The Best-Dressed Soap Stars At The '90s & Early '00s Daytime Emmy Awards
The Daytime Emmy Awards first began awarding statues to the stars and hosts of daytime TV in 1974. Back then, a smattering of talk and game show hosts attended alongside soap opera stars. The former usually wore suits, while the soap stars tended to wear daytime dresses. But through the years, they became more glamorous, especially thanks to stars like Kelly Ripa and Susan Lucci.
Looking back at the gowns from the Daytime Emmys in the 1990s, many featured elements like spaghetti straps, minimalistic silhouettes, and two pieces, among other details often present in the iconic celeb outfits from the '90s that defined the era. At the turn of the century, it seemed everyone collectively began to up their game, likely enlisting stylists to help primp them for the red carpet to deliver stunning outcomes. The main reason why we can look back at these dresses and call them the best from the '90s and early '00s? Because they are still gorgeous today, yet at the same time, they embraced defining elements of their era.
Susan Lucci was a perennial Daytime Emmys style star in the '90s and early 2000s
Susan Lucci, known for her frequently nominated role as Erica Kane on "All My Children," has repeatedly looked fabulous while attending the Daytime Emmys throughout the years. One of her most notable looks was from 1999, when she wore a textured white spaghetti strap dress, a style staple from the era. Over the years, she has worn strapless and asymmetrical necklines as well, and has dabbled in an assortment of colors including yellow, red, orange, black, purple, turquoise, yellow, and blue... did we mention she's attended a few times?
In '98, Amy Carlson was wearing the naked dress before it was a thing
Looking back at our ranking of the most iconic celebrity naked dress moments, they're all from the 2000s, most likely because it was a red-carpet rarity before then. But there were certainly stars bringing out their best sheer looks in previous decades, and "Another World" star Amy Carlson at the 1998 Daytime Emmys was one of them. The delicate detailing, the shiny skirt with its train, and the sheer shawl casually draped over the arms all encapsulate the '90s perfectly, even if the sheer bodice was ahead of its time.
Victoria Rowell was one of the best-dressed at the 2003 Daytime Emmys
Before becoming well-known for her role on "Diagnosis Murder," Victoria Rowell was most recognized for playing Drucilla on "The Young and the Restless." During her stint on the soap from 1990 to 2007, she was nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards, which means she graced the red carpet on multiple occasions. She was repeatedly one of the best-dressed guests, including at the 2003 ceremony. Some may deem her red-and-white outfit a touch casual for an awards show, but that doesn't mean this well-coordinated ensemble wasn't stylish.
Kelly Ripa stunned at the Daytime Emmys in 1993
Kelly Ripa has worn some inappropriate outfits over the years, including a sheer number at the 1999 Daytime Emmy Awards. But she's also delivered many times at the annual event. One such look was the 1993 show, where she wore a form-fitting long-sleeve dress with a bow detail at the shoulder. The leg slit with silver heels was a solid choice on the petite 5-foot, 2-inch "All My Children" star, as it visually lengthened her legs.
Deidre Hall found her animal magnetism more than once
"Days of Our Lives" stalwart Deidre Hall, one of the soap stars proving that going gray doesn't have to be boring, is a regular at the Daytime Emmys, where she's been nominated three times but never won. One look that's had fans buzzing for years is the leopard-print number she wore to the 2005 show. It isn't the only time she's leaned into animal print; we spotted her at the '92 awards looking fierce as well.
Eva LaRue brought movement, texture, and glam to the '03 awards show
Sometimes what makes a stand-out dress at an awards show is one that brings a sense of fun to it. And "All My Children" star Eva LaRue managed to do that with her white tiered gown at the 2003 Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony. While the dress fit her to a T, we would've loved to have seen a more amplified makeup look, particularly with a lip color.
Sherri Saum was a Y2K ray of sunshine at the 2002 Daytime Emmys
Sherri Saum is a familiar face to soap opera watchers, for both her turns in "Sunset Beach" and "One Life to Live." For the 2002 Daytime Emmy Awards, the actor chose a Y2K-appropriate silhouette in an elegant floral print on a yellow backdrop. Cheerful, bright colors were particularly of-the-moment in this era, which many have pointed to as being the result of an influence from classics like "Clueless" and "Legally Blonde." To us, however, yellow is timeless.