle threading through its bodice, but Plaza is one of them. The Loewe gown matched Plaza’s risk-taking sense of style at the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards. She kept the accessories minimal with a pair of gold metallic platforms and matching hoop earrings.
Film Independent Spirit Awards, 2023
The lady means business. Plaza appeared at the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards in a black double-breasted suit by Saint Laurent. The actress let the suit do all the talking, only wearing a pair of strappy sandals and minimal rings.
Screen Actors Guild Awards, 2023
Plaza showed just how much of a Hollywood A-lister she is in a gold shimmery gown at the SAG Awards, where she and her castmates were nominated for their work The White Lotus season 2 alongside the rest of the cast. The actress wowed with a frontal diamond-shaped cut-out and middle slit.
Critics Choice Awards, 2023
The classic black dress takes on a whole new meaning in this Louis Vuitton number, worn by Plaza at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards. The shimmery gown, which features a thing-high slit, looked whimsical with a colorful ombré effect along the neckline.
Met Gala, 2023
Not a stranger to daring fashion choices, Plaza put a spin on the classic one-shoulder silhouette with a revealing diagonal cut-out by Stella McCartney. The leather opera gloves and bedazzled accessories helped her push her high-glamour agenda to the max.
CFDA Awards, 2021
While Plaza has a thing for ultra-revealing gowns, she’s equally fond of a menswear-inspired look. At the 2021 CFDA Awards, the actress sported a Thom Browne dark gray suit with a long button-down shirt as a mini dress. The business suit look was accessorized with knee-high socks and loafers for a school girl vibe.
Vanity Fair Oscars Party, 2020
Plaza went airy and feminine at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscars Party in a Hellessy gown. The voluminous puffed sleeves and pleated waist detail gave the otherwise classic look a more avant-garde take that’s a signature of Plaza.
MTV Movie and TV Awards, 2019
Plaza bet it all on sparkles at the 2019 MTV Movie and TV Awards. The bowtie detail and white collar, reminiscent of Wednesday Addams, was juxtaposed with the shimmery sequins all over the mini dress. In a “more is more” approach, Plaza went for a bedazzled clutch and strappy sandals that brought the party to the function.
‘Ingrid Goes West’ Premiere, 2017
Method dressing is a common practice these days on the red carpet. But Plaza went for branding dressing at the premiere of her 2017 movies Ingrid Goes West. The actress wore a navy slip dress with pink and white flowers that matched the movie’s poster.
Film Independent Spirit Awards, 2015
Plaza went big on florals for the 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The actress sported a printed mini dress with clashing colors by Suno, letting the frock do all the talking by accessorizing with simple rings and black strappy sandals.
Vanity Fair Oscars Party, 2016
Often a fan of bold colors and structured silhouettes, Plaza did a different take on her red carpet dressing for the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscars Party. Opting for a Vionnet slip dress, the actress did a natural look with matching clutch and dainty earrings. It all served as a perfect backdrop for Plaza’s signature dark lips, which she did in a burgundy shade.
Emmy Awards, 2013
Naked dressing may be a trend now, but Plaza dared to wear the style to the red carpet in 2013. In a more subtle take, the actress wore a maxi long-sleeved lace dress, which she paired with a floral chocker for a fun twist.
Entertainment Weekly Event, 2011
Some of Plaza’s signatures include floral and collared pieces, making this look an absolutely perfect one for Plaza. The A-line silhouette and black sandals give the otherwise edgy outfit a more demure look. With red bold florals, who needs jewelry?
Emmy Awards, 2011
In a glamorous take on red carpet dressing, Plaza went for all-white at the Emmy Awards in 2011. The long skirt with flowy train is an ideal match for the ruffled boho top and playful gold bangles. The white outfit served as a canvas for a bright red lip that’s become a signature of Plaza’s red carpet style.