When Red Carpets Misfire: Not-So-Great Looks from the 2026 Critics Choice Awards

Kaley Cuoco: all-black, all-in — but not quite Aniston

Kaley Cuoco’s choice to go full-on black was intentional, she said — a nod to a classic Jennifer Aniston look. I appreciate commitment. And yes, black is timeless, flattering, slimming. But here, the styling read more gothic sitcom character than early-2000s Golden Globes nostalgia.

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Sometimes a monochrome look needs a tiny twist or an element that breaks the mood. Cuoco’s was very cohesive — hair, makeup, suit, accessories — which is bold. Trouble is, bold can swing two ways: iconic or… slightly off. A different texture, a brighter jewel tone, or a small contrast might have nudged this from “moody homage” to “perfect recreation.” Still, I like the confidence. You can tell she knew what she wanted. Execution just didn’t land for everyone.

Erin Foster: safe archive pick that faded into the backdrop

Erin Foster leaned on vintage DKNY, a brown silk gown with a halter detail that almost disappeared against the dark carpet and backdrop. Vintage is cool, yes, but it also needs to read well in the moment. This dress had a soft, cozy vibe — think warm chestnut hues — but the tones and the setting worked against it. On camera, it washed into the background. In person, it probably felt subtle and calm, but awards-night photos are what stick.

I don’t want to diss wearing something “from the archives” — it’s lovely to bring back a piece with history. However, context matters. A garment that’s visually quiet can be great, but it should still have an element that pops in photographs: a line, a silhouette shift, a shine. This one simply didn’t.

Leighton Meester: early spring, wrong season

Leighton Meester arrived in a strapless floral-and-lace lavender gown that practically announced “spring” at the height of winter award season. I admired the whimsy. It was playful, romantic, and soft in a way that made you smile. But. Awards-night styling often benefits from seasonally appropriate choices — darker tones, richer fabrics — because they read as deliberate and rooted in the moment.

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Meester’s dress had a hopeful, almost childlike joy to it, which I liked. Yet there’s a small risk when you show up in something that says “beach picnic” or “garden party” on a night of sleek suits and heavy velvet: you can look charming or, if the crowd’s already leaning muted, accidentally out of sync. Here, she leaned toward delightful-but-out-of-time. I’d call that a stylistic misstep rather than a disaster.

Erin Doherty: the mint green conundrum

Erin Doherty’s minty satin gown gave off high-gloss egg vibes — beautiful in color but a bit awkward in form. The mint hue popped against the black carpet, true, but the overall shape and fabric choice made it feel less wearable and more display piece. Satin has that tricky relationship with light and movement: sometimes it flatters and drapes beautifully; other times it reads stiff and unforgiving.

There’s also the question of practicality. Dresses that look sculptural can be hard to sit in, hard to move in, and they can age badly in photos. I don’t begrudge an ambitious silhouette — I actually admire the risk — but I can’t deny that this one looked like an exhibit more than an outfit you’d relax in for a long award show night.

Britt Lower: cozy turned shapeless

Britt Lower opted for a fuzzy, white, oversized look that felt like a luxe blanket or a very indulgent robe. It was soft, yes; it suggested comfort. But comfort on the red carpet is a double-edged sword. When soft becomes shapeless, it can swallow the wearer’s form and lose any sense of tailoring or structure that typically reads well in photos.

There’s a charm to the “I just rolled out of bed and I own it” vibe, but it needs balance — a defined waist, a deliberate accessory, or a sharper cut somewhere to keep it from drifting into anonymous. This one leaned into the comfy-cocoon territory, which is cozy to imagine but less compelling visually for a public, photographed event.

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A few final thoughts

Fashion on the red carpet is part performance, part gamble. Sometimes the risk yields a memorable, trend-setting moment. Sometimes it results in outfits that feel like polite apologies for choices that didn’t hit. I don’t think any of these looks deserve scorn; most of them were simply off in execution or timing. And honestly, I kind of respect the willingness to try something different.