Why Won't Designers "Dress" Tony Nominees?

Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald made history Sunday night, and she did it in a dress without a brand. No, this wasn't a protest of beauty standards, it was a massive missed opportunity by fashion executives. Although the fashion industry jumps up and down to dress even the D-list at award ceremonies like the Grammys and the Oscars, only four designers claimed they "dressed" presenters and nominees at the Tonys Sunday night. Since no designer has stepped up to claim Audra's dress as their idea, it seems that she was one of the majority of winners who proved that women, even famous women with beautiful singing voices, can still dress themselves.

Of the designers who styled Tonys presenters, Dolce & Gabbana was the biggest presence, dressing Kate Mara, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Patricia Clarkson. The other three designers who thought ahead were Narciso Rodriguez, Stella McCartney, and Sophie Theallet. Of those three, only Theallet dressed a winner, Sophie Okonedo, who won Best Featured Actress in a Play for her work in A Raisin in the Sun.

Although these "dressed" stars looked on-trend, they had some stiff competition from men and women who went out and shopped for themselves, showing that there might be some sartorial choices left to make in New York. Unless we see designers begin to take credit for providing looks to the hundreds of stage and screen stars at the event, it seems that the Tonys may be the only awards show where actors can discuss who they played, instead of who they're wearing.